Brackendale Mills pond contaminated

11.45.00am GMT Mon 21st Jan 2008

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, Lib Dem Idle and Thackley, has reported the possible contamination of a watercourse and mill pond at Brackendale Mills, Thackley to the Environmental Agency amid local concerns that it has been fatally damaged by construction works.

The watercourse runs through the brand new development on the former Brackendale Mills site at Thackley.

Councillor Sunderland said "Throughout the development of the site local councillors have raised concerns about what would happen to the mill pond and the watercourse. The developers, Mandale Homes, have always said that it would be protected and great care would be taken to make sure that the pond would remain viable and the watercourse maintained properly. A condition of the planning approval was that they (Mandale Homes) would set up a trust to properly manage the mill pond and the water course. The pond is now a weed filled mess, the levels of the bank have been altered, the water looks as if it has been contaminated - it looks like a dump - a long way from the beautiful mill pond of a few years ago."

"Investigations though the planning department, who say its Mandale Homes problem and Mandale Homes who say that it is being taken care of have not produced a proper plan to return the pond to its former glory" says Councillor Sunderland. "I have now reported it to the Environmental Agency for them to taken action. The new and existing residents of Thackley deserve a much better deal that this."