PARTS of a £600,000 programme of works to the Heath pond that will see new islands created and the Sussex Road boardwalk replaced have been labelled a “vanity project.”

Petersfield Town Council is funding the ambitious project that will see tonnes of silt removed from the pond, wind and wave break islands built, banks reinstated, and pond and bank habitat planted.

But Sussex Road resident Des Malone, a retired Royal Navy meteorologist and oceanographer, said: “I feel that some of the areas to be improved were more of a ‘vanity’ project.”

And a new, wider, meandering timber boardwalk out into the lake to and from the Sussex Road bank has particularly angered Mr Malone.

He said: “It seemed like a good idea, and I supported it, but I did think it would be far cheaper just to improve the existing walkway, as the wood seemed perfectly sound.

“The old boardwalk has only flooded twice to my knowledge in the last seven years and then only for around 24 hours; the sluice gate on the north side of the pond regulates the height of water.”

But when the old boardwalk was demolished by contractors Five Rivers, its almost finished replacement looked much higher and a stand-out eyesore, he added.

Mr Malone said: “I was told it would be about the same height as the existing boat jetty by the Plump Duck café, and would be in keeping with the Sussex Road bank.

“But once the work started it was realised it was significantly higher.”

The old boardwalk hard alongside the wall that retained Sussex Road was virtually at water level, but the new one appears to be at least 600mm (24 inches) higher, says Mr Malone.

And making it look higher will be safety handrails with low level netting so children can’t fall in.

Water in the pond is controlled by a sluice, and the council says the boardwalk looks higher as the level was reduced by 400mm to make the work easier.

When the project is finished, it will be returned to its original depth.

Mr Malone says if the level rises by 400mm the jetty would be underwater.

He insisted: “The boardwalk is far too high, it looks higher than the Sussex Road pavement.”

But the council says the pond project is going well and on schedule to finish on time and on budget.

Council project manager Steve Field said: “I have been made aware of concerns about the boardwalk height, and would like to reassure everyone it isn’t being built higher than it needs to be.

“When Five Rivers started building the boardwalk, it was about 50mm (two inches) above water, and they were concerned if it was high enough.

“At this point, the water level was reduced, and this explains why the boardwalk seems to be so high above the water level.

“Ideally when it’s finished it should be 300mm above the water to reduce the risk of heavy splash during the winter that could become ice.

“It will be 150mm below the Sussex Road pavement, and the west and east entrance points to it are not at equal levels, and the boardwalk will compensate for this.

“Now the boardwalk is further out in the water, we have had to introduce the handrails and safety fencing to avoid the risk of people falling in.

“We have considered the needs of all residents and visitors, and introduced a double width, longer boardwalk, so more people and those with pushchairs, buggies and mobility scooters can enjoy the new scenery and wildlife around them.”