Ducks abandon 'vile' pond in garden village

Craig Lewis said the pond has been getting worse for "a few months"

Ducks have abandoned the pond in a park after council neglect left it in a "disgusting" state, villagers claim.

Craig Lewis, 37, said he had seen discarded cans, bottles and "grime" on the water, in Silver End Memorial Gardens, near Witham, Essex, and told the BBC the situation had been getting worse for "quite a few months".

"This used to be thriving with ducks, all sorts of wildlife, and now there's not a single duck in the area because it's just so disgusting," he said.

Braintree District Council said no maintenance schedule had been in place due to the pond being "ornamental", but that it was aware of its condition and was organising a contractor to treat it.

Danny Owens took photos of the pond when it was full of life a few years ago

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.

Braintree District Council's website describes the gardens as a "great place to enjoy fresh air, green space, and time with your family"

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, 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".