{"id":2256,"date":"2019-04-05T15:28:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T15:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/?p=2256"},"modified":"2019-04-05T15:37:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T15:37:48","slug":"victoria-park-smethwick-a-metaphor-for-sandwell-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/?p=2256","title":{"rendered":"Victoria park Smethwick- A metaphor for Sandwell council"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008.jpg\">\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2091\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003-768x432.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" alt=\"S1120003\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S1120003.jpg 1920w\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I have <a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/?p=2184\" target=\"_blank\">previously set out my shear disgust at Sandwell Council&#8217;s abysmal handling of the draining lake at Victoria Park Smethwick<\/a> in connection with the numerous bird deaths that have coincided with this. <strong>The email chain evidence from this is clear.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I can now report on the response from them to\u00a0my \u00a0letter of complaint, and after further enquiries and FOI requests, shed some more light on the continuing situation.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth however recapping some of the key events leading up to this.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A report in The Express and Star regarding complaints by members of the public concerning dead birds that had been in the lake &#8220;for weeks&#8221; appeared on <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">6\/8\/18<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/sandwell\/smethwick\/2018\/08\/06\/dead-geese-left-rotting-in-pool-at-black-country-park\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/sandwell\/smethwick\/2018\/08\/06\/dead-geese-left-rotting-in-pool-at-black-country-park\/<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Media appearances and comments by Cabinet member Bill Gavan made no reference to the draining pool and at this point the officers of SMBC appeared unaware of this issue.<\/li>\n<li>I pointed out the issue of the draining lake, which has occurred on at least two previous occasions, the last in <strong>2016.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here is an email which confirms how I reported this at this time, as up to this point I had been told by officers of SMBC \u00a0that it was down to The Canal and Rivers Trust to fix- which was garbage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp9.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2269\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp9-300x85.png\" alt=\"vicp9\" width=\"500\" height=\"141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp9-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp9-768x217.png 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp9.png 788w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>Here are screenshots of messages received from the then &#8220;street wardens&#8221; about this issue. They claim that the issue was reported to Severn Trent, that the correct officer was aware, and that their supervisor was also aware. Please note further on when Severn Trent claim to have had no previous reports about this issue at this time.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2298\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670007-e1554476513376.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2299\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670008-e1554476577516.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2300\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670009-e1554476644532.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2301\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670001-e1554476716577.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2302\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670002-e1554476779569.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2303\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670003-e1554476832851.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2304\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670004-e1554476943952.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2305\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670005-e1554477003482.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2306\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586-169x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1670006-e1554477066586.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I took a video of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sandwell.gooseman\/videos\/710029899376329\/?q=smethwick%20victoria%20park\" target=\"_blank\">the RSPCA rescuing and retrieving ill and dead birds from the lake in October.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>I sent a complaint to Keep Britain Tidy regards how this park could have received a &#8220;green flag&#8221; award from their organisation given the dire conditions present there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I received the following response from <strong>Max Cookson -Waste and Transportation manager SMBC<\/strong> on <strong>11\/12\/18<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Dear Mr Carroll<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Ref \u2013 Complaint Victoria Park, Smethwick<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Thank you for your recent correspondence relating to Environmental issues\/bird deaths at the above-named location. In respect of your claim that \u201cno action has been forthcoming in fixing the damaged pool\u201d, I can confirm the following facts.<\/em><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em>The foul water sewer which is defective and allowing water to escape from the pool is the responsibility of Severn Trent. Officers from SMBC have been in regular contact with Severn Trent since this defect was first discovered. However, as yet, Severn Trent (and\/or their contractors) have yet to provide SMBC with a fixed date when the repair to this sewer pipe will take place. I am due to meet with Severn Trent this week. Should further delays occur in the repair of this sewer pipe SMBC will consider all available options open to remedy this matter.