Dismay as wildlife pool slowly dries up

Wildlife at a pool in Wednesbury that is drying up could be saved by using water from the River Tame, residents said today.

Homeowners living near Hydes Pool on Woden Road South said that when the water last dried up in 2005 wildlife was then saved using emergency supplies from the river.

After meeting with Wednesbury firefighters and residents, Sandwell Council chiefs have confirmed they are now seeking legal permission to replenish the pool with river water. The process is thought to cost several thousand pounds. Resident Anna Walker, aged 44, of Woden Road South, said: "The water is emptying and fish are drying out at the pool.

"It seems the council is reluctant to spend the money it would take to fill it up. The lower the council lets the water get, the more we are going to have to pay to fill it up anyway. It's the council's inertia that is the most upsetting thing."

Environment Agency spokeswoman Maria Ball said the pool, which is not used by anglers, was owned by the council and the agency would not intervene.

Civil servant Miss Walker said Bellway Homes, who built 231 homes on the nearby site of the former Sandwell College in 2004, gave the council an £305,474 Open Space Contribution to develop the surrounding area which it should use to pay for the water.

Leisure chief Councillor Ann Shackleton said the council were seeking permission from the Environment Agency to pump water into the pool and hoped that would be done this week.

She said the council was now looking at the legal issues around using the open space money. Ward Councillor Olwen Jones said there would be a meeting with residents at Woden Road School on 6pm on Thursday.