Wolverhampton City Council

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1 Agenda Item No: 6 Wolverhampton City Council Scrutiny Panel ADULTS AND COMMUNITY Date 3/4/2007 Portfolio: LEISURE AND CULTURE Originating Service Group(s) ADULTS AND COMMUNITY Contact Officer(s)/ SARAH CAMPBELL JOHN PUGH Telephone Number(s) Ext.2052 Ext.5110 Title/Subject Matter OPEN WATER IN WOLVERHAMPTON 1.0 Recommendation 1.1 That members of the Scrutiny Panel debate the content of this report and provide a Member perspective on the issues raised in this report. Officers may then be able to use this to inform the future developments concerning the management of open water in the city. 2.0 Background 2.1 The Parks and Contracts Section has the responsibility for the management of parks and green spaces belonging to the Leisure portfolio. Through the Streetscene and other contracts, the section also has the responsibility for the oversight of the maintenance contracts on land in other portfolios such as Highways, Wolverhampton Homes and Social Care. The section is also consulted on planning issues related to green space and works closely with other major landholders, in particular, British Waterways. 2.2 Wolverhampton has a wealth of canals and open water. These fall into three main categories: Natural pools, which are predominantly used for supporting wildlife Streams and water courses which in some instances feed into a natural ponds Canals which often form part of a boundary to a green site or are adjacent to leisure walks These are listed in Appendix A In addition there are two paddling pools one at Tettenhall (Upper Green) and one at East Park 2.3 This report seeks to draw together the issues and developments which are taking place with regard to open water in the city. Appendix B looks at issues and proposals for specific pools. 1

2 3.0 Main Issues 3.1 Safety and Risk Management: Open water can be dangerous and the section is responsible for addressing risks within the Leisure portfolio. Risk assessments are carried out by Managers to identify and categorise possible risks into high, medium or low. After a concerted effort to improve safety at open water sites in the city, all our sites fall into the low or no risk category. This is confirmed by an annual inspection by the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (ROSPA). Safety and life saving equipment is placed at all sites and this has now been linked electronically so that incidents of tampering with the equipment are recorded and reported immediately Streams and water courses, many of which have been part culverted over the years, generally provide habitats for wildlife and pose low levels of risk. Where streams pass underground through pipes, access needs to be kept secure and clear of debris to allow free passage of water Canals are the responsibility of British Waterways but there is a requirement for the section to consider the risk factor as part of site assessments relating to adjoining green space (for example at, Fowler s Park or Smestow Valley). Usually signage warning of deep water is sufficient with careful management of planted areas to keep vegetation low Wolverhampton is one of very few Councils in the country who still operate outdoor paddling pools. Although many safety features are built into paddling pools at the design stage, most risks are judged against methods of operation. Considerable expenditure is required for a relatively short season to keep up to date with the latest requirements. The pools are staffed during peak periods of operation. 3.2 Canada Geese Canada Geese are a non-native species which dominate native varieties of ducks and waterfowl. They reduce the food stock, pollute the pools and banks and can be very aggressive to other birds and to people The current method of controlling Canada Geese is by oiling and pricking the eggs under licence. This has only partial success as it is not possible to find all the eggs, and in any case the adult geese move from other breeding grounds where management is not undertaken To manage the geese on a more local basis, an experiment is suggested for Ladymoor Pool where the erosion the geese have caused has made it dangerous for people to approach the pool. Strengthening the banks and additional planting will impede the flight path of the geese and make it difficult for them to land and feed. 2

