Have your say on King’s Pond
9 week consultation
2nd November 2026 to 4th January 2027
Alton Town Council is asking residents to help decide the future of King’s Pond. Two options have been developed — no decision has been made.
You are invited to take part in a consultation survey and your views will help the Council’s decision on which option to proceed with.
All the details about the consultation and project are available on this page. If you have any questions please email or call 01420 83986.
THE OPTIONS – A quick look
Dredging Plus
River and Pond
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.
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:
Consultation Survey
Enventure Research, an independent UK Market and social research agency, has been appointed to manage the consultation survey and analyse the responses received.
There are more questions than just which options you prefer so please do give your feedback on the designs as changes can still be made in Stage 2 where necessary. If you do not wish to answer a question where you need to write in a box, just politely say so and then move to the next question, but your feedback would be genuinely appreciated.
Project Information
Task & Finish Group Summaries
King’s Pond: What are the challenges – PDF
Ecological Summary of the King’s Pond Site – PDF
The Condition of the pond – PDF
King’s Pond: What happens if we do nothing – PDF
Engineering Sub-Projects – PDF
Control Feeding Briefing – PDF
Appendix A – Control of Feeding Briefing – PDF
Appendix A – Climate Change Briefing – PDF
Funding for the Project – PDF
ZIP FILE WITH ALL THE ABOVE – COMING SOON
Five Rivers Design Information
Five Rivers Drawings: Dredging Plus
King’s Pond Dredging: Engagement Drawing – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Overview Drawing – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Planting Plan – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Cross Section 1 – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Cross Section 2 – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Cross Section 3 – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Cross Section 4 – PDF
King’s Pond Dredging: Silt Trap – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 1 – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 2 – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 3 – PDF
Five Rivers: Path Technical Detail – PDF
Five Rivers: Outlets Trash Screen – PDF
ZIP FILE WITH ALL THE ABOVE – COMING SOON
Five Rivers Drawings: River & Pond
King’s Pond: River & Pond Engagement Drawing – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Overview Drawing – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Planting Plan – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Cross Section 1 – 3 – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Cross Section 4 – PDF
King’s Pond: River Channel – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Silt Trap – PDF
King’s Pond: River & Pond Connections – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 1 – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 2 – PDF
Five Rivers: Bridge Technical Detail 3 – PDF
Five Rivers: Path Technical Detail – PDF
Five Rivers: Outlets Trash Screen – PDF
ZIP FILE WITH ALL THE ABOVE – COMING SOON
Ecology Reports
Five Rivers: Costings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the King’s Pond Project?
The King’s Pond project is an initiative led by Alton Town Council to explore how best to protect, enhance and manage King’s Pond and its site for the future. It aims to balance environmental sustainability, biodiversity and community use.
Why is the project happening now?
King’s Pond is silting up and is very shallow in places. If we do nothing it will fill with silt, mud and encroaching vegetation. The pond was last dredged in 1996.
What are the main options being considered?
Option 1: Dredging plus bank restoration and biodiversity improvements.
Option 2: Reinstating the River Wey through the site alongside a smaller restored pond with varied habitats and improved biodiversity.
Why consider alternative options?
Silting is a continuous process. Although some work can be done upstream to reduce the amount of silt, eventually the pond would need dredging again. Also, the pond has a negative impact on the River Wey. Downstream water quality is affected; the outlet weir and dam block the normal life and functions of the river.
What are the next steps?
Completing ecological surveys and information gathering.
Appointing consultants to produce preliminary designs and costings for both options.
Public consultations before any final decisions are made.
How much will these options cost?
Both options would incur significant costs. These will be estimated as part of Stage One of the project and the costs will be considered before a decision is taken.
Has a decision already been made?
No. The project is at the information gathering and design stage. No final decision will be made until a proper comparison of the two options has been completed and there has been further public consultation. The project will be subject to approvals from East Hampshire District Council and the Environment Agency.
How will the environment and wildlife be protected?
Protecting biodiversity is a priority. Independent ecological assessments will guide decision-making and biodiversity will be a key consideration in the design of both options. Ecological risks and benefits will be assessed by specialists. Local environmental and natural history groups will be involved throughout the process.
How can I have my say?
