A RESERVOIR deemed dangerous due to weak banks is to be repaired, planners have agreed.

The Environment Agency hopes to start work on the disused Jacks Key reservoir next summer after planning approval was granted.

The Agency will upgrade and maintain the area to ensure its long-term safety and implement flood prevention measures.

The reservoir was drained many years ago amid flood fears and attempts to have the potential beauty spot restored over the years have failed.

Once the Environment Agency completes its work, the Duchy of Lancaster has agreed to sell the land to Blackburn with Darwen Council for a nominal fee.

Paul Robertshaw, Environment Agency project manager, said: “We are pleased to announce our programme of works has received planning approval from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

“We hope to start upgrading the reservoir to make it safer in the long-term at the start of summer 2014.

“We are also pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between the Environment Agency and the Duchy of Lancaster over transferring the ownership of the site.

“The site will be transferred from the Duchy of Lancaster to the council for a nominal fee.

“From then on, the council will own the land including the footpaths, and the Environment Agency will continue to have access to the reservoir for routine inspection and maintenance.”

Whitehall councillor Karimeh Foster said she was delighted the work was to be done.

She said: “We have been working on this for a long time.

“We have tried to do our best to sort it out for people to use it once again.

“It is a historic piece of Darwen and hopefully this will bring it back into use.”

The reservoir was built in the early years of the 19th century to serve the Spring Vale bleaching factory of Richard Hilton and, in 1847, the bank was raised to increase its capacity.

Fears over the strength of this bank eventually led to the lodge being drained.