By Isle of Wight Observer
Tensions in the Shanklin Conservative group have spilled into public following the resignation of the town’s deputy mayor, Adrian Whittaker, who cited delays and inaction over Big Mead pond’s ‘dangerously low’ water levels, and a breakdown in communication with the mayor, fellow Tory, Sara Sheath.
Cllr Whittaker, who recently stood as the Conservative candidate in the Lake North by-election, stepped down from his deputy mayoral role on July 31, saying he could ‘no longer effectively work’ with Cllr Sheath. He accused her of failing to authorise emergency water supplies for the historic carp pond, despite delegated powers and repeated messages. He will continue to sit as a town councillor.
Speaking about Cllr Sheath, he said: “She didn’t respond until Wednesday.
“She said she wasn’t authorising the water – based on an outdated email from County Hall.”
At last week’s town council meeting, Cllr Sheath confirmed she would not approve the funding. Cllr Whittaker, who measured the pond’s levels himself, described it as ‘bubbling pea soup’, and pressed for the use of the town improvement fund, citing Big Mead’s importance to tourism.
Fellow Conservative, town and county councillor Chris Quirk dismissed Cllr Whittaker’s resignation as a ‘futile gesture’, but acknowledged the pond’s condition was a concern. He said the Isle of Wight Council, which owns the site, must fulfil its statutory duties.
In a statement this week the Isle of Wight Council said the pond is actively monitored and it is not at a critical level, releasing photos to support its position, but confirmed it is adding 1,000 litres of water daily until rainfall reactivates the natural spring. The statement added that the amount of introduced water has to be controlled to ensure that chemicals in the water are sufficiently diluted so they do not pose a risk to the fish or the pond’s ecosystem.