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>Officers from SMBC have also been in constant contact with the RSPCA, and sought advice\/guidance on how best to deal with the ongoing situation at the pool, with particular attention being paid to possible remedies regarding water aeration. The original advice from the RSPCA was not to aerate the water as this, along with possibly adding water to the pool following the extremely dry summer and low water levels (suggested prior to the discovery of the foul sewer break), may only serve to raise contaminants from the bottom of the pool. Furthermore, I am in possession of an E Mail from the RSPCA dated 15\/11\/2018 which confirms that all birds sent for Post Mortem by the RSPCA have had cause of death confirmed as Avian Botulism, the exception being one carcass that may have been the victim of a dog attack. Tests for Avian flu and viral enteritis all proved negative. This fact would therefore now negate your comment in your E Mail dated 13\/9\/2018 that Botulism has not been proven as a cause of bird deaths at Victoria Pool.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I can also now confirm that following further advice from the RSPCA (received 30\/11\/18), the use of aerators can be considered along with removal of a top layer of soil\/silt from around the edge of the pool. SMBC staff are progressing with this matter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>4\u00a0\u00a0 With respect to the cleansing of the pool I can confirm that SMBC contractors\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 were requested to cleanse the \u201cBeach\u201d area and around the edges of the pool in September of this year; however, as the cause of bird deaths was not yet confirmed the contractor sought further Health and Safety advice with regard to employees working in\/around the water\/water\u2019s edge.\u00a0 This advice was provided by the RSPCA and subsequently the area was cleansed \/ litter picked in October.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Given the above facts, it is clear that both SMBC and our colleagues in the RSPCA have gone to great lengths to bring this matter to a successful conclusion, and will continue to do so.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The fact that we did not inform you of every action we took does not, in itself, mean we were not addressing the issues as a matter of urgency.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Based on the above, I would therefore refute your allegation that \u201cNo Action\u201d has been taken with regard to the ongoing issues at Victoria Park pool. The Council, in association with the RSPCA, has worked diligently to identify the issues and has acted decisively and appropriately to try and resolve matters.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yours sincerely<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Max Cookson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Service Manager \u2013 Commercial Services&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>After this letter, I set about confirming the voracity of many of the claims in Max Cookson&#8217;s letter. <strong>Continuing<\/strong> b<strong>ird deaths and ill birds were noted at the site throughout.<\/strong> I can now report that many of\u00a0Max Cookson&#8217;s claims\u00a0are just not the case.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEVERN TRENT<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Max Cookson claimed to have been in constant contact with Severn Trent, suggesting that it was <em>their<\/em> responsibility and that &#8220;<span style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Should further delays occur in the repair of this sewer pipe SMBC will consider all available options open to remedy this matter.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>I contacted Severn Trent who stated the following, also telling me that they have no records or reports of any repair prior to this having been undertaken by THEM to this same site and structure. This is most interesting as this obviously reveals that the bodge job carried out to fix this issue in 2016 (see above), and which I clearly pointed out to SMBC officers who were aware of it, must have been carried out by someone else. <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">I WONDER WHICH AUTHORITY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2307\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"S8400001\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S8400001.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ian Shaw of ST stated the following in an email of <strong>7\/1\/19<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">&#8220;I\u2019ve been asked to address your concerns in your email sent to our Customer Team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">We appear to have commenced investigations into this matter on <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18\/10\/2018<\/span> <\/strong>following the problem being reported to us by Sandwell MB Council.\u00a0 They informed us they believed the low water level of the Victoria Pool was due our defective brick mains sewer &amp; there appeared to be some missing bricks causing a hole through which the water was escaping. This was confirmed to be correct.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">Unfortunately, we did take some time &amp; many attendances (mostly in the early hours) to investigate this sewerage issue.\u00a0 The main problem was trying to cctv survey the large brick sewer but due to high flow rates we were unsuccessful.\u00a0 We liaised regularly with Sandwell MB Council during this period. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">I can confirm that a temporary repair was completed on <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">21\/12\/2018.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">We are presently investigating whether this sewer requires an immediate further \/ permanent repair, however, this would require a major engineering solution which would take some time to scope options &amp; complete.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">If you wish to discuss this matter further please contact me on my contact details below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Regards<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Ian Shaw<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>A number of points are noted here.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SMBC officers complete lack of knowledge of their pool draining and not bothering to contact the authority they later claimed to be responsible for fixing the leak for MANY months after the deaths of birds-Severn Trent only investigating the bloody obvious on <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">18\/10\/18<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The claim of &#8220;a temporary repair&#8221; being made- more on this bollocks later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2288\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2288\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2288\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"S1330003\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330003.