The Object of the Friends of Ashby Pond is to conserve the ecology of the pond; to work towards any actions the community see as appropriate that maintain and improve the facility; and to lobby and advocate on behalf of the community with the aim of returning the site to its original state.

On the 26^th August a delegation from the Friends of Ashby Pond held a meeting with representatives of North Lincolnshire Council to receive the council’s formal response regarding the status of what is known locally as the concrete pond in Ashby.

The council responded to the following issues raised at the public meeting held on the 12^th August at the Beckwood Public House in Bottesford.

1 – Could the council provide plans of the concrete pond.

2 – Could the council provide an analysis of the structure of the pond

3 – Could the council provide an analysis of the mud in the now empty pond

4 – Could the council provide an explanation as to why the pond was now empty

The council responded with the following:

1 – Plans

Plans were produced showing the original construction of the pond as part of the original sewerage works, but were unable to comment on the work carried out to convert the settlement pond by the council into a boating lake in the early 1980’s.

2 – Structure

The pond consists of a concrete rim, mud sides and may have a concrete plinth in the middle which could have supported the island shown in the original plan. Until the mud is removed there is no clear evidence supporting the existence of a concrete base.

3 – Mud

Initial testing showed several pollutants were found in the mud which may be hazardous to health. The council added additional signage stating that the site was under investigation and warning of the public of a potential health hazard.

4 – Drainage

The council investigated the evidence of a feed pipe located by residents which was claimed to be a drainage feed by the former Chairman of the Scunthorpe Model Boat Club. It was claimed that this pipe was laid to provide surface water run off as a feed for the pond, as due to its mud sides it would otherwise dry out.

The council found that the pipe was heavily silted and said that the pipe ran approximately 140 meters before being blocked.

The officer concluded that due to drainage work in the area, the water table may have dropped leading to the leeching of water from the pond.

Friends of Ashby Pond expressed their concern that the feed pipe could not be located on any plans, and suggested that this pipe may have become damaged or disconnected due to the nearby work highlighted by the council. It was agreed that as there was no record of this pipe held either by the council or seven trent water that this theory was conjecture but its removal could explain why the pond drained so rapidly.

In addition to the information provided above, the council also proposed that the newly created water collection system located approximately 500 meters east of the current site could be adapted for the use of fishing. No proposal or comment was given on the immediate or longer term future of the concrete pond site.

It was agreed that a representative of the council would be invited to the next public meeting to discuss the council’s proposal with members of the public.

The next meeting will be held on the 13^th September at 6:30 pm at the Beckwood Public House in Bottesford.

A spokesperson for the group said “We welcome the council’s response to the issues raised by residents, and their proposal of an alternative site for anglers to be developed near by. However we do not feel that this response addresses the immediate concerns of residents with regards to the current situation at the site of the pond, and will not be commenting further on this matter until we have discussed it with all interested parties at the public meeting on the 13th.

In the mean time we will continue to work with the council and developers to get to the bottom of what has caused this problem, and to clarify the contamination issues outlined in the council’s initial findings.”