Dead fish and water levels to be tackled at lagoon

Concerns had been raised about dead fish in the lagoon

A digger has been called to a lagoon in West Sussex to help raise the water levels and limit the number of dead fish.

Gill Purnell, chair of World of Widewater in Lancing, said a committee member who was also a registered groundsman would be using an excavator at Widewater Lagoon to clear an outlet pipe on Thursday.

"The current situation of very low water with dangerously high salinity levels due to the blocked mitigation pipe which has been devastating for the ecosystem and troubling to witness," Ms Purnell added.

The Environment Agency said erosion and damage of the mitigation pipe, which feeds the lagoon with seawater, has resulted in numerous holes and dents along the pipe.

Ms Purnell said there were "dangerously high salinity levels" in the lagoon

EA says management of the pipe costs about £40,000 a year and it cannot pay for it through its flood risk funding.

"We are engaging with partner agencies regarding long-term funding options to ensure the preservation of the habitat," the spokesperson added.

Ms Purnell said World of Widewater and its committee had been working with Lancing Parish Council, local MP Tom Rutland, West Sussex County Council and the EA to tackle the issues.

"All agencies involved quickly grasped the severity of the situation and whilst it may not seem so, they acted as quickly as possible," the chair added.

She said the group was considering a long-term maintenance plan to keep the pipes clear and that other measures would be taken by the EA.

Rutland said the EA would look to clear a number of feeder pipes and that long-term maintenance would require a "real community effort".

He added: "This has been a genuine team effort and shown our brilliant Lancing community at its best."

Lancing Parish Council also said it remained committed to keeping the lagoon end of the inlet pipe clear to help "protect the fragile ecological balance and the rare saline habitat it supports".