3 3.2.4 Part of the problem is that people enjoy, and in some cases for religious purposes, feel they must feed the ducks and geese. This causes additional pollution and much of the food offered is totally unsuitable for the birds. Signage is positioned at many of the pools, but this has a negligible effect. It is possible to prosecute under the Environment Act of 1990, but this is very rarely done. 3.3 Fishing and Fish Stock With most pools, control of fish stock is undertaken by line fishing. This ensures that there is no overstocking of fish and that the stock remains healthy. In order to prevent illegal netting and make provision for this very popular sport, it is proposed to develop further local fishing clubs and provision such as safe fishing platforms. Failure to do this can lead to fishermen working from unsafe banks which can damage the plants close to the pools and lead to erosion. 4.0 Financial Implications 4.1 Many of the issues identified in this report are being addressed through revenue budgets. Funding is also being requested from a number of external bodies, principally the BIG Lottery s People s Millions Programme (in which a Black Country wide bid of 48m has been shortlisted into the last six nationally), the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (Cleaner, Greener, Safer) and the BIG/HLF Parks for the People funding stream ,000 from the capital programme has been spent on Tettenhall Pool to refurbish the pool and the pumping equipment. This should mean that there will be no further issues to be addressed for at least five years. 4.3 The cost of operating the two paddling pools for the summer season is in the region of 30,000. This cost is for staffing and chemicals to treat the water to a satisfactory quality. Repair and updating plant and equipment varies considerably from one year to the next, with 12,000 being spent on East Park over the last year. 4.4 There are a number of issues which are currently under investigation and these have not yet been fully costed. 5.0 Environmental and Equal Opportunities Implications 5.1 Paddling Pools provide considerable benefits to users and are very popular during hot weather. All the pools, be they natural or man-made, are available free of charge to all users. 5.2 There are clear Environmental Issues arising from this report some of which are being exacerbated by the hotter summers experienced in the last few years. Canada geese are a problem for many areas as they take food from smaller 3

4 and native species and cause pollution and damage to the surrounding area. Their management, however, remains unresolved as it is not possible to fully control their numbers. 5.3 Management of fish can be undertaken, usually by working with a local Fishing Club whose presence helps to deter illegal netting and keep the fish stock healthy. 5.4 Most of the water in Wolverhampton is of a reasonable quality, although none of the pools or waterways are recommended for swimming. 4

5 APPENDIX A Parks and Green Spaces with open water features Natural Pools Fowlers Playing Fields Grapes Pool, Moseley Road Hawkswell Drive Pool Ladymoor Pool Pendeford Nature Reserve Rocket Pool West Park Northycote Farm (2 pools) Bantock Park Streams and Water Courses Boots Land Allotments Boundary Way Allotments Compton Road Allotments Mount Road Allotments Renton Road Allotments Penn Road Allotments Hilton Road PF Northycote Farm and Country Park Old Hall Park, Moseley Parklands Penk Rise Valley Park Sedgemoor Park Springvale Park Beside Canal Blaydon Road / Marsh Lane Open Space Broad Lane South Open Space Broad Street Canal Basin Inkermann Street Loxdale Sidings Marsh Lane Open Space Millfields Canalside Neachells Lane Pinford Bridge Oxley Moor Road Pendeford Open Space Rookery Street, Wednesfield Stirling Road Tank Farm bridge over canal and alongside site Windmill Wood Wolverhampton Road Open Space 5

6 Issues and Actions APPENDIX B Name of Pool / Site Issues Actions to be taken Funding source Fowlers Park Canada Geese cause major erosion of surrounding land and create considerable fouling of adjacent areas. To control Canada geese, egg pricking or oiling is carried out to their eggs. Culling is also a consideration but unworkable unless neighbouring authorities do the same. Revenue funding The open brook is attractive to vermin. Continue to remove food sources and lay bait using environmental health section Fishing in the pool is established but not overseen Establish a local fishing club to help manage the pool on a day to day basis. Ladymoor Pool This pool is used for fishing and supports wildlife. The pool has occasionally been illegally netted which means that too many fish are caught and there is no discrimination as with line fishing. Establish a local fishing club to manage the pool on a day-today basis. Construct new fishing platforms to encourage safe fishing in support of work already undertaken in the area by the Environment Agency and British Disabled Angling Association. This initiative teaches and promotes safe fishing and has been carried out in conjunction with the local community. Within the Black Country as Urban Park bid to the BIG Lottery under the Living Landscapes sub programme. 6

