В деревне Мартам начали разрабатывать план по очистке загрязненного исторического пруда

It's a Broads village known for its historic and tranquil duck ponds. But concerns have been raised in Martham about the condition of one of its best-known water features. A parishioner has reported issues at the pond on the village green, opposite the King's Arms pub, including litter, algae, dead wildlife and deteriorating banks. Martham Parish Council has acknowledged the problem and said they are committed to developing an action plan. Parish clerk Stacey Kent blamed the condition of the pond on recent "poor weather". "It needs to be dredged by a professional but it needs an engineer from Norfolk County Council to look at the side before we start." She added the parish council is working on an action plan with other agencies. Algae blooms have been particularly severe across the UK this year after a warmer-than-average spring combined with low water levels and high nutrient levels. The matter has also been reported to Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth. He said: "I'm pleased to say that our councillor Jason Hughes is on the case. "A small effort to keep it clean and the whole village will benefit. Let's make it happen." Martham is known for its two historic duck ponds, one of which dates back more than a century and was painted by artist William Gilbert Foster around 1890. Its twin pond was on Cranes Green just in front of the Co-op on The Green. Shortly before the Co-op was built in 1936, that pond vanished, possibly drying-up as better roads and sewers reduced the run-off that had fed the pond. The main village pond has also been the site of two drownings. In 1942, a man died after falling in during the wartime blackout. Six months later, another man drowned in similar circumstances. The tragedies prompted the parish council to install railings around the pond. The village has several other ponds, including one at the opposite end of The Green known locally as 'The Chip Shop Pond'.