UPDATED: Concerns have been raised about the ‘destruction’ of a longstanding wildlife pond in Pan Country Park as part of a drainage scheme.
According to the Isle of Wight Council, works are taking place in the area to allow housing developer Barratts to complete drainage work in connection with their St George’s Gate development. As a result, a footpath that runs through the area will be closed for a period of 2 months. The construction work in the area is to continue for around 3 years.
The once thriving piece of countryside with a well-established pond has been reduced to nothing more than muddy puddle, according to local residents.
Councillor Geoff Brodie was bombarded with complaints over the weekend and he is now taking the situation up with senior Isle of Wight Council officers.
Cllr Brodie has said:
“The Pan Meadows development will ultimately extend nearly as far as this pond, but the country park is supposed to provide a buffer against urban creep… it seems a bit like a marauding army devastating the countryside.”
Ian Boyd from environmental consultancy Arc has said:
“The pond was never part of any attenuation design, it was outside the development red line and solely intended as part of the mitigating works for wildlife within the country park.
Article continues below this advertisement “The developer needs to put the habitats back (that won’t help the immediate loss but allows things to recolonise) AND provide some sort of additional compensatory benefit for biodiversity within the country park.”
UPDATE @ 11:40 – A spokesperson from Barratt Homes has today said:
“This work is to facilitate surface water drainage for the consented development and we have been working closely with the Isle of Wight Council officers.
“Together we agreed to close off the informal path around the pond because of health and safety concerns. Signage and fencing has been installed and work involves creating a new land drain and headwall along with an overflow pipe to the existing stream.
“This area has been inspected for wildlife and a visual inspection was carried out before work started.”
UPDATE @ 15:39 – A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has this afternoon said:
“The Isle of Wight Council is investigating, as this work was not part of the agreed schedule with Barratts.”
Local man Rich Arnold has videoed the area to show the current state of affairs.
