Historic pond 'will recover when the rain comes'

The Crammer pond in Devizes has significantly receded this summer

A treasured 300-year-old pond has been drying up this summer due to the hot weather, sparking concern among locals.

But Devizes Town Council has now reassured residents of the Wiltshire town that the Crammer pond will recover when rain inevitably falls.

The water level is said to be at its lowest for four decades, and locals have taken to social media to express concern for the wildlife the Crammer supports, including fish.

Councillor Iain Wallis said: "When we have really sustained periods of hot weather, with so little rainfall, it's going to dry out – but it will recover when the rain comes."

Councillor Iain Wallis said the council is taking advice on how to help the fish

He said: "The water source supplying the Crammer is a combination of rainfall and road run-off, it's not fed by a stream or spring."

Sally Noseda, who runs the "Friends of the Crammer" Facebook page, said that the pond did look "terribly sad" and had "only ever been like this back in the drought of 1976".

She said local fire teams had previously filled the pond, but "were so busy at the moment dealing with fires".

Ms Noseda said most people understood that the water levels would recover with rainfall and that there was no need for panic about the wildlife.

Sally Noseda runs a Facebook group for fans of the pond

Mr Wallis said the town council was consulting relevant authorities for advice about the pond's fish.

He said that recent work carried out on the outflow pipe should ensure that when the pond does fill up again, it stays much fuller.