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2288\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another seriously ill goose.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>RSPCA LIAISON.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Max Cookson claims to be working closely with the RSPCA on this matter, yet it is worth pointing out that despite delivering a cache of dead birds to SMBC to undertake post mortems, the same council had failed to progress this matter any further some weeks later. The birds were kept in poor refrigeration and were going off. They were eventually collected by the Wildlife investigation scheme officer, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">WHOM I CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I can only state that the RSPCA officers involved in this matter have been <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">VERY<\/span> candid with me about what they think of Sandwell council and the manner in which they have dealt with this issue, and it is certainly a very different picture to the one Max Cookson is trying to present in this response!<\/p>\n<p>Max Cookson then states that he is in<\/p>\n<p><i>&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">possession of an E Mail from the RSPCA dated 15\/11\/2018 which confirms that all birds sent for Post Mortem by the RSPCA have had cause of death confirmed as Avian Botulism, the exception being one carcass that may have been the victim of a dog attack.&#8221;<\/span> <\/i><\/p>\n<p>I tested this statement by asking him for this said email.<\/p>\n<p>For some reason he did not respond, but subsequently this was treated as a freedom of information request by SMBC &#8211; despite me not asking for it to be dealt with in this way. I received this email via the FOI on <strong>22\/1\/19.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp10.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2270\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp10-300x162.png\" alt=\"vicp10\" width=\"500\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp10-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vicp10.png 745w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is clear that Inspector Lasserre sent this email to John Satchwell of SMBC . He specifically states that having been on contact with the post mortem vet at the APHA they stated: <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;they can confirm all the carcasses, (bar one) show the typical signs of botulism.&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at this statement in contrast to the one which Max Cookson stated in his letter to me of 21\/12\/18.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><i>&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">an E Mail from the RSPCA dated 15\/11\/2018 <strong>which confirms that all birds sent for Post Mortem by the RSPCA have had cause of death confirmed as Avian Botulism<\/strong>, the exception being one carcass that may have been the victim of a dog attack.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/span><i> <\/i><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;they can confirm all the carcasses, (bar one) show the typical signs of botulism.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Inspector Lasserre&#8217;s email <strong>DOES NOT<\/strong> state that all birds sent for post mortem by the RSPCA have had cause of death &#8220;confirmed&#8221; as avian botulism. &#8220;Typical signs&#8221; can relate to circumstantial evidence, but NOT proof. For that to occur, a specific test would need to be carried out to confirm botulism, and at the time of this email, and at the time of Max Cookson&#8217;s reply to me, THIS HAD NOT BEEN CONDUCTED.<\/p>\n<p>I then put in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/bird_death_post_mortems_victoria#incoming-1322417\" target=\"_blank\">an FOI request to the APHA &#8211; to see exactly what their perspective was<\/a>. I had of course put in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/bird_death_post_mortems?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&amp;utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_source=whatdotheyknow\" target=\"_blank\">a preliminary FOI to them when SMBC had claimed to have sent off\u00a0 &#8220;birds&#8221; for post mortem<\/a>&#8211; which was revealed to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/509147\/response\/1230738\/attach\/4\/Appendix%202.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">just one duck<\/a>&#8211; <strong>and not tested for botulism.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;Could you please supply me with the preliminary, supplementary and final reports concerning recent bird deaths at Victoria Park Smethwick boating lake, West Midlands- approximate nat grid reference SP025879.<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em> These were submitted to the Shrewsbury laboratory around October.\u00a0&#8220;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The APHA responded with 2 appendices.<\/p>\n<p>The first can be read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1309785\/attach\/3\/Appendix%201.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">HERE. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2273\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha1-298x300.png\" alt=\"apha1\" width=\"400\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha1-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha1.png 492w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This confirms that the WIS officer as a result if liaison with the RSPCA collected not only dead birds from the lake at the park, but also the ones that the RSPCA had previously delivered to the council- which they had failed to progress any further. <strong>IN ALL TEN BIRDS WERE SENT FOR POST MORTEM<\/strong>. Five geese, four mallards and one swan. The officer had also paid a visit to the lake.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;Ten birds were submitted from Victoria Park in Smethwick. A couple of birds had been collected and frozen by the council, the remainder had been collected by the RSPCA. The water in the park appeared to be of poor quality. Some birds appear to die very acutely, the swan was alive and appeared normal on one day and was dead the next. The live cases seen by the RSPCA included a Canada goose described as having a \u201cfloppy neck\u201d and geese gasping\/mouth breathing and then dying very quickly. Head shaking and curved necks were also observed as well as birds unable to walk but dragging themselves around using their wings, particularly some of the mallard ducks. Birds were seen just floating on the water appearing not interested in food.