A £75,000 project to restore the duck pond in Royal Victoria Park in Bath has been delayed after a leak was discovered.
The duck pond in Royal Victoria Park before restoration works
Work to remove silt from the pond and improve the quality of the water was announced in August 2023.
In an update earlier this week, B&NES Council said subsequent exploration works have found that securing a water source for the pond and therefore preventing silt build-up is significantly more complex than original findings had indicated.
A leak in the pond has also been identified and contractors have been engaged to investigate the extent of the issue and the repairs required.
The council is now considering the options available to resolve the issues.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “Restoring the duck pond is specialist work that has proven to be a lot more complicated than it initially appeared, especially as a leak has been identified.
“Once our contractors have assessed this, we will be able to provide a further update.
“In addition, to keep the pond free of silt after the existing silt has been removed will require a reliable water supply.
“It is not possible to use the old pipe work beneath the pond as this has failed, so we need to find a new solution that will ensure the pond will be restored to the highest standard and can be easily maintained for years to come.
“We know how much people love the duck pond and we are working to resolve the issues at the earliest opportunity. Thank you for your patience.”
