£6,000 Pagham duck island scheme is scrapped

Parish councillors decided to halt the project because its expected £6,000 cost was almost double the £3,295 they have available.

The members of the highways and amenities committee will instead look at exploring cheaper options such as putting a raft for ducks to nest on the pond off Sussex Drive.

Cllr Nathan Dellicott said: “It is a lot of money to be spent, particularly at a time like this.

“I’m not saying it’s not a good scheme, but the time is not right for it.”

Council chairman Cllr Ray Radmall said he feared spending thousands of pounds on ducks would undermine community goodwill.

Cllr Ed Blackburn said: “If we can’t get an island for £2,000, we should forget it.”

But committee chairman Cllr Colin Doherty said: “That pond is not just a pretty place for residents around there. People come from around the parish to visit it and holidaymakers from Church Farm go there as well.”