YORKSHIRE Water is set to improve one of the Colne Valley’s popular landmarks.

But they need the public’s help to improve an overflow at one of the most beautiful landscapes – Butterley Reservoir near Marsden.

By law, safety improvements need to be made to the overflow structure of Butterley Reservoir.

And Yorkshire Water has put its current proposals on display to get feedback on the work before it begins.

The work is required to ensure that the overflow continues to effectively protect the reservoir embankment from flood erosion by safely diverting excess flows.

Without the overflow, the reservoir embankment could flood – leading to erosion and eventually dam failure.

The work, which is likely to take at least a year to complete, will involve upgrading parts of the existing overflow structure to ensure it complies with modern day safety requirements.

Yorkshire Water project manager Ed Hinton said: “While this work is vital, we recognise that the overflow is much admired as one of Yorkshire’s most iconic landmarks.

“That’s why we’re consulting closely with the local community to elicit their views and ensure a full understanding around why we need to do the work.”

Members of the community and anyone with an interest are invited to hear about proposals at a special session to be held this Wednesday, January 18, at Marsden Junior School between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

Yorkshire Water is currently involved in a £60 million programme of work, which has already seen improvements at Longwood, Ramsden and Riding Wood reservoirs.

Completed in 1906, the stone-built overflow at Butterley Reservoir took 15 years to create.

It plays a vital function in ensuring reservoir safety by passing flood flows in excess of the reservoir capacity.

Butterley Reservoir is the largest of the three reservoirs in the Wessenden Valley.

It is just above Marsden village and downstream from the Blakeley and Wessenden reservoirs.