A huge drainage pond created next to a play park without planning permission will now be filled in after concerns were raised over children’s safety and a nearby rugby pitch flooding.

The eight-foot deep hole near Moresby play park was created by two councillors in the hope of draining water from the nearby allotments.

Kyle and Ian Thornley, who sit on Moresby Parish Council, spent thousands of pounds on works to dig up the land.

But Copeland Council stepped in after being informed of the works and an investigation revealed that planning permission was needed.

At Moresby Parish Council’s meeting on Monday, members were faced with the choice of either applying for planning permission for the works or returning the land to its former state.

Representatives from Moresby RUFC and Bransty Rangers FC attended the meeting and raised concerns over the pond overfilling and flooding the nearby rugby pitch, which is used by both teams.

A representative from Moresby RUFC said: “I’m concerned that the pond overflows. I was assured it wouldn’t because they’d have a pump in it. In two days of rain, it’s half full.

“If we get a full month’s rain, that goes on our rugby pitch that’s had thousands spent on it. Our pitch is ruined, for the football and the rugby.”

Gordon Smith, chairman of Bransty Rangers FC, added: “Don’t you think you should have asked us what impact it’s going to have on our pitches? You should have known you needed planning permission for anything like that.

“That pond is going to fill up. Where is it going to drain to? On to the pitch.”

Parish councillor Mark Casson said: “Everybody just wants it filled in. A lot of people have said they are unhappy about the parish council paying for it because they didn’t have anything to do with it.

“Originally we were told they didn’t need planning permission. You will have known this. We just want stuff to be done correctly. I feel that the parish council is split. The last thing I want is animosity.

“Are we going to start doing things correctly or will this happen again?”

Chairman Nick Troughton said: “There was a discussion about the land and it was said because it was agricultural land, it didn’t require planning permission for drainage work.

“The point is it doesn’t classify as agricultural land and the people who came up with that suggestion made a mistake.”  

Parish councillor Lesley Coward said the fire service had not been informed about the pond and the chief fireman was concerned that if they received a call to go to a child, they didn’t know where it was.

She said the fire chief was now investigating because they weren’t aware of the danger.

Parish councillor Norma Boyes said: “It is unfortunate that it has got to this. My main concern is to get the pond filled in because I’m really unhappy about that.

“It’s 44 years since my cousin died in Keswick swimming pool. He was only 17. It gives me nightmares, that pond.”

Councillors voted in favour of returning the land to its former state. A decision on funding the cost of the works is to be made at a future meeting.

READ MORE: Concern over drainage pond created next to Morseby play park