Great Dunmow Town Council thanks residents for their interest and patience following the
commencement of the works to desilt and carry out repairs to the Doctors Pond.
The original timeline had to be adjusted due to several environmental pressures, together with
logistical challenges which required the creation of a platform to enable machinery to operate
safely without damaging the clay base of the pond.
A secondary issue was the composition of the silt being removed which had an unusually high
slump nature. This coupled with poor drying conditions delayed its onward haulage.
The contractor has removed 608 tonnes of silt to date and is working to have the remainder
removed by Christmas.
This is a major project for the town requiring a significant financial investment by the Town
Council. It is essential therefore that the work is carried out cautiously and with great care, even
if this has resulted in a later than anticipated completion date. This will ensure that the pond is
fully restored and enhanced for our residents’ benefit for years to come.
The contractor will, on completion of the desilting and wall repairs, fully restore the grassed
areas used for the draining of the silt to their previous condition.
The Town Council would like to reassure residents that it is currently expected that the
contractors will have concluded the desilting and associated restorative works by early 2025. A
further update will be issued after the Christmas and New Year break.