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><b><i> One bird had leaches around its eyes and had damage to the eyes themselves. Many of the dead birds have been on the water or on the islands. There were bird deaths also back in July, when 12-15 birds were found dead. This time 15 dead bird carcases had been collected, a couple from the 27th September and the rest were from 8th October. There were numerous rodent bait boxes around the lake, it appeared the lids were not properly closed on some of them.<\/i><\/b><b><i> &#8220;<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2274\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha2.png\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2274\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2274\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha2-300x187.png\" alt=\"apha2\" width=\"400\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha2-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha2.png 655w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This confirms that the RSPCA put down a duck and goose caught alive.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The mallard (bird 4) had had beak and neck fractures- this suggests to me that this was vandalism- what other conclusion could be drawn? Similarly the goose (bird 5) also has suspicious injuries.<\/p>\n<p>Further comments are described about internal examination.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha3.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2275\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha3-300x251.png\" alt=\"apha3\" width=\"400\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha3-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha3.png 677w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The report states that AI was not detected in any of the birds and that the findings were <em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;suspicious of botulism as the potential cause of death&#8221;.<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>This conclusion is quite cautious in the absence of any test being a=carried out, though the findings on the injuries to at least two of the birds are not discussed which I find remiss on the part of the APHA. This cautious comment is howvere far from the direct statement given by Max Cookson.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha4.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2276\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha4-300x213.png\" alt=\"apha4\" width=\"500\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha4-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha4.png 687w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha5.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2277\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha5-300x182.png\" alt=\"apha5\" width=\"400\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha5-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha5.png 684w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1309785\/attach\/4\/Appendix%202.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">A<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1309785\/attach\/4\/Appendix%202.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">ppendix 2<\/a> related to west nile virus (none detected ) but also stated that <strong>&#8220;WORK IN PROGRESS Intestinal botulinum toxin testing.&#8221;\u00a0This then confirmed that no tests had been undertaken to confirm botulism by <span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">1.2.19<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha6.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2278\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha6-255x300.png\" alt=\"apha6\" width=\"500\" height=\"589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha6-255x300.png 255w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha6.png 498w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I further queried if these test results had been returned in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/bird_death_post_mortems_victoria#incoming-1322417\" target=\"_blank\">another FOI request.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">&#8220;Thank you for your recent response to my freedom of information request ref APHA Ref No. 26-B0088-10-18 &#8211; bird deaths at Victoria Park Smethwick West Midlands.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> As part of this submission it is stated that some of these birds deaths were &#8221; suspicious of botulism as the potential cause of death&#8221;- but there is no proof of this from the post mortems. It also stated &#8220;WORK IN PROGRESS Intestinal botulinum toxin testing.&#8221; Can you confirm and release the results of these tests if they have been carried out?&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The APHA responded with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1322417\/attach\/3\/Provision%20of%20information.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">this response.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>\u201cThere is Clostridium botulinum toxin testing underway for submission 26-B0088-10-18, but as this test is carried out at an external laboratory it may take a while before we have a result. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) decided to carry out diagnostic testing on a few of the submissions from 2018 (which happened to include 26-B0088-1018) by selecting a few cases that were felt to be representative of the waterfowl die-off incidents during the summer. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>A negative botulinum toxin test result would not rule out the diagnosis, as the toxin can become undetectable once it is bound to the nerve endings. In the majority of cases a diagnosis of botulism is made from gross post mortem findings without a supportive diagnostic test result, particularly when birds with consistent clinical signs have also been observed. The post mortem findings in all but one of the examined birds were consistent with botulism as the cause of weakness or death. In this case there were also clinical signs consistent with botulism in other birds on the site to further support this diagnosis. <\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>There is more information available on the disease in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1322417\/attach\/4\/Appendix%201.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">attached Appendix 1. <\/a><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em>Please see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatdotheyknow.com\/request\/546730\/response\/1322417\/attach\/5\/Appendix%202.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1\" target=\"_blank\">Appendix 2 the third interim report. &#8220;<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha7.