Ducks abandon 'vile' pond in Silver End garden village
Silver End is a garden village that celebrates its centenary next year.It was built by Francis Henry Crittall to house workers at his factory making components for metal windows.Mr Lewis said families would once gather to feed up to 50 ducks at the pond."It does kick up a smell as the weather gets warmer as well," he said."If a kid falls in there I don't know what they'll come out with, but it is absolutely vile."He said the community had sent "numerous" emails and made phone calls, even asking for advice on how to help, but had heard nothing back.
Award-winning photographer Danny Owens has taken hundreds of photos of the ducks in the 50 years he has lived in Witham.It's just dreadful... it's insane," he said."(I) would love to know how it has happened. Why don't people look after it and respect it?"
James Abbott, Green member for Silver End and Cressing on Braintree District Council Party, described the pond as "ornamental... with a sort of Japanese theme".He said: "It's really fallen into a terrible state now with very little water; lots of sort of scum and muck."There's been dead animals found in it, and it really is not acceptable."He said the council had been slow to meet him and the parish council.
A Braintree District Council spokesperson said there had been "no maintenance schedule for the pond" but that the authority planned to review this following recent queries.In the meantime, it said, it was liasing with a contractor to find a date to clean the pond "effectively and safely".
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