The Council issued a press release some years ago saying that the clay lining of the pond had cracked and that the water was draining away - they also said that it would be too expensive to repair and that they were turning it into an environmental reserve.
Because I thought it used to look really pretty with those decaying statues and the slight overgrown look and the little pond. Now it is beginning to look a bit like a tip and so no-one goes there but drunks. Hey ho!
Was on common on Saturday and walked around this waterless pond with my children !. It was a complete state, rubbish chucked in, all overgrown, bits of glass etc. I can remember when this pond was really beautiful to walk around, it had lovely sculptures made out of trees fallen over from a previous storm. Such a shame that Wandsworth have just deserted it, surely is there no plan to restore it to its former glory ?
The "ecology pond" is a regular feature of discussions at the Tooting Common Management Advisory Committee (MAC) - as you can imagine.
The problem is that quotes to repair it have been hugely expensive, £200k if memory serves, so other solutions have been considered by the MAC. For example, using an auger to drill down and see if water might be accessed to replenish the 'pond' - but again, this is expensive.
So leaving it mostly dry and only damp at certain times of the year has ended up being the current solution. However, clearing the rubbish wouldn't go amiss, I do agree.
The 'ecology pond' is actually a Victorian Boating Pond clearly visible on the late C19th old Ordnance survey maps. http://www.old-maps.co.uk. Go to teh search field and put in a nearby postcode (mine, at Church lane not too far away is SW17 6AR) I do not wish to cross swords with Leonie, but what is ecological about allowing the many terrapins and other wildlife who used to live in the pond to die when it was allowed to drain away? I lost count of the poor little mites I found in the rushes in the months following the decision not to keep it going.
I appreciate that the Council should not be funding non-essentials when essential services are being cut back, but maybe there is an opportunity for a community group to take responsibility for it, to raise the funds and voluntary manpower needed to get it back the way it was intended?
And, since you should never suggest something unless you are prepared to join in whole-heartedly, there's a £30 donation to the Boating Pond Rejuvenation Fund (BPRF) and plenty of my time to come and clear rubbish, cut weeds, dig, and lay concrete if necessary. I'll also lay on tea and biscuits afterwards, a five minute walk away. Can;t say fairer than that.
Any other takers?
This is making me think " This would never happen on Clapham common ! " their ponds are well maintained, I am not sure which borough they fall under as I know part of the common is Wandsworth and other parts Lambeth.
I agree bring back the pond, I would be happy to pay a contribution to Boating Pond Rejuvenation Fund (BPRF) howver surely this is a general council responsability it has always been there !
Not crossing swords with me! I described it as the 'ecology' pond in inverted commas, as whenever I go there it does always look more like a rubbish dump than anything ecological.
The Friends of Tooting Common Group has produced some maps of the Common with an olde worlde design, and the pond is duly marked on the maps as the 'Old Yachting Pond' so its history is known.
The Pond is not the only thing on Tooting Common in need of funds - there is also the Drinking Fountain near Dr Johnson's Avenue/Tooting Bec Rd - but again, this would take quite a lot to restore - and as it would then be used, it would need to be hygienic and comply with H&S!
The Friends Group was set up to try and access additional funds for such things, as well as running fun and informative events on the Common - perhaps you should propose the Boating Pond Rejuvenation Project to the Friends Group? The Friends Group do organise litterpicks so maybe a Pond Clean-Up Day should be also proposed?
I just don't think that the Council will agree to spend £200k in the budget-restricted times on restoring the Pond - especially as there is no guarantee it won't spring a leak again! For info, Clapham Common is managed in its entirety by LB Lambeth, even the bits that fall inside Wandsworth.
Comments
Caroline,
The Council issued a press release some years ago saying that the clay lining of the pond had cracked and that the water was draining away - they also said that it would be too expensive to repair and that they were turning it into an environmental reserve.
Is it an environmental reserve now? What is an environmental reserve?
If my walk past it today was anything to go by, not sure about an environmental reserve, more like a drunk's paradise! Really unpleasant.
Because I thought it used to look really pretty with those decaying statues and the slight overgrown look and the little pond. Now it is beginning to look a bit like a tip and so no-one goes there but drunks. Hey ho!
Was on common on Saturday and walked around this waterless pond with my children !. It was a complete state, rubbish chucked in, all overgrown, bits of glass etc. I can remember when this pond was really beautiful to walk around, it had lovely sculptures made out of trees fallen over from a previous storm. Such a shame that Wandsworth have just deserted it, surely is there no plan to restore it to its former glory ?
The "ecology pond" is a regular feature of discussions at the Tooting Common Management Advisory Committee (MAC) - as you can imagine.
The problem is that quotes to repair it have been hugely expensive, £200k if memory serves, so other solutions have been considered by the MAC. For example, using an auger to drill down and see if water might be accessed to replenish the 'pond' - but again, this is expensive.
So leaving it mostly dry and only damp at certain times of the year has ended up being the current solution. However, clearing the rubbish wouldn't go amiss, I do agree.
The 'ecology pond' is actually a Victorian Boating Pond clearly visible on the late C19th old Ordnance survey maps. http://www.old-maps.co.uk. Go to teh search field and put in a nearby postcode (mine, at Church lane not too far away is SW17 6AR) I do not wish to cross swords with Leonie, but what is ecological about allowing the many terrapins and other wildlife who used to live in the pond to die when it was allowed to drain away? I lost count of the poor little mites I found in the rushes in the months following the decision not to keep it going. I appreciate that the Council should not be funding non-essentials when essential services are being cut back, but maybe there is an opportunity for a community group to take responsibility for it, to raise the funds and voluntary manpower needed to get it back the way it was intended?
And, since you should never suggest something unless you are prepared to join in whole-heartedly, there's a £30 donation to the Boating Pond Rejuvenation Fund (BPRF) and plenty of my time to come and clear rubbish, cut weeds, dig, and lay concrete if necessary. I'll also lay on tea and biscuits afterwards, a five minute walk away. Can;t say fairer than that. Any other takers?
This is making me think " This would never happen on Clapham common ! " their ponds are well maintained, I am not sure which borough they fall under as I know part of the common is Wandsworth and other parts Lambeth.
I agree bring back the pond, I would be happy to pay a contribution to Boating Pond Rejuvenation Fund (BPRF) howver surely this is a general council responsability it has always been there !
Not crossing swords with me! I described it as the 'ecology' pond in inverted commas, as whenever I go there it does always look more like a rubbish dump than anything ecological.
The Friends of Tooting Common Group has produced some maps of the Common with an olde worlde design, and the pond is duly marked on the maps as the 'Old Yachting Pond' so its history is known.
The Pond is not the only thing on Tooting Common in need of funds - there is also the Drinking Fountain near Dr Johnson's Avenue/Tooting Bec Rd - but again, this would take quite a lot to restore - and as it would then be used, it would need to be hygienic and comply with H&S!
The Friends Group was set up to try and access additional funds for such things, as well as running fun and informative events on the Common - perhaps you should propose the Boating Pond Rejuvenation Project to the Friends Group? The Friends Group do organise litterpicks so maybe a Pond Clean-Up Day should be also proposed?
I just don't think that the Council will agree to spend £200k in the budget-restricted times on restoring the Pond - especially as there is no guarantee it won't spring a leak again! For info, Clapham Common is managed in its entirety by LB Lambeth, even the bits that fall inside Wandsworth.
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