7 Issues and Actions APPENDIX B Canada Geese cause major erosion of surrounding banks and are consequently a safety issue. Fouling the surrounding area is also a major problem. Proposals have been drawn up for addressing the erosion of banks to improve safety and discourage Canada Geese from feeding so that they fly off to find alternative waters. Signs prohibiting people from feeding the geese should be installed and the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, should be enforced where possible. Recent request from model boating club Request recently received from model boating club to be permitted, provided they provide safe operating procedures. Moseley Park The Grapes Pool This pool suffers major water loss The pool is popular for fishing and supports wildlife. A survey using a specialist has been commissioned. Results will be available soon. A local fishing club operate at this site to oversee the pool. This ensures that the pool is not over-fished due to its small size and therefore limited use. Report being commissioned through revenue budget. No other sources of funding yet identified Canada geese are a problem Signs prohibiting feeding of geese. 7

8 Rocket Pool Issues and Actions Safety has been a major issue at this pool. While the safety equipment and signage has been attended to, there have been differences of opinion regarding the official establishment of fishing at the pool. Recent survey in the area has shown local support for developing better facilities for fishing, building of fishing platforms. APPENDIX B Funding application through NRF (Cleaner, Greener, Safer) Canada Geese cause major erosion of surrounding banks and are consequently a safety issue. Fouling the surrounding area is also a major problem. Control of geese measures. Signs prohibiting feeding of geese. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the offence of littering is an enforceable offence with fixed penalties. Display notices. West Park This lake is not used for fishing due to safety issues to pedestrians when visiting the park. However, it does produce a huge population of fish due to the excessive feeding of wild fowl. The hot dry summers are having a detrimental effect on the fish. To date the main solution has been aeration through a pump used in midsummer. Other solutions such as a permanent water feature to aerate the pool, or additional planting will be tried over the next few years. In March a survey netting exercise was carried out and the surplus fish transferred to a pool in Shropshire. This will need to be done every two to three years to prevent overstocking. Costs and funding for a permanent Feature not yet identified. Costs for fish stock management and planting within revenue budget. 8

9 Smestow Valley Issues and Actions The over population of Canada Geese discourage some of the smaller wild fowl from settling on the lake and controls to substantially reduce Canada Geese need to be used. Erosion to grass and shrub beds by the geese is damaging to the park and fouling of adjacent paths is a safety issue. The lake s two islands need extensive work to stabilise and prevent further erosion. This work was not agreed by HLF when the remainder of the parks restoration was approved due to their disagreement with the methods to be used. A small pool exists along Smestow Valley and although it is not used for fishing, it does form part of the Nature Reserve. Due to its steep banks and isolated position needs to be surveyed and solutions to the risks addressed, which could be by securing the area by fencing and excluding public access to this part of the Nature Reserve. The current warning signs and life saving equipment is adequate. Currently egg pricking or oiling is carried out under licence by environmental health officers. It will be necessary to engage a specialist consultant to complete a survey of the islands and lake with proposals on how the necessary work can be carried out to improve the quality of water and its sustainability for the future. The lake is also used for boating during the summer months and therefore needs to be considered as part of the survey. APPENDIX B Revenue is being used to address some of the erosion problems, though without a substantial reduction in the number of Canada geese, this will continue to be a problem The report can be commissioned through revenue funding. No implementation costs have yet been identified, nor the funding required. Within the Black Country as Urban Park bid to the BIG Lottery under the Living Landscapes sub programme. 9

10 East Park Pool Issues and Actions The pool is in need of a complete overhaul, although 12,000 was spent in 2006/07 on emergency repairs. Additional work has been carried out this winter and this now needs to be tested. Following investigations and subsequent repairs, trials are now being carried out to the East Park Paddling Pool to confirm the success of the work to resolve leakage. One of the difficulties with this pool is it still has a below ground level pump room, which flooded during a storm last year. This resulted in the disabling of all plant and equipment in Work carried out at the time was just sufficient to get the equipment working again. However, this resulted in a major loss of water. APPENDIX B This pool will also require a major investment to ensure continuity of operating service in future years. A funding bid under the BIG/HLF Parks for the People programme will be submitted later this year. Tettenhall Paddling Pool A programmed refurbishment of the pool and the pumping gear is due to be completed in April. The work will need to be fully tested prior to the pool opening in May. Capital programme funding 10