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2279\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha7-255x300.png\" alt=\"apha7\" width=\"400\" height=\"471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha7-255x300.png 255w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/apha7.png 527w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are a number of observations here with this further information.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There have yet to be confirmation of botulism as cause of death in these birds.<\/li>\n<li>The APHA state that bird 4 the mallard was tested for botulism intestinal contents, yet they ignore the injuries which ARE NOT associated with botulism in this case which I find bizarre.<\/li>\n<li>They then state that a negative test for botulism may not confirm that the bird did not die of botulism as it can be evanescent to detect. This is quite bizarre to me, as this same organisation would not make any positive diagnosis of bird deaths at Rattlechain\u00a0 lagoon from white phosphorus poisoning, (a substance equally evanescent in nature and that could only be detected from testing for this chemical. WP poisoning clinical signs are quite distinct in birds observed also.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The information supplied from the\u00a0APHA avian botulism link (written July 2017) is also of interest about a number of points.<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;Summary of disease<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 Avian botulism outbreaks in wild waterbirds occur relatively frequently in England and Wales.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 The clinical signs are of a progressive flaccid paralysis. Affected birds are unable to use their wings and legs resulting in a loss of ambulation and inability to fly.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 Large numbers of birds may be affected resulting in hundreds of deaths. Outbreaks can last for several weeks and may recur.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 Affected birds may be paralysed for several days before dying or recovering, and this is a cause of concern for the public and public authorities.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 There are no reported human health threats associated with Type C botulism in the UK. Prevention of drinking, swimming, bathing and water sports should be considered.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7 Environmental management and water engineering methods can be used to prevent environmental factors conducive to production of botulinum toxin in water bodies.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \uf0b7<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;<em>Avian botulism is a paralytic and often fatal disease caused by ingestion of toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Avian botulism outbreaks in wild waterbirds occur relatively frequently in England and Wales. Large numbers of birds may be affected which can result in hundreds of deaths. Outbreaks of avian botulism can last for several weeks and may recur. C. botulinum is an anaerobic (oxygen intolerant) bacterium that multiplies in putrefying plant and animal material and is thus often found in lakes in periods of anoxic conditions and poor water quality.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Incidents can occur anywhere in Britain and in any month. However, they are more frequent in warm summers. The clinical signs of a progressive flaccid paralysis are characteristic and provide a presumptive diagnosis. Affected birds are unable to use their wings and legs resulting in a loss of ambulation and inability to fly. Birds with paralysis of the neck muscles lose the ability to hold their heads normally (so-called limberneck). Birds can remain in this state for a number of days. Death is due to respiratory failure and \/ or drowning. Laboratory diagnosis of avian botulism is difficult as the tests used are relatively insensitive. &#8220;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;The APHA no longer offers diagnostic tests for botulinum toxin. &#8220;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The report also mentions the <span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Management, control, and prevention of botulism outbreaks.<\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">All dead birds should be promptly removed as these are a potent source of toxin. The toxin may frequently be found in maggots feeding on dead birds and these represent an important way of toxin dispersal to feeding waterbirds. Sick birds should be removed, either for humane veterinary euthanasia or (with prior consultation) to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.\u00a0&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">CLEARLY SANDWELL COUNCIL HAVE FAILED TO DO THIS OVER A LARGE PERIOD OF TIME. IN MANY INSTANCES THEY HAVE LEFT THE RSPCA TO COLLECT ANY DEAD BIRDS. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;<\/span>There are several techniques and water engineering devices that may prevent avian botulism incidents or reduce the severity of avian botulism outbreaks<em>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Treatment of lakes <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">C. botulinum bacteria and resistant bacterial spores are present in rotting material and in the lake sediments \/ silts. The following steps have been taken, particularly by London Royal Park authorities, and have prevented the recurrence of the disease or reduced its effects.\u00a0 <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Preventative measures <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Maintaining good circulation of water. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Maintaining healthy communities of oxygenating plants. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Prevention of the water level falling in the lake, preventing deoxygenation and the exposure of putrefying material. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Removal of decaying plant material (including leaves) from the water. In particular removing vegetative material that collects on branches dipping into the surface of the water. These branches should be removed. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 If appropriate, removal of silts by pump action (in the face of an incident this may temporarily exacerbate the disease due to agitation of material). <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Searching and removal of dead animals in high risk periods e.g. warm summer months. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 The aim is to keep water levels high and reduce or lower the levels of silt. