Husband wins pond battle

A HUSBAND has won his fight to stop officials forcing him to fill in a beautiful garden pond with a pergola and decking for his disabled wife to sit by.

Alison Jones loves the water feature at their three bedroom council home in Cherry Tree Road, Stowmarket.

But she and her husband Matthew were instructed by Mid Suffolk District Council that there have been complaints about the noise from a pump - and that pond would have to go because they never gained planning consent.

Mr Jones, 36, who is a full-time carer to his wife, told the Evening Star today that he has agreed to reduce the noise from the pump by boxing it in and will probably have to reduce the height of the pergola.

But he has been told he can keep the pond, to the delight of his family.

He said: “We have won the battle so far and I am just waiting to hear about the pergola height. I think this is brilliant, a lot of work went into this and the family love it.

“The children are always feeding the fish and we have some lovely big koi in there which are lovely to see. We are so glad that we can keep it.”

Mrs Jones, 40, said: “I am so thrilled to hear that we have won the day and can keep the pond. I have a muscular problem have difficulty walking and have to use a mobility scooter to get about. To be able to sit by the water in our garden and see the fish is something I really enjoy.

“Lots of people have been asking us what is happening and are interested and we are so happy to hear we will not lose it.

“We have been advised that we may have to reduce the height of the pergolas, but that is fine, the main thing was to keep the water.”

The feature, home to koi carp, has been in situ for about 12 months and is very popular with the couple and their four children, Sapphire, 10, Jermaine, nine, Shequita, seven, and Lemar, four.

A spokeswoman for Mid Suffolk District Council, based at Needham Market, said: “We will not be taking any action against Mr and Mrs Jones, at 44 Cherry Tree Road.”