Lowestoft Town Council Ponds and Waterways Policy

• A planned de-silting programme will be considered as keeping sediment out of the pond prevents the pond from being made shallow. Silt levels will be monitored every 5 years and actioned as necessary to maintain pond health, depth and life.
• Smaller ponds should have carefully managed margins to allow for this movement of wind over their surfaces. Oxygenation of ponds happens in two major ways. Plants and algae do photosynthesis during the day and wind adds oxygen at night. Thus, plants and an open aspect allowing for the movement of the wind over the pond's water surface is necessary for a healthy pond.
• Oxygenating plants will be introduced in ponds where appropriate, especially those without marginal planting and an obvious water flow/source, but this will be monitored to make sure their growth does not affect the ecological balance of the pond.
• Care will be taken that only appropriate species of fish or wildlife are introduced into ponds and that any transportation of fish or wildlife will be conducted with the appropriate licenses and that minimal stress is caused to the fish or wildlife.
• Where the health of the pond is not in a positive state then consideration will be given to the introduction of floating wind powered water circulating equipment and the installation of sonic algal control devices.
• Tree and foliage maintenance will be managed as necessary to allow for wind movement across the surface of a pond and to maintain light levels on the ponds and hence maintain a healthy pond.
• In the event of a severe period of frost and snow, ponds will be monitored to check that oxygenation of the water is not at a stressed level.
• Where it is considered that a rare or endangered species has taken residence in a pond then the appropriate organisation will be contacted for advice and all necessary action taken to ensure the safety of that species.

3.0 Responsibilities

3.1 In order to ensure that the Council's ponds and waterways are properly maintained, officers will work with Council contractors and staff to ensure that a maintenance schedule is in place and will carry out spot checks to ensure that the maintenance is ongoing and take into account the measures listed above.

3.2 If any issue arises that officers cannot deal with within existing policy or funding then the issue will be raised with the Town Clerk to bring to councillors' attention via the Assets, Inclusion and Development (AID) Committee. Should additional funds be required the AID Committee will make recommendation to the Finance & Governance Committee.

Lowestoft Town Council Pond Policy. Adopted April 2018. Reviewed May 2026.

Next Review May 2027.