The deaths of a number of fish at St Blasius Pond in Shanklin – and the rescue of many others – has prompted retained firefighters from Shanklin to step in.
In recent weeks a number of complaints have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council about the state of the open pond alongside the main Shanklin to Ventnor road. Local observers have said that the water levels have been at the lowest they had ever seen.
Sadly, some of the large fish have perished with others rescued to a place of safety in the past few days by West Wight Pet Lifeline.
Firefighters visited the pond beside Big Mead yesterday evening (Thursday) to help restore the water level after being alerted to the issue by local Councillor Chris Quirke.
Gillian Stokes, voluntary duck warden at St Blasius, says it is a mystery as to why the water has receded so badly recently. The long, dry summer experienced last year did not see the pond’s water levels drop as much, Gillian notes.
