November 23rd – It seems Staffordshire County Council – who’ve not been running Chasewater for long since taking it over from Lichfield District Council – are getting themselves into a bit of a pickle with the boating/duckpond at the country park.
When Lichfield were responsible for the park, the rangers hosed down the surrounding paths, and water changes were common for the pool, so that it didn’t get stagnant and contaminated by too much bird poo. When Staffordshire took over, this regimen seems to have been abandoned; they laid a new hardstanding here in the summer, and within weeks it was encrusted with excrement, as it wasn’t being washed anymore. When it was washed, the water was so polluted in the pond, it was almost luminous green.
The pond was soon drained for ‘a change of water’ – that was weeks ago, and how the pond, it’s new hardstanding and benches are fenced off, still empty.
I’ve asked around; it seems there’s an issue with de-silting a valve and whether pond water can be drained into the main lake now it’s an SSSI; but had the previous maintenance pattern been followed, none of this would have been an issue.
During the summer, there were brave statements about Chasewater being reborn; about it becoming Burntwood by the Sea. Fat chance – Staffs can’t even sort a duckpond.
I’m beginning to think that they couldn’t find their own arses with both hands, a map and a qualified arse-finder for guidance.
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