Ok - So I'm Over-Enthusiastic!

The timing of the approval that was needed to carry out the clearance of the pond, has meant that Cornwall Council have now said that work will begin on Monday 8th February - that's Feast Day in St Ives. Although this is a slight set-back, it does mean that by this time in two weeks the pond should be clear of weed, silt and gravel. This means that the Good Friday boat sailing will be able to go ahead this year (2010). It also means that, subject to the funding application being successful, other plans for the pond should be able to go ahead before the summer.

Fund raising will continue - Don't forget Brian Stevens - Talk and Slide show on Monday 1st Feb. Details of which can be found in previous posts.

Real progress at last! Approval has been granted by the Environment Agency for the mega clearance work in the pond to be carried out. Cornwall Council are now coordinating their workforce and the digger contractor to confirm the exact date that the work will start. It is hoped that the work will begin next week (w/b 1st February).

An announcement will be made at the Talk and Slide show event taking place next Monday, (see details in previous blog) and an update will appear on this blog as soon as the confirmation has been received.

Exciting stuff!!!

Update on Pond Clearance

Model Boats in Consols Pond on Good Friday 2010?

Well it certainly appears much more hopeful now.

It looks as though the clearance of Consols Pond will begin on Monday 1st February. Cornwall Council is expecting to get the go-ahead from the Environment Agency on Friday 22nd January. Once the Approval has been received, the Council can instruct their workforce and the plant contractor (who unfortunately needs at least two days notice) this means that nothing would start until the middle of next week, it has therefore been decided that it would be best to begin work on the 1st February.

All-being-well, Consols Pond Association will be able to announce that work has indeed begun, at their fundraising event on the evening of the 1st February. The details of this event can be viewed in one of the earlier postings. Hopefully, the pond will never again look like it does in the picture above, which was taken in August 2009.

So, get your sailing boats ready, it looks as though the water will be beckoning for the traditional Good Friday event!

Pond Clearance Imminent

The long awaited clearance of pond weed, silt and gravel from Consols Pond is imminent. Conversations with the Environment Agency and Cornwall Council suggest that work may start on Monday 25th January.

Watch this space for confirmation!!

Talk and Slide show to raise funds for Consols Pond Association

Consols Pond Association

Presents


A talk and slide show
By
Brian Stevens
Curator of St Ives Museum


Monday 1st February 2010 at 7pm
St Ives Infants School
(Free Parking)


Advance Tickets £3.00 Tickets on the Door £4.00


Purchase your advance tickets at the Tourist Information Office at The Guildhall, St Ives or
By telephone on: 01209-715650

Refreshments and Raffle

Keeping The Tradition Alive

Consols Pond is a former mining pond situated at grid ref: SW50584 39895, Hellesveor, St Ives. For approximately 100 years it has been used by the community of St Ives to sail modal yachts on Good Friday and by youngsters fishing for tadpoles, newts and sticklebacks to name but a few. In more recent years, probably due to parental fears keeping children closer to home, less and less children have used the pond for pond dipping.

Unfortunately, due to a breakdown in communications the pond was not cleared in time for the Good Friday boating in 2009. As a result the Consols Pond Association was formed to ensure that this important local tradition was not lost forever. In an attempt to raise community awareness of the pond, I had an information stall at the Ayr Field Fun Day event back in July. Pictures of pond creatures were displayed on the table and children were asked to match the correct name to the creature. I was astonished by the number of children who could not identify even the tadpole correctly. In an attempt to redress this situation, Consols Pond Association is looking for funding from the Lottery Awards for All Fund to install a decked platform on the Zennor Road side of the pond. This would enable easier and safer access to the pond for pond dipping events.

We are currently waiting for the Environment Agency consents and as soon as permission is received Cornwall Council will be carrying out a major clearance of the pond. Watch this space for regular updates!