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[Colin H]

A full grown cob would easily break a small child's arm or leg with a single beat of its wing.

A bite would certainly break the skin and depending on what the bird had been eating could lead to a serious infection.

In todays world of `no win` `no fee` that would lead to a compensation claim against the local authority.

Has anyone thought of pointing this out to the powers that be, it might just get you some help.

Yours Colin H.

[John W E]

hi all

as we have said before, be careful because you never know who is reading this  :) MikeK was asking me if I had heard anything about the rumours about the Council going to give South Shields lake a revamp - and this is what has turned out; apparently the Council have been awarded a Lottery Grant to revamp the park, lake and buildings and one of the pursuading factors was that the South Shields Model Yacht club had been there from 1886 - and the Council are definitely going to restore the Boat club building to its original former glory where at the front of the building it had seats etc., the other thing they are going to do, and this is the bit I have got to see, they are supposed to build a dam across the lake, draining one half so that they can work on the surrounding sides and the other half, which will still have the water in, is going to be for the use of the Modellers and THE SWANS. 

Apparently if this does not work, they will have to drain the full pond and send the swans elsewhere - there are several other clubs around the area to which everyone can go and sail, so that will not cause too much problem. 

Time scale: 6-8 months to do, so watch this space.

aye
johne
bluebird

[MikeK]

Just realized, John, if they return the clubhouse to its former state, that means Mr Minchella will have to relocate his ice cream stall. Unfortunately every silver lining etc etc 'cos I believe he used to pick up the electricity tab for the club  :( . Still no news on the possible redesign of the banks so that the birds (large white things mainly !) can walk and not have to jump into the water then ?

MikeK

[John W E]

hi ya there Mike

Well, at the moment, the plans are Mr Minchella is being relocated next to where the steam locomotive is housed    Also, on the left hand side of the boat club there is talk of putting a public convenience there.  They must be expecting wild bears there, because they are going to put a Park Ranger in there too.

Mind, what really does amuse me, is the thought of them building a dam across the lake, I must go down with my camera!   I dont know if you know the story from last time, when they drained the lake a few years ago, they put a small JCB in there, to remove some of the caked swan droppings/sludge, the JCB became stuck  :-\ .

But, time will tell and if they do build a dam I will defiitely take pictures. 

aye
john e
bluebird

[DickyD]

You take pictures John ? No change there then.

[MikeK]

Yo John !!
If they do build a dam - please, please get some pictures to show us. Half a lake is a hell of a lot of water to hold back, for some reason I can't stop hearing the Dam Busters Theme in my head as I write this 

Mike

[Arrow5]

DAM you say...I should have been a Beaver 

[MikeK]

Thanks Arrow5, you have helped to get the dam buster theme out of my head - and replaced it with BOOM BOOM in the style of some fox glove puppet who's name I've forgotten 

Mike

[John W E]

Do you mean Basil de Brush ???

aye he might have the Rangers job sweeping the park.

Mind, I cant see that little Otter surviving here in South Shields swan muck lake 

aye
john e
bluebird

[DickyD]

I dont believe it John, you even have a photo of Basil Brush !!!  ::)

[John W E]

BOOM BOOM Dicky 

[John W E]

hi ya, just a quick update, they have started on the lake, passed it today.   They have fenced the top half of the lake off - with metal 6foot railings - 3 foot in from the lake edge it looked like to me.  They have portacabins and what looks like to be hardcore material at the side of the lake and a few ton of it too.    The wans or even swans were looking a bit worried  ::)  once they do start damming, which looks like it may be this week - I will get some photographs if I can.

John

[DickyD]

You think you have trouble with swans ? You should try these.  :-\

[malcolmfrary]

Could be a bit thrilling at landing and take off. :)

[DickyD]

They reckon swan droppings are bad. ::)

[John W E]

hi ya - this is for MikeK - this is what is happening toSouth Shields Lake now......start humming 'The Dam Busters'    Looks like an earth and sandbag dam, right across the lake with a big pump keeping one half empty, so down with the model Lancaster tomorrow maybe, with a few toy bombs  :) :) bomb gone......

John, aye
bluebird

 

[DickyD]

So wheres the boat John ?? :-\

[MikeK]

Thanks so much for the pictures John,
I didn't think they they would manage it, but I was wrong. I still wouldn't feel too safe on the drained side but if Health & Safety are happy it must be ok  ! Hope the bearded one doesn't complain about swan overcrowding  I wondered what those plastic islands looked like under the water, never knew they were on stilts. So what is the plan now ? that's the end that the council planned to make into a 'natural' bank receding into the tree line so the swans didn't have to jump !

Looking forward to updates, please pass on Season's Greetings to the lads at the club and of course to your goodself

Mike

[Philipsparker]

All this fuss over swans, I used to think we were badly off with a huge number of carp in our water !

Anyway, here's a couple of constructive suggestions:

1) Get every model boater to get hold of their local Councillor. I know everyone is going, "But they don't do anything", well they don't if you don't hassle them. I've spoken to loads of people in the past who think local democracy means writing to the local rag. Don't bother, they have their own agenda. Working for the council here, I know that if you can get members asking questions, things get done to shut them up and get them off the chief officer's backs. And you can find the details including addresses, phone numbers & emails on-line. But you ALL have to do it to get some momentum. Anyone who doesn't take part is on the side of the swans and a traitor to the cause.

2) Put up some "Please do not feed the birds" signs. Get them printed off on a computer & laminated down at your local copy shop. Someone in our street (not me but I have an idea who) did this to stop people feeding the birds on a nearby green space 'cos the rats were attracted to the leftover food. Mention disease, dirt and rats as reasons on the sign. That will scare the parents.

Ideally if people must feed then they need to be doing it away from the launching area. then the birds will get used to congregating away from the launch site.

Hope this helps someone. Good luck.

Phil

[funtimefrankie]

This what you get at the Southport lake on a quiet day

[Tom Eccles]

I recognise the one at the back, He was at the pond this afternoon.

People may not like these guys but at least they keep the swan numbers down!

Clegg

[Bryan Young]

Oh how I wish that North Tyneside council would spend a little of their recently acquired cash windfall to do something with our lake. I could ( and probably am) wrong in thinking that the South Shields lake has always been designated a "Marine Park", whereas Tynemouth was built as a Model Boating Lake. But Tynemouth has suffered from years of silting up and sweet nothing to help from the "owners". I am beginning to wonder if our council just wants to see the whole thing silt so far up they can use it as a car park.