AN INVESTIGATION has revealed that planning permission was needed for a huge drainage pond created next to a children’s play park.

The eight-foot deep hole near Moresby play park was created by two councillors without the permission of the local authority, in the hope of draining water from the nearby allotments.

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

Concerns have been raised over the safety of the pond, described as a “death trap”, with fears that a child could drown.

Kyle Thornely told councillors at Moresby Parish Council’s latest meeting, that planning permission was not required for the works.

But Copeland Council, which is in charge of planning in the borough, has investigated if permission was needed, after being alerted to the creation of the pond.

The authority has now revealed that planning permission was required to alter the site.

A spokesperson for Copeland Council said: “Our investigations have found that the pond is a form of development that requires planning permission.

“Our planning team is now in discussion with Moresby Parish Council to seek a resolution to the issues involved and remind them, as the land owner, of their responsibilities regarding safety.”

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

Dave Coward, a Moresby Parks resident, has raised concerns over the safety of the pond and set up a petition for it to be filled in.

He said: “This is a typical example of what happens when you step out of protocol of an organisation. The protocol is there and it works.

“The fact that they have stepped out of it and made the parish council responsible for something they didn’t know was going on – it’s ridiculous."

“If they’d had a proper meeting about it at a parish council level, all this could have been flagged up.

“There are no life rings. The allotment users weren’t made aware that he was fetching heavy plant on to site. There’s no thought gone into it.”

At the last parish council meeting, chairman Nick Throughton said drainage works had been proposed but had then been “extended without permission”.

Chris Shaw, Moresby Parish Council clerk, told The Whitehaven News that there had been correspondence with Copeland Council since the last parish council meeting, but said he had not been made aware that planning permission was needed for the pond.

Nick Troughton declined to comment when approached by The Whitehaven News.

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