A decision on the future of a beauty spot in Alton is getting closer. A briefing paper called has been released by Alton Town Council ahead of their meeting next Wednesday. And it ultimately comes down to two options: dredge and keep the pond in its current form, or remove the weir and restore the natural flow of the Wey.
Both proposals have pros and cons as the former is low-risk and would not change the pond’s biodiversity, while improvements to the weir could reduce blockages, but the option is not sustainable. The other is a sustainable “pond and river” alternative vision which restores the natural flow of the Wey and minimises silting. But the reduction in water – with wetlands, two ponds and a stream likely to form – could lead to a drop in wildfowl.
Expenditure for forthcoming ecological surveys will be on the agenda at next Wednesday’s meeting, more at www.alton.gov.
uk/kings-pond-update.
