IT is feared a tragedy could happen unless urgent action is taken to repair and replace damaged and missing fencing on either side of the causeway that leads to Wellington Basins and the allotments.

Cllr Marcus Barr told Wellington Town Council on Tuesday (April 3) that work needed to be carried out to stop a terrible accident from happening.

“Something should be done about this,” he said. “It’s quite dangerous down there – what happens if a small child falls in or someone walking along who is drunk falls in?

“We need to take action to keep people safe in this town.”

Jenny Vickery, chairman of the Basins Volunteer Group, had earlier told councillors that fears were growing about the dangerous fencing by the two large historic ponds which were excavated in the early 1800s to provide a constant flow of water to power the Fox Brothers factory.

“We are extremely concerned about the safety of pedestrians and vehicles using the causeway,” she said.

The volunteer group does not own the area but looks after it – and although it enjoys the work it does Mrs Vickery said the fencing was a ‘constant worry’.

For the full story, see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.