Councillors Defer Decision On ‘Death Trap’ Lagoon Improvements

Councillors are demanding more details about plans to improve a lagoon in Market Harborough branded a ‘death-trap for wildlife’ by residents.

Badgers and foxes have drowned in the water and ducklings and frogs rescued because a slippery plastic lining was put down instead of a clay base.

Developer Avant Homes have admitted the lagoon on the Farndon Fields estate was not installed correctly and pledged to make improvements.

However, members of Harborough District Council’s planning committee have expressed concern about the improvement and wildlife mitigation plan put forward.

The lagoon has been branded an eye-sore & death trap for wildlife by residents

Residents say the area is also an eye-sore, as plants have failed to take root and  shrubs and trees have died.

Lorna Trueman’s house overlooks the lagoon and is one of the residents campaigning for action:

A previous lagoon in the area was much larger and a haven for wildlife according to residents, but was filled in when new houses were built to be replaced with the current one.

The planning committee had been asked to approve the plan at a meeting this week, but voted to defer making a decision, pending further information.

Councillors also requested a representative from Avant Homes attends the meeting when the matter will be discussed again.

Cllr Simon Whelband and Cllr Phil King spoke of their concerns at the planning committee meeting:

An Avant Homes spokesperson told HFM: “Following the planning committee meeting on 18 February, we provided Harborough District Council with further information and clarified some additional queries that councillors had.

“In light of this, we do not anticipate having to attend the next meeting as our proposals are detailed clearly within our application.”