Acklam Hall developers insist pond wildlife is safe as housing work continues

The developers of Acklam Hall today reassured people the future of its pond is in safe hands.

Concerns had been raised after the pond at Middlesbrough’s only Grade I-listed building was fenced off, leaving some people worried about the wildlife.

However, director of Acklam Hall Martin Williams insisted while their ongoing redevelopment work may leave the pond looking unsightly at present, in the long term it was for the better.

Linthorpe resident Eileen Liggitt had told of her fears for the future of the site after discovering it was fenced off during a visit.

She said: “I had not been down there for many months due to the destruction of a once beautiful landscape. It was such a beauty spot.

“I had dogs and I used to run every morning before I went to work. For me it was a place of real beauty and isolation. It set me up for the day.

“I was totally shocked at the state of the pond and my heart went out to the ducks and birds who are behinds bars, obviously not being fed anymore, in a filthy pond.”

But Mr Williams said: “We have gone to great lengths to make sure we are doing everything we can to preserve all life forms around that area. It is quite a tricky job.

“We are clearing the pond of the silt and we have drained the pond as much as we can.

“The reason we have fenced off a big area is because it has been requested that we take the silt out of the pond and give the life forms chance to get off the silt and get back in the pond.

“We have been working on this for many weeks.”

Ian Cooper

Acklam Hall

The Acklam Hall development, approved by Middlesbrough Council planning committee in May 2012, will see the hall renovated for use as a business and conference centre with restaurant and function space. It will feature a health and care village, including a new GP surgery.

Last May, approval was also given for Taylor Wimpey to build 56 homes on the east and western side of the hall.

When plans were first put forward, developers Acklam Hall Ltd and builders Taylor Wimpey said the proposals were a carefully considered quality development which respected the architecture and history of the hall.

Speaking today Mr Williams said the wildlife has been fully taken care of, adding: “We have been carefully planning the clearance to make sure that we try and accommodate every aspect of the local population, including Middlesbrough Council, dog walkers and the wildlife.

“The underlying point is that it won’t look very good while the work is going on but it is for the long term benefit for the hall.

“It is going to be far better than it has been for many years. We are investing in the future of the local environment.

“It is just as important to us as it is to anybody else.”