Alton town clerk Tom Horwood appealed for “light rather than heat” over Kings Pond during one of several fractious moments at the Community and Stakeholder Focus Group meeting in the Assembly Rooms on September 2.

The Community and Stakeholder Focus Group provides feedback to the Task and Finish Group appointed by Alton Town Council to lead the Kings Pond project, which will either see the pond dredged or separated from the River Wey.

Topics discussed included pond path safety, the likelihood of flooding depending on which option was chosen, the worth of trying to make the River Wey a chalk stream without addressing pollution flowing into the pond, and the Lasham Drain.

Emphasising that no decision had been taken, Mr Horwood concluded: “I’m conscious of lots of history and opinions. Let’s just focus on the fact that it is a gem for Alton.”

Speaking afterwards, Alton town councillor Don Hammond - who led the meeting - said: “The Kings Pond project is in stage one. Design of both options will be preliminary, sufficient for costing, flood risk assessment, environmental impact assessment and public presentation.

“I have spent a lot of time over the past two years talking to hydrologists and water engineers and freshwater contractors about this project and listening to knowledgeable opinions and advice.

“Before you can work out the change in flood risk that might result from alterations to a watercourse, you first need to know what those alterations will be. That is the stage one design work. Flood risk assessment follows preliminary design.

“Any change in flood risk due to work done at Kings Pond will be downstream and not back towards the town – this is readily apparent from ground levels.”

Jeremy Buck, an Anstey Lane resident who attended the meeting, expressed afterwards his disappointment at “hostility” directed at the Community and Stakeholder Focus Group by some in the audience, adding that he had “no connection” with the group.

Mr Buck said: “It is my opinion that if option one is adopted, the flood risk through the town will stay unchanged from the present state. On the other hand, if option two is adopted, the flood risk will stay the same or may be reduced upstream of the demolished weir, but it may increase downstream of the site of the weir.

“Much was said in the meeting about improved biodiversity associated with taking the pond offline. Kings Pond is different and should be retained to be enjoyed for what it is, or rather what it can be if properly cared for.

“One or two small ponds and wetlands will be no substitute. I think that the people of Alton will not thank Alton Town Council for destroying a resource that is every bit as important to the public as it is to wildlife.

“And if the Lasham Drain, discussed in the meeting, is feeding substantial quantities of untainted spring water into the river downstream of the pond, and presumably having a beneficial impact on water quality downstream, does this not reduce the case for taking the pond offline?”