Plans for a £2m facelift of Maldon's Promenade Park and Marine Lake could have adverse effects on the river and surrounding areas according to some river users.

Concerns have been raised that temporary jetties could cause problems with the river's tidal flow and that mud removed from the lake contains bacteria such as e-coli.

The district council has hurried to put out tenders for the scheme because of Government time pressures, but there are worries about the project going ahead without proper public consultation.

The first planning application - to build a new sea wall - was submitted this week and includes two 30m long temporary jetties to provide a landing point for boats bringing the 50,000 tonnes of aggregate for the project.

In total more than £2.1m from a recent Government parks grant of £2.8m will be spent on Promenade Park, with a £1.6m concrete-based pool and new bath wall for Marine Lake.

The council is also in discussions with the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs for disposing of the mud from Marine Lake.

Plans include it being pumped into channels at the back of the river to replenish saltmarshes, subject to passing toxicology tests.

One river user commented: "They've had no consultation with river users; the closing date for the tenders is next Friday. The jetties will probably cause siltation. There could be no tidal flow along the foreshore because it will have three or four foot of mud."

The council has until March 2005 to complete any work and hopes to start the first stage in June.Richard Holmes, from the district council's community services, said aggregate was being brought by boat to reduce the impact on Maldon's roads and promised the jetties would be simple so as not to affect tidal flow.

Published Thursday April 8, 2004

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