You can take part in upcoming consultations, attend community events, or complete online feedback forms. Visit alton.gov.uk/kings-pond-project for all engagement opportunities and updates.
Where can I learn about King’s Pond and get updates?
On the Alton Town Council website: alton.gov.uk/kings-pond-project
You can sign up to receive e-mailed updates email to register
Follow us on Facebook: @altontowncouncil and Instagram: @altontowncouncil
Posters, newsletters and press releases
Updated – 1 September 2025
Earlier King’s Pond Project Information
Management Plans, Reports And Survey Results
Kings Pond Information from Archives
NRA Drawing of Weir & Sluice Chamber Construction
Silt Analysis – November 2023
Biodiversity Net Gain Report – December 2023
Weir Removal Feasibility Study – February 2024
Water Environment layout for Dredging Option 2a
Water Environment River & Pond Option 3c
Water Environment River & Pond Option 4a
Weir Removal Feasibility Study Extract – Flood Risk
Briefing Paper: King’s Pond – The Next Steps in Deciding the Way Forward Updated February 2026
SURVEY DRAWINGS
RS – Topographic Survey – November 2023
RS – Sections Drawings – November 2023
RS – Downstream Chambers Topographic Survey – September 2024
RS – Downstream Chambers Sections Drawing September – 2024
MANAGEMENT PLANS
King’s Pond Management Plan 2017
King’s Pond DRAFT Management Plan 2022
SOUTH EAST WATER
SE Water Sample Points – PDF
SE Water Kings Pond Data Request – EXCEL
South East Water
SE Water Sample Points – PDF
SE Water Kings Pond Data Request – EXCEL
Ecology Reports
DR JUNE CHATFIELD
Algal Problems at King’s Pond
Canada Geese from London to Alton
King’s Pond Aquatic System
Waterfowl Food Sources at King’s Pond
Pond Dipping at King’s Pond August 2025
ECOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
Initial Ecological Design Notes – November 2025
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal – November 2025
Bat Activity and Emergence Surveys – November 2025
Breeding Bird Survey – November 2025
Reptile Presence/Likely Absence Survey – November 2025
Great Crested Newt eDNA Survey – May 2025
Wintering Bird Survey – April 2025
OTHER
Odonata Survey Results – 2026
ARCHIVE
Archived The Way Forward Briefing Document
The Parish Poll – January 2026
PARISH POLL – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Parish Meeting?
It is not a Town Council meeting. It is a meeting of electors that, under specific conditions set out in the Local Government Act 1972, can be called by six electors on an issue that is within the power of a local council. The meeting is open to the public, but only those on the Electoral Register are allowed to vote on any of the issues that will be discussed. If the Mayor is present, she must chair the meeting. If she is absent, the Deputy Mayor chairs. If both are absent, the meeting elects a Chair. The Chair has an extra (casting) vote in case of deadlock.
How will you make sure that only Electors are able to vote in the Parish Meeting?
We will check everyone against the Electoral Register when they arrive and give them a voting card. If you are not on the Register, you may attend but you will not get a voting card. This will probably delay the start of the meeting a little and we urge everyone to be patient. The meeting will not start if people are still queuing to get in.
Where and when is the meeting?
Monday, 15th December 2025, 6pm, Alton Community Centre. We hope it will finish by 8pm.
What is a Parish Poll?
This is a vote that is like a referendum, in which a question can be put to all those in a parish who are in the Electoral Register. The question must be answerable by either Yes or No. It is put to the meeting first. Regardless of the majority answer in the meeting (Yes or No), it may then be put to the wider public in a Parish Poll if enough electors present demand it (see below). The Poll then has to take place within 25 working days and is run by East Hampshire District Council: so, by Thursday, 22 January 2026. Polling stations on polling day are open from 4pm to 9pm. There are no poll cards and no postal, proxy or electronic voting. The result of the Parish Poll has to be considered by the council; it is not binding. A Parish Poll must cover the whole of the parish; it cannot only cover a part of it. Alton and Holybourne contain around 15,500 electors.
What will the question be?
