A HOUSING developer has ruffled a few feathers in Thornton by drawing up plans to fill in a popular duck pond.

Worried Thornton resident Gail Moss, of Roedean Close, contacted The Citizen after getting a letter from Barratt homebuilder saying they were planning to fill in the pond, which is situated just off her street.

Mrs Moss thought the company's plans were quackers. She stormed: "The beauty of this estate is a thriving pond, which is home to approximately 30 ducks, coots and moorhens, which some local residents buy special food for.

"Last week we received a letter saying Barratt Housing have applied for planning permission to have this wonderful pond filled in!"

She said the pond lies in the old playing fields of Millfield School, which was bulldozed to make way for the current Barratt estate where she lives.

"As many people will remember, this pond has been here long before it was a housing estate. For many residents it was what sold them their homes," she said.

"In an age of environmental strategies, how can this possibly happen? This pond and its wildlife provides pleasure for young and old alike. Is nothing sacred any more?"

A spokeswoman for Wyre Borough Council said that the council had received a request from Barratt asking them to adopt the pond. The council agreed on the condition that dredging and the creation of a through-flow of water were completed.

Barratt responded by applying to Lancashire County Council for planning permission to fill in the pond.

But a spokesman for the company said on Tuesday: "In view of recent proposals submitted to ourselves by the Environment Agency to treat the pond and surrounding area, we have written to Lancashire County Council to put our application to fill in the pond on hold while the Environment Agency finalises its proposals."

Wyre Borough Council said it looked forward to further discussions with the company regarding the pond's future.