A nature reserve in Portishead could be taken over by the town council in a bid to protect it for future generations.
Portishead Town Council says it is ‘exploring’ the possibility of taking over the management of the Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.
The discussions come nearly three years after North Somerset Council took over the day to day management of the reserve.
The reserve was developed to mitigate the loss of land swallowed up by the development of The Ashlands and Village Quarter and is a popular amenity with local residents.
Up until the end of 2016 the reserve, owned by developer Persimmon Homes, was managed by Avon Wildlife Trust.
People living in the developments were charged a levy of around £50 a year towards its upkeep, collected by Port Marine Management Limited (PMML).
However, some residents said it was unfair they were charged for the upkeep of the reserve when it is enjoyed by the wider community and when other open spaces are already managed by the council.
Former leader of North Somerset Council, Councillor Nigel Ashton formally announced in 2015 ahead of the election the levy would be scrapped and the council would adopt the site.
However, the legalities of North Somerset taking over the site have still yet to be finalised.
It is understood the delay is due to issues with PMML, which collected the levy, transferring the cash collected to the council.
Now Portishead Town Council bosses have confirmed they are exploring the possibility of taking over the reserve.
Town council chairman Paul Gardener said: “We are exploring the possibility of taking over the reserve.
“The reserve’s ownership is still to be resolved and we have had initial discussions to see if the town council taking it over is feasible.
“The reserve is a fantastic natural asset and we want to make sure that the reserve is protected for the town and its residents in the future.
“But there is much work to be done around the costs and management of the site.
“A full business case would need to be drawn up before anything can move forward.”
The nature reserve is still currently owned by Persimmon.
North Somerset Council contractors Glendale currently look after the reserve as part of its wider contract with the authority.
It is understood there is still money collected by the levy available for the ongoing management of the reserve.
However how the site is managed – and funded – in the longer term still needs to be decided.
The reserve is home to a number of rare birds and other wildlife including an increasing population of water voles.
Special hides have been erected on the site for people to enjoy and watch local wildlife. Volunteers currently work alongside the council contractors to help manage the reserve.
A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "We have reviewed the situation and are looking at all options for the future maintenance of the site.”
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