I recently visited the Park along with Councillors Nunn, Middleton and O’Sullivan, as I had been receiving complaints about the poor state of the lake. We also met with Alison who heads up the Conservation Team who tirelessly look after the birds on the lake. I was saddended to hear that so far this year they have taken 16 dead birds off of the lake due to avian botulism. The main fountain that aerates the lake has not been working for over a year, and the two smaller wind turbines that help to aerate the lake have just recently been installed after being missing for months due to repair works. We all witnessed lots of rubbish in the silt lagoon located at the Warren Drive car park site and also some oil that had unfortunately made its way into the lake. There are still problems with raw sewage making its way into the River Ravensborne at the Abbs Cross Lane drain cover in the park and a big hole in the grating at the river bridge allows large items to pass further into the river.
I have written to the Council to find out if the they have intentions of dredging and desilting the Lakes again, hopefully this time the silt will be taken away and not banked up at the lake sides again as it was in 2017. When will the main fountain be installed? Can the hole in the grating be fixed? Thames Water have been notified of the Sewage making its way into the Ravensborne and I have also requested when the last time the main Sewer that runs through the Park was inspected.
I will keep you posted as and when I hear back from those contacted.