Alton Town Council has launched a nine-week public consultation and is inviting residents to help shape the future of King’s Pond. Information about the consultation has been sent to households and is being delivered by Royal Mail, deliveries started on Monday 19 October 2026. Click here for a copy of the leaflet or collect one from the Town Hall.
Alton Town Council is asking residents to have their say on the future of King’s Pond as a nine-week public consultation gets underway on Monday 2 November 2026.
The consultation, which runs until Monday 4 January 2027, will give residents the opportunity to consider two options for the future of the pond, ask questions and share their views before the Council makes a decision on which option to progress with.
Two options have been developed for consideration:
Dredging Plus: King’s Pond would be kept broadly in its current form after dredging to remove silt. There would be improvements to the weir, restoration of eroded banks and islands, silt traps to reduce future sediment build-up and the addition of some wetland and marginal planting.
River & Pond: The alternative vision is of the river running through the site with a smaller retained pond and wetland areas. The banks and island of the pond would be reinstated, reprofiled and strengthened. The weir would be modified. A variety of pond, river, marginal, wetland and woodland habitats would be created with additional paths and walkways through the new landscape.
No decision has been made, and the Council is urging residents to find out more about both options before completing the consultation survey, which is being managed by an independent agency.
Cllr Chris Botten, Deputy Town Mayor and member of the Task and Finish Group said:
“King’s Pond is an important and much-loved part of Alton, and we recognise how much its future matters to our community.
A great deal of work has gone into developing the two options that are now being presented for public consultation. We want to make sure residents have the information they need to understand both proposals, ask questions and share their views.
No decision has been made, and this consultation is an important opportunity for the community to contribute to the next stage of the project.
I would encourage everyone with an interest in King’s Pond to come along to one of our briefings or drop in sessions to explore the proposals and, most importantly, complete the consultation survey. Your views will help inform the Council’s decision on the future of this important local landmark.
My role has been to provide assurance that the process to arrive at these proposals has been robust; I am happy to confirm it has.”
Opportunities to find out more
Throughout November, Alton Town Council will be hosting a series of public briefings and drop-in sessions at venues across Alton.
The public briefings will include a presentation explaining the two options, followed by an opportunity to ask questions. The drop-in sessions will offer residents the chance to speak directly with consultants and representatives of the King’s Pond Task and Finish Group.
Sessions will take place at several locations:
Public Briefings
Wednesday 4 November 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Alton Maltings
Monday 9 November 10:00am – 11:30am
Alton Social Bowling Club
Wednesday 11 November 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Alton Rugby Club
Sunday 15 November 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Alton Masonic Centre
Wednesday 19 November 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Alton Community Centre
Saturday 21 November 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Alton Assembly Rooms
Drop-In Sessions
Saturday 7 November 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Alton Assembly Rooms
Thursday 12 November 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Alton Town Council
Tuesday 17 November 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Alton Place
A permanent information display will also be available at Alton Town Hall throughout the consultation period, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 4:30pm. The display will feature information and drawings explaining both proposals.
Independent consultation
Enventure Research, an independent UK Market and social research agency, has been appointed to manage the consultation survey and analyse the responses received.
Andrew Cameron from Enventure Research said:
“Enventure Research is pleased to be working with Alton Town Council on the King’s Pond consultation. Alongside the wider open consultation, we are inviting 1,000 randomly selected households to take part through a postal invitation, helping us hear from a broad cross-section of the community.
We would encourage everyone who receives a questionnaire to complete it, either on paper or online, and share their views on the options. Those who haven’t received a questionnaire in the post can still have their say through the open consultation. Every response will contribute to the Council’s understanding of local opinion and help inform its decisions about the future of King’s Pond.”
Following the consultation, Enventure Research’s report will be published on the Alton Town Council website, helping to inform the Council’s decision on which option to take forward.
Residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation and complete the survey.
How to have your say
The consultation opens on Monday 2 November 2026 and closes on Monday 4 January 2027.
Website: alton.gov.uk/kings-pond-consultation
Email:
Telephone: 01420 83986