Catshill dad demands Sanders Park pond be cleaned after son finds floating carcass

Gavin Waldron, 38, visited the park for the first time this year on Sunday (March 19), but was outraged to see flies hovering around the pond, just months after the council carried out works to encourage wildlife on the site.

The father-of-three said: "It was disgusting. I usually take my kids down there most Sundays but obviously because it's been winter I haven't been down, so Sunday was the first time this year. My six-year-old lad was so upset to see ducks actually struggling to paddle around the pond and there was a dead squirrel in there.

"He's only six and he said 'why have those ducks got to swim in there?' and I had to explain, because the council don't clean it. You should have seen my little lad's face and then it's the ducks I feel sorry for, it can't be good for them. It's just not right."

Gavin said he remembers paddling in the pond as a child, but says the state of the pond is putting people off visiting Sanders Park at all.

Bromsgrove District Council has insisted the pond is regularly cleaned, but has ensured residents the dead squirrel will be removed from the pond soon.

A spokesman said: "The pond, as well as the rest of the park, is routinely cleaned although we are not on site all the time.

“We do keep on top of the larger debris such as branches, rubbish and keep the inlet as clear as possible whilst avoiding disturbing the birds and fish too much – it is a natural environment after all.

“We also rely on people reporting specific issues to us and we will ensure this floating carcass is removed as quickly as possible.

“Like any garden, our parks and open spaces need a lot of maintenance after the Winter and now Spring is here our schedules will be adapted accordingly.

“We would discourage people from swimming in the pond or any open water and refer them to established swimming venues."