Q1
|
When did the idea of renovating the pond first occur? |
| Answer |
There
are several references to the need to renovate the pond
in Parish Council minutes going back to 1990, when an
application was approved for a grant from Norfolk County
Council – but plans were aborted at the last minute.
In the Village Appraisal of 1996, many people commented
on the need for work to be done and further
investigations were made with Norfolk County Council.
The pond was also one of the projects considered to mark
the Millennium. |
| |
|
| Q2 |
Why
do it now? |
| Answer |
The
problem isn’t going to go away and when water level
was correct (at the level of the outlet into Tanns Lane)
it was clear that the pond was practically full of silt
and waste. |
| |
|
| Q3 |
Why
didn’t you dump all the waste on farmland or waste
ground? |
| Answer |
Under
Waste Management regulations brought in by the
Environment Agency since July 2005, any proposal to do
this would involve obtaining a licence (£543),
laboratory testing about half a dozen samples of mud and
water (about £100 each), having the land onto which the
waste was going tested by an agronomist (£?) and, then,
of course, finding someone prepared to take the waste and
arranging transport to that site. |
| |
|
| Q4 |
Where
has the money come from? |
| Answer |
40% of
the cost of clearing the trees and dredging the pond was
obtained by grant from Norfolk County Council. So
far total of just over £600 has been donated by local
companies and individuals. Your Parish Council has
agreed to contribute up to £600 from its reserves. The
Fun Day will hopefully raise more … and then we have
plans to apply for further grants – see later. |
| |
|
| Q5 |
Who
has done the work? |
| Answer |
The tree
clearance was completed by Bridge Farm Tree Services from
South Lopham and the dredging by G. S. Hunt of Pulham.
The extensions to the inlet pipes and sandbagging were
done by a working party of a dozen villagers on a
‘self-help’ basis. |
| |
|
| Q6 |
What
is happening at the moment? |
| Answer |
Having
dredged the mud and silt from the pond it must now
‘sit’ and dry out before we can sow grass seed
on the ‘level’ parts and planting can begin in
and around the pond. The orange netting is to deter
the public from venturing into the area around the pond
– some parts are still very soft and it would very
easy to become trapped in the mud. |
| |
|
| Q7 |
What
next? |
| Answer |
Plans
are being drawn up to improve the whole area around the
pond after the grass has become established –
seating, a large notice board to display notices about
village events (hopefully with a map of the village etc),
a litter bin, some low ‘post and rail’ fencing
round the edge of the pond, and a lifebuoy. When
estimates are complete we will then apply for a grant
from ‘Awards For All’ – a national lottery
grant which supports community groups. |
| |
|
| Q8 |
What
about the ducks? |
| Answer |
Very few
would deny that a few ducks paddling on the pond are a
welcome and interesting feature. Our problem is
that we have many more than ‘a few’. Already
there is evidence that some of the plants which have been
put in the pond as a trial have been eaten by the ducks.
Norfolk County Council Ecologists, The Ponds Trust, The
Wildlife Trusts and even the RSPB say that too many ducks
destroy the natural balance of a pond. We need the
cooperation of everyone to ensure that our ducks do not
take over and kill off everything else in and around the
pond (as has happened over the last few years). |
| |
|
| Q9 |
Can I
help with project? |
| Answer |
Of
course! Clearly there is a need for financial
support to add to the funding we hope we will get from
‘Awards For All’, but there will be plenty of
opportunities to help in other ways.
Watch out for notices in
‘The Lophams News’ or on the Notice Boards to
see what is needed and when …. and then volunteer!
You’ll be very welcome! |