Dear Sir,
Newton News carried a letter recently from County and Great Aycliffe Town Councillor, Eddy Adam, in which he explains the green coverage on West Park Lakes.
Duckweed, he says is beneficial to the ecology of the wildlife which inhabit the lakes, apparently skimming the surface of the lakes is a hopeless task as the weed will just keep reappearing.
I would tend to agree with Eddy on this point and as Chairman of Friends of West Park thank him for his physical participation in helping to clean the lakes on Friday 28th of August.
We are all of course aware that the weed does increase in warm weather, although this being Northern Britain warm dry days are rare enough to be anticipated anyway.
Where I would differ in opinion from Eddy is that in my opinion it is not a thankless task. Prior to John D Clare, presumably under his authority as Chairman of the environment committee last year issuing an instruction for Friends Of West Park, to desist and refrain from cleaning the lakes last summer when 70% of the top lake was cleaned out by volunteers with the effect that the bottom could be seen through clear water and remains so a year later. Of course Councillor Clare did this using environment officer Steve Coopers name instead of signing the order himself.
Of course tinkering with duckweed will never cure the problem and only a fool would think it would, however the removal of all of the debris from the bottom of the lake does help to keep the lakes clear and has, I believe, been adequately demonstrated.
As with all interested parties we at Friends of West Park eagerly await the ecological and hydrology reports as we are convinced that a free flow of water into the lakes will result in the cooling down of the temperature which in turn should restrict the multiplying of  duckweed and carry any which does form out of the lake into the Burn. With a flow of water from the burn into the lakes any wildlife will be carried into the lakes ensuring a plentiful supply of those creatures which are inhabiting the lakes currently.
With Autumn just around the corner the inevitable is about to happen with tons of leaves blowing into the lakes to compound the problem of smelly gunge built up over previous years when the lakes have been left to decay into their present state under the control of Councillor Clare’s Chairmanship of the Environment Committee. Instead of spitting out his juvenile dummy if he cared anything about the people residing in the area around the lakes or even citizens of the town he would hang his head in shame instead of contriving excuses.
Friends are constantly opposed of course by a couple of  councillors who live nowhere near the park and seem determined to leave a legacy of a rotting green smelly pond for the residents of West Ward
Luckily for the public and local residents, Councillor Arun Chandran has taken on the role of Chairman of the Environment Committee and is championing the cause of West Park. As is the Leader of the Council Cllr Bob Fleming and most others councillors.
Already a difference can be seen with the planting of flower beds, bulbs and trees. For public amenity and enjoyment benches and bins are being placed around the park making the walkways more accessible to disabled members of the public and a place to rest for the weary who can now relax and enjoy the spectacular views.
West Park with its boating lakes and spectacular views has a rosy future and who knows if we can bring about a thorough cleaning of the boating lakes perhaps it may become rose scented too.
So in conclusion cleaning the lakes is not a thankless task. Judging from the comments we receive from the general public we are making a difference and it is appreciated.
Ken Robson Chairman
Friends of West Park
Prospective Council Candidate for West Ward