RESIDENTS in Frenchay have launched a bitter campaign to save their village pond after plans were revealed to build a holiday lodge over the beauty spot.

People living near the 52metre-long pond on Beckspool Road are furious at the application by ARC Developments for the one-bedroom lodge.

Campaigner and long-term Frenchay resident Bob Woodward told the Gazette: “Everybody is up in arms about it.

“The pond is a major attraction for lots of kids who love to feed the ducks and wildlife including geese, moor hens and voles.

“The pond is in danger and so is the wildlife and we do not believe ARC Developments owns all the land it is applying to build on. We are asking them to declare the application null and void.”

South Gloucestershire Council has already registered over 100 objections to the proposals since they appeared online on June 3. Alan Jocelyn, who has lived in Frenchay for 45 years, said: “The pond is a local jewel that many residents and visitors enjoy. Restricting access to any part of it should not be permitted.

“I must say what a hideous and inappropriate design and location this log cabin appears to be, awful in appearance, and next to a very busy and daily congested road.”

Dr Jane Goram said: “I have two children and we regularly go to the pond to feed the ducks and in the past geese. We have seen several clutches of ducklings, moorhen chicks and goslings reared on this pond and it would be a great shame to lose this breeding ground.

“This pond is an essential part of Frenchay and the pond would be altered beyond measure if a house were built here.”

Alan Caswell, of Beckspool Road, said: “A holiday home is the last thing the community needs in such a vital and family-orientated facility in which we have had full access for so many years.”

However, the agent representing ARC Developments said the cabin would pay for maintenance of the pond and safeguard the site for the future.

“The site has been recently purchased by the applicant,” a spokesman said. “Over the years the site has been sold off to different owners a number of times due to the liabilities attached to the site, namely dredging the pond and general maintenance.

“The proposed new development will solve the issue of funding the site’s ongoing maintenance cost by making it self-sufficient.”

The company said if the application was not approved it could lead to the in-filling of the pond and the site being fenced off from public use. ARC Developments has pledged to designate 50 per cent of the land as local green space for the community.