Beauty spot that's too popular

A £50,000 facelift at a Warrington beauty spot has resulted in it becoming too popular.
So many people are visiting Ackers Pit at Stockton Heath to feed bread to the ducks that the ducks’ health is at risk, the water could become polluted – and rats could be attracted.
But councillors are reluctant to ban feeding the ducks because it is such a popular pastime with older residents and their grandchildren.
Several members of Stockton Heath Parish Council have admitted they take their own grandchildren to the pond to feed the ducks.
Restoration of the popular attraction has been dogged with controversy over the last couple of years.
The work involved draining the pond, removing tonnes of silt, reshaping the banks, restoring footpaths and felling trees. The whole area was closed to the public for months and critics claimed it had been reduced to an eyesore.
But now the area has been re-opened and visitors are flocking in – many to feed the ducks.
Clerk Peter Briggs told the council decayed bread left on the site was polluting the water.
Many people were feeding the ducks – one woman buying a full loaf at a local supermarket and taking it to the pond every day.
He suggested visitors should be advised of the problem – and that a diet of too much bread was not good for the ducks.
Coun Sonia Boggan said: “Every grandparent wants to take their grandchildren to feed the ducks.” Coun Helen Dutton admitted she took her own grandchildren.
Coun Liz Jewkes said members needed to educate people that bread was not very good for ducks.
It was agreed that councillors would raise the issue at a meeting with Warrington Anglers, who own the fishing rights
Coun Sheila Dean said there had previously been a problem with rats, and that excess bread left on site would attract them again.
Funding of £150 for new trees around the pond was approved.