Town Council Row Erupts Over Mayor's "Ability To Make Timely Decisions"

(c) Adrian Whittaker/Rufus Pickles

The deputy mayor of Shanklin Town Council has resigned, citing inaction over Big Mead Pond’s “dangerously low” water and suggesting a rift with the town’s mayor.

Cllr Adrian Whittaker’s resignation letter on July 31 said “several important projects” had either been “significantly delayed” or “simply hadn’t progressed” in a timely manner.

He said he could “no longer effectively work” with Mayor Sara Sheath.

However, Conservative Shanklin town and county councillor Chris Quirk told the press the deputy mayor’s resignation was a “futile gesture”.

Cllr Whittaker, who will continue to serve as a town councillor, pointed in particular to the state of the pond, despite Isle of Wight Council saying today “there has been no significant change in the water levels”.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Monday that supplies of “emergency water” had been sought which required funding from STC.

“We left it with the town mayor to authorise it because she can use delegated power but nobody could get hold of her and she didn’t respond to any of the messages until Wednesday.

“She said she wasn’t authorising the water – according to the Isle of Wight Council’s email from ten days ago there was enough water in there.”

Cllr Whittaker said the email from County Hall had become “factually wrong” due to it being out of date.

He pressed for STC to use its town improvement fund, comprising “tens of thousands of pounds”, citing Big Mead’s significance for the town’s tourism offer.

At last Thursday’s STC meeting, Mayor Sheath confirmed she would not authorise the water, Cllr Whittaker said.

Having measured water levels prior to the meeting, he said the pond was like “bubbling pea soup”.

Other grievances Cllr Whittaker raised included the closing of public toilets, delays in installing benches by Big Mead and town centre planters which he said look “hideous”.

“It’s a load of little things that have overflowed into one,” the councillor added.

He also admitted the rift between himself and Mayor Sheath, both Conservative Party members, has “probably caused” tension within the local Shanklin Conservative group.

Former Shanklin mayor Cllr Quirk, responding on behalf of STC, said:

“Cllr Whittaker has resigned as deputy mayor, giving as his reason the fact that the town council is not spending possibly tens of thousands of pounds of local council tax payers money in his preferred solution to addressing what we all consider to be critically low levels of water in the historic carp pond.

“Although the Isle of Wight Council plays down its responsibility for Big Mead and the pond, the park and the pond are Isle of Wight Council property, and whilst the town council has contributed financial support and organising volunteer working parties, the statutory obligations relating to the pond in terms of its historic significance, it support of biodiversity, and the health and safety impact of possible blue/green algae toxins sit clearly with the Isle of Wight Council.

“Whilst we have sympathy with overworked and underfunded council officers, the Isle of Wight Council must accept its responsibility to deliver on its statutory duties and fund the resources to fulfil them.”

Cllr Quirk said that while STC shares Cllr Whittaker’s concerns regarding Big Mead, it believes the “correct way forward” is to work alongside County Hall.

Today, an Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:

“We would like to reassure residents that Big Mead Pond continues to be actively managed and monitored.

“A recent inspection confirmed that the fish remain healthy and the water level, while lower than usual due to the prolonged dry weather, is not currently at a critical level.

“Recent data shows there has been no significant change in the water levels, as can be seen from the attached photographs.

“The pond has various depths ranging, with shallower parts at approximately 400mm in depth by the island, while at the back of the pond by the bridge, the water levels are considerably deeper.

“The pond is fed by a natural spring on the downs, which has been affected by the recent dry conditions.”

They added Big Mead was “treated” in early June to “help prevent” blue-green algae growth as part of the council’s regular maintenance and the pond will continue to be “monitored closely”.