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Sir John  Soane Cancels Fishing Trip.

I spoke to Sir John Soane this morning. Many of the fish in the "Swan Lake" in Walpole park died yesterday. As a result he has had to cancel the fishing trip he had planned. I spoke to Mrs Akor Morant, her Ron and other residents near the lake today. They were outraged that the fountain had not been working for weeks and said that had it been working it would have oxygenated the water and may have prevented not only the nasty smells but also the mass fish death. They had complained but nothing was done. Hundreds died yesterday many 100mm long. Sir John has taken to his bed in Pitzhanger Manor House after sacking his park manager (Mr Ealing) for ignoring his requests to sort out the fountain.

Arthur Breens ● 5890d7 Comments

Mr Ealing read this blog and two fountains are now working since my post this morning. One is 3m high and the other 0.5m high. The fish have gone. Maybe a few remain. But it appears to take the death of 300 fish and an entry on this forum to galvanise the council into action. Or maybe it was my mention of the Environment Agency that turned the screw. What do you think?

Arthur Breens ● 5890d

Its disappointing to read this as you would expect water features in parks to be checked daily by rangers with prompt action by management - as well as making sure that waterfowl aren`t tangled up or litter removal needed.  Perhaps Walpole Friends could also keep a check in future with reporting to a senior council officer?PS Great headline but the fishing pond was next to the ornamental arches folly and was much deeper when John Soane is known to have fished with artist William Turner of Oxford.www.walpolefriends.org

Robert Darke ● 5890d

Robert,I am a Walpole Friend and I have posted every event on their forum since the fountain stopped working during the festival. Councillors wrote letters and became involved. I am sorry to say that as far as officers are concerned none of us, residents, councillors or friends have any leverage. Officers don't want us "in their loop". However 300 dead fish in their "best" park seems just peanuts to the games they are playing in more important areas.

Arthur Breens ● 5890d

Its a shame because its probably fairly easy and cheap to oxygenate stagnant water if waiting for repairs and the waterfowl and resident heron may not find it so easy to cope apart from the wastage to the fish.

Robert Darke ● 5890d

I think we might hear soon what the Environmental Agency thinks of the killing of these fish.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5839d

They are not amused Eric and have asked for further details. I think the real problem the parks department have is that they have another pond with fish. Have they learnt anything from the disaster in Swan Lake and attempted to take preventative action there? The "Friends" group don't help. They downplay the deaths. They say that " it is well known that the lake is unsuitable for fish.."Those fish were wild animals. Swallows nest in barns. Peregrine falcons find homes on cooling towers and bats in lofts. They got the numbers wrong as well. During the summer I saw beautiful carp in small ponds which were properly looked after and alive. Hampton Court springs to mind. But of course they keep their fountains running.

Arthur Breens ● 5833d

Is Sir John planning another fishing trip? He'll need a detour to get across the park from his home as the fencing to be removed 'in early November' is still there.I'm not sure if fish will return to Swan Lake. The lake itself has also regularly been flooding on the south side.Only 6 months to go before the Walpole Park festival season. Will the fountains be turned off yet again? And sadly probably only another four months of a viable Park Ranger service. Parents and children are complaining about the continued absence of much loved play equipment in the Park playground. Even Spencers Cafe which proudly boasts that it's open every day has spent many days recently shut all day.However the park itself in snow, ice, and even in slush is as beautiful as ever.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5746d