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Responses in the face of an avian botulism outbreak <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Vigilance for and removal of all dead birds, as before \u2013 these are a potent source of toxin and toxin-contaminated maggots (such maggots can be eaten by waterbirds and cause disease).\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Sick birds should be removed, either for humane veterinary euthanasia or (with prior consultation) to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. <\/span><\/span>\uf0b7 Increasing oxygenation of the lake by e.g. increasing circulation or raising the water level in the lake although care needs to be taken.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">CLEARLY SANDWELL COUNCIL HAVE UNDERTAKEN NONE OF THE METHODS DESCRIBED HERE, DESPITE PROMOTING AVIAN BOTULISM AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH IN OFFICER EMAILS. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">THEY HAVE FAILED TO MAINTAIN WATER LEVELS, FAILED TO REMOVE DEAD BIRDS, FAILED TO CIRCULATE THE WATER, DESPITE IN <a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vicp3.png\" target=\"_blank\">THE EMAIL OF MAX COOKSON OF\u00a021\/8\/18\u00a0\u00a0STATING THAT THIS WOULD BE DONE BY OBTAINING SOMETHING TO AERATE THE POOL. <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">NO FOUNTAIN OR ANYTHING ELSE HAS EVER MATERIALISED. <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">The<\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\"> guidance goes into some length about how The London Park authorities used these methods 24\/7 by pumping to circulate the water, whilst also suggesting:<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #444444;\">\u00a0 <\/span>&#8220;Effective procedures include:\u00a0 <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 <\/span><\/div>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Drain the lake completely and remove silt and mud. This is easier in lakes with concrete bases. With the use of barrages, sections of the lake can be drained at a time with the water being pumped through special filter bags. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Identify stagnant areas (dead areas) of the lake where toxin may be concentrated and target these areas for water circulation and oxygenation. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Make the lake deeper by dredging, or by extracting silt using pumps; this slows the increase in water temperature (increasing water temperatures encourages toxin production). <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Employ large gauge (30 cm diameter mains) pumps. These are used to improve water circulation and to remove water from \u2018dead areas\u2019 and pump it to other areas using large bore pipes. Movement of this water over boulders \/ stones facilitates aeration of the pumped water. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Some lakes in London have wide bore pipes with inlet and outlet valves running the length of the lake, improving circulation of water and water oxygenation. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">\uf0b7 Inlet valves on the pumps and pipes which mechanically add air to the pumped water. <\/span><br \/>\n\uf0b7 <span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Employ floating pumps (like those used in fish farms). These remove water from the bottom levels and \u2018dead areas\u2019, and pump it over a \u2018weir\u2019 on the float causing aeration of water.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">NONE OF THESE TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN USED BY SANDWELL COUNCIL. Max Cookson in his email of 11\/12\/18 stated<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;The original advice from the RSPCA was not to aerate the water as this, along with possibly adding water to the pool following the extremely dry summer and low water levels (suggested prior to the discovery of the foul sewer break), may only serve to raise contaminants from the bottom of the pool.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Of course, I only have his claims about this, which have already been found wanting in respect of other statements he claimed to have been made by the RSPCA which were not what they had actually stated. If it was the case that the RSPCA advised this, then they too are to blame for this situation continuing, given the published advice by the APHA. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">What Sandwell council have done is appear to cover over certain areas with bricks, but this is not a repair to the underlying issue. It is more about aesthetics and trying to create the impression that the problem has gone away. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2289\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"S1440001\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1440001.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">ST email<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Despite claiming a &#8220;temporary repair&#8221; had been undertaken, with continuing deaths and no change in the water levels, I again contacted Severn Trent via Ian Shaw, asking for more specifics about what repair had been undertaken by them. I expected this to have been some form of clay capping. <\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">&#8220;Morning Ian<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">Unfortunately, I\u2019ve not received an update from my STW colleagues yet &gt; I\u2019ll chase immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">I did received a prompt reply from Sandwell MBC on 4<sup><span style=\"color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;\">th<\/span><\/sup> March: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1<\/span><sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;\">st<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> reply \u2013<\/span><\/span><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\"> \u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">I have not been made aware of any problems but will get it checked out\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2<\/span><sup><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;\">nd<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> reply &#8211; \u2018<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;\">Please see the image attached. It would appear that the water level has dropped at Victoria Park Smethwick again. Whilst I\u2019m not 100% sure that the repair work has failed, the height of the pool water level suggests that the previous leak may have returned. Can we convene a meeting at the earliest possible convenience to look into this? \u00a0Welcome your comments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">The temporary repair involved the covering of the exposed &amp; defective brick type sewer with a strong tarpaulin sheet covered in sandbags to try to prevent any further deterioration \/ leakage, which seemed to work from initial inspections.