The Otford Pond fiasco!

[Concerned Resident!]

Am I alone in wondering whether the Parish Council adhere to the New Labour philosophy of contrition?

I cannot believe that nobody has stood up and said “sorry!” or, perish the thought, resigned over the fiasco with the pond! Otford Pond is the centre of the village, not only physically but also spiritually, and to have arrived at a position where English Heritage are threatening to remove its listed building status is staggering. The individual members of the Parish Council, I’m sure are genuine people who are trying to do the best possible job for the community but surely a small, abject apology in the Parish Newsletter might have been appropriate? I know the old saying about all publicity being good publicity but the press that the Parish Council have received in the local media has, most likely, made Otford a laughing stock in the area.

And all this is without even mentioning the eyesore that has been at the centre of the village for months now.

Come on, Parish Council. Stand up and do the decent thing. Put a piece in the next Newsletter. I’ll even start it off for you……..OK, we screwed up and we’re sorry!

[Discuss Ted]

The latest Parish Council newsletter for March has this update:

Otford Pond Update
The parish council believed it had permission to complete the work, which started in 2006, and continued in 2008 but it then appeared permission had expired in 2007 and the Parish Council was ordered to stop work in 2008.
The work could not be done as originally specified which involved pouring concrete behind the existing wall to stop roots going through and pushing the facing down because, when the pond was drained to repuddle the base, it was found the 'wall' was simply a crumbling facing of lumps of ragstone which would have fallen (as they have done in the past) if disturbed.
A wall of concrete blocks was therefore built on the chalk base and original stones, probably from the ruins of the Palace, were cemented to it. The concrete wall would of course be behind the stones and not be visible.
Sevenoaks District Council Conservation Officer and Planning Officers said this was not the same as when the pond was listed in 1975. However, until 2006 nobody had seen what the facing looked like and realised how insecure it was and the risks of collapse and leakage.
A fresh Listed Building Application was submitted but, when discussed at the Development Control meeting last month, councillors voted 7:5 against the parish's wish to build a secure pond facing. After further discussions with SDC Officers the Parish Council has decided to reapply for permission providing further and new evidence of the history and recent state of the pond facing, to convince Officers and Members of the need to ensure that this highly valued and listed structure should be as safe and secure as possible. The parish will also appeal against the past decision; this is expected to take some time, and the result of our resubmission will probably come first.
A great deal of work is being done on this basis at the moment, however the contractor could not start work until the weather is suitable, and this is likely to be May/June. We can assure you of the frustration felt by the council, and that several people are working to convince SDC that a listed pond has to be functional. Other listed buildings above ground can simply be picturesque ruins; ponds must hold water - safely.

... seems like the whole country is getting to hear about this, if you have read your Daily Telegraph ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...nning-row.html

... let's hope it gets resolved very soon and work is finished before much longer.

Other reporting:

- Kent News - Historic listed pond's wall 'destroyed' by council

- Sevenoaks Chronicle - Pond owner says restoration work will go ahead