Work to improve the health of a popular town pond is being carried out after the recent drought contributed to low water levels.
A scheme of dredging works has begun at the pond on Gainsborough Drive in Lowestoft after an ecological report and environmental survey "highlighted the need for the work."
With Lowestoft Town Council having "agreed to progress works on the Gainsborough Drive Pond," a three week scheme of work started on Monday (October 17).
Fencing had been installed around the pond area last week, with GT Rochester Plant Ltd now carrying out the works.
Costing just under £30,000, the town council said this involved "no external funding" after they had budgeted for the works.
A Lowestoft Town Council spokesman said: "Gainsborough Drive Pond hasn’t had a significant issue with algae.
"The pond is fed by rain water so the recent drought period has contributed to the low water level.
"We hope the dredging, alongside continued maintenance, will improve the health of the pond.
"The dredging works have been recommended from professional studies.
"It has been recommended that works are scheduled to take advantage of the current low water level before potential rainfall, and the time of year when there are less wildlife in the habitat."
With a fenced-off compound installed on site, the work is set to involve the use of heavy plant transport as the pond is dredged with the waste directly loaded into lorries that will be taken off site.
The work is expected to last "a minimum of three weeks" according to the town council.
It comes after the Gunton Residents’ Association and the Gainsborough Drive Pond Group - who carry out maintenance of the pond area - had liaised with Lowestoft Town Council last year over "excessive" duck feeding at the pond.
After raising concerns between April and June last year over the feeding of ducks and changes in water quality, the group said that the feeding of ducks combined with leftover food was "adding to the detritus in the pond".
At the time, the town council said they were "developing signage to reflect the issues in this area."
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