The ongoing wildfire at Dovestone Reservoir has renewed focus on warnings a Saddleworth councillor says she repeatedly raised about safety and visitor management on the borough's moorland.
Helen Bishop, councillor for Saddleworth South, said she called for stronger measures on visitor management and moorland safety earlier this year but felt her concerns were ignored.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said firefighters were called to Dovestone Reservoir on Saturday (July 11) shortly before 8.40pm following reports of a grass fire.
The blaze quickly developed into a large wildfire and crews remain at the scene, while residents across Greater Manchester continue to report smelling smoke.
Shania Care-Slede, 20, of Market Street, Hyde, has been charged with aggravated arson.
She appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.
A video shared on social media has also attracted widespread attention after appearing to show people setting off fireworks in the area before the fire started. Police have not confirmed any link between the footage and the cause of the blaze.
In a Facebook post, Cllr Bishop shared extracts from an email she sent in April calling for a meeting to discuss what she described as the "escalating" problems at Dovestone.
She wrote: “Residents in Greenfield, particularly those who live in the vicinity of the reservoir, feel completely forgotten about and neglected.
“Who is going to engage with them and address their concerns?
“I’d like to be assured that residents are going to be listened to and involved.”
The councillor also questioned why Dovestone continued to be promoted as a visitor destination while, in her view, facilities and infrastructure had failed to keep pace with growing visitor numbers. She claimed Oldham Council had collected more than £200,000 in parking fines because of inadequate signage.
She said: “Unfortunately, it is actions like these that make the council appear completely out of touch when it comes to outlying, rural areas in the borough, and that really needs to change.”
She requested a breakdown of costs, claiming the council had made no attempt to provide funding for improvements to the site's facilities.
Cllr Bishop's post attracted significant support on social media, with several commenters arguing that concerns around parking, visitor numbers, facilities and fire prevention measures had not been adequately addressed.
A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “The wildfire at Dovestone Reservoir has been truly devastating, causing significant damage to an area cherished by residents and visitors alike.
“We want to reassure that concerns raised around this popular visitor attraction are not being ignored.
“We continue to work closely with the owners and managers of the site, including United Utilities, the RSPB and emergency services to address the challenges that come with the site’s popularity.
“We remain committed to finding practical solutions that strike the right balance between welcoming visitors to Dovestone and protecting the quality of life of those who live nearby.”
Cllr Bishop’s concerns were echoed by Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Debbie Abrahams, who criticised United Utilities for its lack of action in protecting the area.
She said: “I am awaiting an update from the owners of Dovestone, United Utilities, for the measures that they are taking to minimise the risk and considerable inconvenience to my constituents.
"Clearly, their current action plan is not working.”
In 2022, United Utilities published a Dovestone Action Plan, which has not been updated since.
The document said United Utilities had worked with local stakeholders and partners to develop the plan, alongside carrying out surveys between 2021 and 2022 to “better understand what improvements need to be made”.
It said the aim was to “improve the experience of visitors to Dovestone and to reduce the impact from the high volumes of visitor traffic on those who use the site regularly”.
The commitments included improving signage around parking, fire risks and reservoir safety, repairing damaged fencing and installing new CCTV near the toilets.
The plan also called for increased communications from partner organisations about moorland fire risks and reservoir safety, as well as the deployment of fire rangers to help manage fire risks.
United Utilities said it had addressed the issues outlined in the action plan and had not actively promoted the site, having turned down numerous requests for filming and photography over the years.
They added that the action plan was developed in partnership with multiple agencies and was not solely the responsibility of United Utilities.
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The wildfires that we have seen around Dovestone Reservoir are devastating and we are grateful to the emergency services working tirelessly to bring them under control. Our teams are working around the clock in support of that effort, including the provision of helicopter support.
“We understand the concerns about the impact of increased visitor numbers at Dovestone. That is why we continue to work closely with partner organisations on a range of measures to improve management of the area for residents, visitors and the environment.
“Ultimately, protecting this special landscape will always depend in part on visitors behaving responsibly and showing respect for both the environment and the local community."
The RSPB, which manages the site, has been contacted for comment.
Cllr Bishop said the wildfire should act as a catalyst for change and help prevent similar incidents in future.
She added: "Not all tragedies are preventable, but when they are predictable, even inevitable, something needs to be done differently.
"And that needs to happen now."
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