\u00a0 We had thought about using a temporary inflatable dam but decided this would be a target for vandalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"margin: 0px; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;\">Can\u2019t comment regarding dead birds &amp; alleged avian botulism, as I was only informed that council were investigating with Environment Agency &amp; RSPB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><b><i>Regards<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><b><i>Ian Shaw&#8221;<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ST3.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2284\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ST3-300x172.png\" alt=\"ST3\" width=\"400\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ST3-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ST3-768x441.png 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ST3.png 823w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">I have heard nothing since from Ian Shaw, and have now made a formal complaint to Severn Trent about this matter. I have unsurprisingly done the same with Max Cookson&#8217;s response. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"attachment_2287\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2287\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2287\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"S1330004\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/S1330004.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2287\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8220;repair&#8221; by charlatons<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">The response from Severn Trent is perhaps typical of a company who are not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/significant-fine-for-water-company-following-hazardous-chemical-leak\" target=\"_blank\">a serial environmental polluter<\/a>, but also notorious in their utter failure for repairing damaged leaks. Perhaps they could send round some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.derbytelegraph.co.uk\/burton\/severn-trent-taxi-water-firm-2635524\" target=\"_blank\">local Smethwick taxi drivers<\/a>&#8211; there are certainly no shortage of them in this area and with strong links to Sandwell council. \ud83d\ude06\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2008\/apr\/08\/severntrent.utilities\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">They are a company with a record of fraud and lies. <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Only last week it was revealed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-birmingham-47692456\" target=\"_blank\">ST had polluted a vast area of Sutton Park in Birmingham,<\/a> with sewage\u00a0that had entered a watercourse. They were fined half a million pounds for this 2013 failure. <a href=\"https:\/\/wwtonline.co.uk\/news\/severn-trent-hit-with-480-000-pollution-fine\" target=\"_blank\">This is not the first 6 figure fine that they have faced<\/a>. <strong>One may question if another has occurred from their apparatus causing this whole issue at this park!<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">It is clear that their &#8220;temporary repair&#8221; was the derisory dumping of sandbags into the void. THIS IS NOT A &#8220;REPAIR&#8221;. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">It is also the case that SMBC officers were again not following the water levels in the lake.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Once again there is talk of holding a meeting about the issue, yet why is this the case given Max Cookson&#8217;s claims about the council acting to solve the issue if ST continued not to? <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">I can only state that having visited this park for the last 21 years, knowing summers as hot and prolonged as the last one and also with dropped water levels when this leak occurred before, this issue of bird deaths has <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">never<\/span> occurred before. There is something clearly different at work here regards the source of AB , if that is what this is. <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\">All of this of course comes back to Sandwell council&#8217;s management of this green flag park. Their deficiencies in allowing their own pest controllers to operate a very dodgy practice is already noted. But their management of this situation has been farcical from day one, when they failed to identify that a botched leak that they had &#8220;repaired&#8221; was responsible for the drop in water levels. I wrote to Keep Britain Tidy about this situation, and I received a curt response from a Lynsey Atherton who stated that she would share my concerns with the judges before the next assessment of this park. <\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KBTemail.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2280\" src=\"http:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KBTemail-300x96.png\" alt=\"KBTemail\" width=\"500\" height=\"159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KBTemail-300x96.png 300w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KBTemail-768x245.png 768w, https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/KBTemail.png 835w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 14pt;\">SANDWELL CONTINUES TO BE A LOCAL AUTHORITY STEERED BY RUDDERLESS CRETINS WHO CANNOT FIX LEAKS AS WELL AS ACCOUNT FOR MONEY THAT HAS DISAPPEARED DOWN THE PLUGHOLE. THE SWAMP REMAINS UNDRAINED. <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino,serif; font-size: 14pt;\">AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS PARK SHOULD BE STRIPPED OF ITS GREEN FLAG STATUS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PERHAPS THE USELESS FUCKING RAG ON A STICK WOULD BE BETTER STUFFED DOWN THE HOLE WHERE THE LEAK IS, AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE OF SOME USE. <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 &nbsp; I have previously set out my shear disgust at Sandwell Council&#8217;s abysmal handling of the draining lake at Victoria Park Smethwick in connection with the numerous bird deaths that have coincided with this. The email chain evidence from &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/?p=2256\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2256"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2311,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256\/revisions\/2311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saveoursandwellcanadageese.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}