A MAN has hit out at Glasgow City Council after the water level of a beloved local pond drastically dropped again – almost a year after they were told money was set aside to improve it.
We previously reported that locals say the pond in Knightswood Park has been emptying during the summer months for the last four years due to what they believe to be a leak, with the water level dropping from up to four feet high to just a few inches.
They said this has been having a negative effect on both local wildlife and residents, who described the pond as a “place of solace”.
READ NEXT: ‘It doesn’t float our boats’: Community HITS OUT over ‘half-drained, very sad-looking pond’
In a statement given to the Glasgow Times in early August last year a spokesperson for the council said: “Funding has been allocated to make significant improvements to the pond and we want to progress with any work as soon as possible.”
However, almost a year later, residents say there has been no work done on the pond, which is home to a variety of animals including fish, eels, frogs, newts and birds, and the water levels have significantly dropped once more.
Now the council say they are looking at natural alternatives to maintain the pond’s water levels.
Tony McGraw is chairperson of Knightswood Model Boat Club which has been based at the park for 11 years.
He says he is frustrated by the lack of communication from the council regarding the resolution of the issue.
Tony said: “There have not been any repairs carried out at all.
“We were promised last year there was cash set aside for repairs, but it was never done.”
He continued: “They’ve had no communication whatsoever with us.
“This has been ongoing for a couple of years, we’ve been reporting it for a couple of years, and nothing’s been done.
“We know money’s tight, we understand that, but if they talk to us, we could maybe make a Crowdfunding page or something like that.”
Tony says at the end of June the pond’s water level had dropped to just four inches high but it has risen to 23 inches following recent rainfall.
However, he expects it to fall again with the water level dropping “an average of four to 10 inches a week”.
He added: “A lot of the guys [from the model boat club] are getting depressed due to the fact they can’t sail.
“It’s been a crap year for us between the first load of bird flu, no water, then water and then no water again.”
READ NEXT: Man refusing to pay waste permit as leaves in his garden ‘aren’t his’
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “It is not best practice or sustainable to fill the pond from a drinking water supply, so we are looking at natural alternatives.
“Design work is underway to develop mitigation measures to tackle flooding and manage surface water in Knightswood Park with funding from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.
“The final project will direct more surface water from Waldemar Road via a swale to the pond.
“A further phase will, should funding be secured, involve directing more flow from Archerhill Road to the pond, creating a wetland area.
“We are committed to protecting and promoting biodiversity and work has already been done to naturalise the pond with planting and the creation of floating islands for nesting birds.
“These measures have proved successful and we hope to progress the additional measures as soon as possible.”