In the Parish Meeting, a question can be suggested by a Proposer (who must be an elector). The question must be able to be acted on by the council and be answered by either Yes or No. If it is supported by a Seconder, it can be debated. Amendments can be proposed by another elector. The process for debate and amendments is the usual process set out in the town council’s Standing Orders, including, if necessary, a vote on whether to accept an amendment to the question. When the debate has ended, the question (or amended question) is put to the meeting for electors present to vote either Yes or No. After the vote, and regardless of the result, 10 electors (or a third of electors present if the meeting has less than 30 electors attending), can demand that a Parish Poll is conducted across the parish using exactly the same question. A Poll can include more than one question, as long as electors in the meeting have had the opportunity to vote on them first.
Who is the Proposer of a question?
The Proposer is the person who first puts the question to the meeting, even if the question is later amended. In law, the Proposer’s name and address must be declared, and they must be an elector. In the Poll, the Proposer has the right to visit polling stations and attend the count. No-one else has that right unless appointed by EHDC’s Returning Officer.
How much does a Parish Poll cost and who pays?
The poll is paid for by the Town Council from its income from local council taxpayers and is expected to cost around £10,000 in Alton. East Hampshire District Council runs the poll and charges Alton Town Council.
The Result of the Parish Poll
The Parish Poll on King’s Pond took place on 21 January. The poll was demanded and the questions set by local residents. East Hampshire District Council ran the poll. Alton Town Council has not taken a view on the poll and will consider the results at its 4 February meeting.
The six questions and the answers were:
1. Do you believe that Alton Town Council is listening to residents concerning King’s Pond? Yes:459 (44.6%) / No:544 (52.86%) / No vote: 26 (2.54%)
2. Do you trust Alton Town Council to spend council taxpayers’ money wisely? Yes:466 (45.29%) / No:530 (51.5%) / No vote: 33 (3.21%)
3. Should Alton residents be consulted on any further spending on King’s Pond? Yes:831 (80.75%) / No:179 (17.39%) / No vote: 19 (1.86%)
4. Do you want to remove Don Hammond from any further King’s Pond focus groups? Yes:417 (40.52%) / No:513 (49.85%) / No vote: 99 (9.63%)
5. Do you want Alton Town Council to recommence Stage 1 so that the people can take an informed decision? Yes:497 (48.3%) / No:476 (46.25%) / No vote: 56 (5.45%)
6. Should Alton Town Council stop investigating alternatives and instead proceed only with making plans and finding costs for the dredging of King’s Pond at its current size and adding improvements such as silt traps? Yes:602 (58.5%) / No:412 (40.04%) / No vote: 15 (1.46%)
Turnout was 1,029 out of 14,837 electors (6.9%).
EHDC ANNOUNCES 21 JANUARY FOR PARISH POLL
East Hampshire District Council announced, on Monday 12 January, that the Alton parish poll on King’s Pond will take place in polling stations on 21 January 2026 between 4pm and 9pm.
The parish poll was called by local residents at a “parish meeting” on 15 December under the Local Government Act 1972. The parish meeting was not a council meeting, and the poll was not requested by Alton Town Council. East Hampshire District Council’s “Returning Officer” has to run the poll. Alton Town Council must pay their expenses and consider the results afterwards. In law, the poll is not binding.
The Returning Officer decided that two questions may not lawfully be part of the poll, having taken legal advice. On, “Should Alton Town Council tamper with water levels jeopardising tree health and wellbeing?”, the Returning Officer said: “it is devoid of practical meaning if the Town Council has no power regarding water levels.” On, “Should Alton Town Council commit to following and implementing the results of any parish poll?”, he said: “it is not clear how a parish poll is defined and in addition it is unclear how the Alton Town Council could commit to follow the results of a poll if they do not know what the questions asked yet are (for some hypothetical future poll). The question is therefore devoid of practical application.”
The Returning Officer was not required to consult Alton Town Council and he has not done so. Alton Town Council has taken no view on the poll or on the questions or on the Returning Officer’s decision.
Therefore, the poll will consist of the following six questions:
1. Do you believe that Alton Town Council is listening to residents concerning King’s Pond?
2. Do you trust Alton Town Council to spend council taxpayers’ money wisely?
3. Should Alton residents be consulted on any further spending on King’s Pond?
4. Do you want to remove Don Hammond from any further King’s Pond focus groups?
5. Do you want Alton Town Council to recommence Stage 1 so that the people can take an informed decision?
6. Should Alton Town Council stop investigating alternatives and instead proceed only with making plans and finding costs for the dredging of King’s Pond at its current size and adding improvements such as silt traps?
