Man told to remove pond because it’s ‘dangerous for burglars’
Carol Adl
A man has claimed he has been told to remove a pond in his back garden because it could pose a danger to burglars.
Kevin Sheehan said he was told by his housing association that if someone breaks into his garden they could fall in as it is hidden from view the other side of his fence.
The 62-year-old’s pond is home to 80 fish and is surrounded by concrete blocks to prevent his one-year-old daughter, Olivia, falling in.
He said he has been threatened with an eviction notice unless the pond is demolished within three weeks.
He said: ‘I was thinking of my daughter’s safety and was building it up another two blocks.
‘I had it at the old height for about 15 years and it’s never been a problem.
‘The reason they gave was if someone breaks into the back garden they can fall in the pond because there’s a six-foot fence all round and they can’t see it.
Kevin says he has been threatened with eviction (Picture: SWNS)
‘I said ‘well they shouldn’t be breaking in’.’
Kevin’s fish, including Koi carp, fantails and goldfish, are currently swimming in a small covered pond at the bottom of his garden while he extends their normal home.
But he has also been ordered to get rid of the second pond – because it ‘could impact on the safety of the residents or general public’.
A spokeswoman for his housing association, Sovereign, said: ‘We don’t want to prevent anyone enjoying hobbies which may include fish keeping in a garden pond but, as the landlord, we do ask residents to get our permission if they intend running a business from their home or building a permanent structure.
‘Due to the substantial size of the pond we’re talking to our insurance company and with the resident about how we might resolve this.’
The housing association did not comment on Kevin’s claims about the pond posing a risk to burglars.