Cooper Park pond, in Elgin, to be left to clear naturally by Moray Council despite poisonous algae warning
A “horrible” poisonous algal bloom that has gathered in a pond will be left to clear naturally - despite it being “harmful to humans and animals”.
Visitors at the duck pond in Elgin’s Cooper Park are being met with a red scum that’s gathered on the water’s surface due to the warm summer weather.
The blue-green algae - which was also visible in the pond last summer and earlier this year - can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and breathing difficulties if swallowed.
Gwen McGregor, who was visiting the pond with husband Allan and their three granddaughters, said the pond isn’t what it used to be.
The grandmother, who runs The Victoria Bar in Elgin with her husband, said: “Last week a bin was thrown in, but it’s worse this week. It’s horrible.
“It was never like this when our two daughters (37 and 34 now) were young and we used to go on the boats.
“It wouldn’t stop us coming. We come twice a week and the kids still love it.
“They still like to come and see the ducks. They love the park, drawing in the library and going to the cafe. But it’s not nice for tourists.
“It’s a shame, but how do you stop it?”
Italian tourists Brigitte and Romano, visiting from Rome, were impressed by the “beautiful” park but did notice the pond, which also has a collapsed border, wasn’t looking its best.
Brigitte said: “When we arrived here, heading for the library because the tourist information is inside, we thought ‘oh, what a beautiful park’.
“We thought what a beautiful green surrounding, and a beautiful pond.
“Now we are looking at it, we can see there is too little circulation. It’s not beautiful - but the huge green surroundings are very beautiful and we didn’t notice the water when we arrived.”
Hayley O’Connor, from Elgin, is concerned about the welfare of the pond’s ducks.
She said: “The ducks can’t be living in that. I’m worried that they are going to die.
“I remember coming down to feed them as a child and they seemed a lot healthier back then.”
A Moray Council spokesperson confirmed that the algae would be left to clear on its own.
The spokesperson said: “The algal bloom season lasts around four weeks then the bloom disappears, so we’ll let that happen naturally.
“Upgrades to the Cooper Park pond area are featured in the regeneration plans currently being progressed through the Long Term Town Plan and the Moray Growth Deal’s Cultural Quarter projects.
“A specific project to rejuvenate the pond and bring it back into boating use is also part of the Levelling Up Fund project.
“Some repairs have been carried out on the coping stones this year, damage has been assessed and will continue to be monitored and made safe if further deterioration occurs.”
A council warning has been put to residents about the algal bloom.
It reads: “Blue-green algae can be a problem in ponds and rivers during prolonged periods of hot weather, releasing toxins into the water which may be harmful to humans and animals.
“We have put up warning signs around the pond advising people to keep themselves, children and pets out of the water.
Information and advice is available on the environmental health section of the council website.”
More information can be found at www.moray.gov.uk