EHDC information on the poll: https://www.easthants.gov.uk/elections
ATC information on the King’s Pond project on this page.
Parish Meeting
Six local residents convened a public meeting on 15 December on King’s Pond, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972.
Draft minutes of the parish meeting: https://www.alton.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20251215-Parish-Meeting-MINUTES-draft.pdf
Press Releases
Project Governance
King’s Pond Project Governance – January 2025
Purpose and explanatory note:
• The purpose of this document is to set out and describe the oversight and governance of the King’s Pond Project.
• Subgroups can report to and feed into the respective strands on the project through appropriate membership and agreed communication and information sharing.
• Terms of reference will be agreed for the Operational and Community Strands.
• Corporate project management protocols (e.g. project budget, delivery programme) for sub-projects within the overall programme remain for the agreed partner organisation project leads to manage within their respective organisations.
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT: FULL COUNCIL
Membership: Town Councillors, Alton Town Clerk
Chair: Town Mayor
- Emphasis on giving strategic direction to Task & Finish Group and on resolving blockages as needed to enable the Task & Finish Group to advance their work.
- Meets monthly.
- Co-ordination with priorities in other policy areas.
- Steering and influencing, recommendations to decision-makers.
- Agrees the action plans arising from the Task & Finish Group and receives reports on progress and project deliveries.
- Agrees the King’s Pond communication plan.
- Links to external partners via this strand.
OPERATIONAL: TASK & FINISH GROUP
Membership: Town Councillors, Town Council Officers, District Council Officers (Planning / Ecology Teams), Environment Agency Officers as well as individual residents and representatives of technical organisations, subject to ratification by Full Council. Membership may flex depending on the stage of the project.
Chair: A Town Councillor appointed by Full Council
- Emphasis on preparing and implementing action plans. Also ensuring co-ordination and facilitation of work as and where needed across partner organisations and timely delivery.
- Meets monthly or more frequently as required.
- Work plan priorities shaped by the King’s Pond action plan, report back on progress to Full Council.
- Carry out work by developing projects, seeking funding, tenders and contract monitoring.
- Form a communications plan and communication protocol for information dissemination and public engagement.
- Informed by Stakeholder Group. There may be sub-groups that report into the Task & Finish Group.
- Review the group on a quarterly basis.
COMMUNITY: COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER FOCUS GROUP
Membership: Town Council Officers, Town Councillors, individual residents, pond users and representatives of local organisations such as ACAN, Alton Society, Residents Associations, Community Groups, Watercress Line, Schools, Voluntary Groups. Surrey Wildlife Trust, etc. Potential for core group plus other members drawn in as required at specific stages of the project.
Chair: Elected by the membership
- Primarily the group is a disseminator and sharer of information on the King’s Pond Management Project and a conduit for community feedback to the Task & Finish Group.
- Meets every two months.
- Potential for members to assist with preparing funding bids and could also have a consultee and consulting role in specific areas.
- Potential for the group to undertake some research and to be involved in wider public engagement.
- Membership of the group may change according to the stage of the project.
- Review the group on six-monthly basis.
Task & Finish Group: Minutes
Approved Minutes – Wednesday 7th October 2026
Approved Minutes – Wednesday 30th September 2026
Approved Minutes – Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Approved Minutes – Wednesday 16th September 2026
Approved Minutes – Wednesday 9th September 2026
Approved Minutes – Tuesday 11th August 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 13th July 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 23rd June 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 1st June 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 27th April 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 23rd March 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 9th February 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 19th January 2026
Approved Minutes – Monday 15th December 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 20th November 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 23rd October 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 25th September 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 22nd August 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 31st July 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 19th June 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 22nd May 2025
Approved Minutes – Thursday 28th April 2025
Approved Minutes – Tuesday 25th March 2025
King’s Pond: Briefing Sessions
King’s Pond Update: Online Presentation
If you were unable to attend any of the three briefing sessions held in November and December the below video presentation is the original slideshow, with voiceover, of the briefing presentation. The presentation is an update on the work Alton Town Council has undertaken since the meeting at The Maltings in January 2023 and the next steps.
Task & Finish Group: Terms of Reference
Community & Stakeholder Focus Group: Minutes and Presentation