New sign at the Sutton Mill Dam entrance in Mill Lane
(photographed 07/07/08)

If there's been one blot on Sutton's landscape in recent years, it has to be the Sutton Mill Dam. It was opened in 1987 as a wildlife park by Prince Charles after community pressure prevented it from being turned into a dumping ground for industrial waste. However, over the last few years it's been allowed to considerably deteriorate. All types of rubbish have been deposited in the Dam's waters & woodland and vandals have burnt some of the fishing 'pegs' and attacked the wildlife. Over the last three years since Sutton Beauty & Heritage has been photographing the dam, I've been inundated with locals complaining about its decline. One elderly gentleman told me:

"Prince Charles wouldn't recognise it today if he returned".

Another explained how he'd challenged a man disassembling the Dam's railings so he could construct a garden swing for his kids out of them! The water in the lake has also not been looking so good over the past couple of years, seemingly enduring some discharges and it certainly did suffer from the bridge construction work in Walkers Lane last Spring, which badly affected the flow of the Pendlebury / Sutton Brook.

Wildfowl in abundance at the Sutton Mill Dam (photographed 07/07/08)

I think in total there were four letters of complaint to the St.Helens Star during 2007. One said "I went for a walk around Mill Dam in Sutton the other day and I can honestly say I would rather have walked in a sewer. The place is a disgrace." Another correspondent wrote:

"Over the last five years, Sutton Mill Dam has gone from a place to be proud of to a place that is anything but."
However, if you've visited the dam over the last few weeks you'll have noticed how much it's improved. A large-scale tree pruning exercise has taken place, the damaged fishing pegs have been repaired, footpaths have been resurfaced and the steps rebuilt. Plus a new sign has very recently been installed at the Mill Lane Fish Bar entrance replacing the vandalised one. Wildlife seems to be returning too. Standing on the west bridge a few days ago, I counted over fifty ducks, ducklings and moorhens.

A widescale tree pruning and removal programme took place earlier
this year at Sutton Mill Dam (photographed 22/02/08)

Over the last twelve months I've sent a dozen letters and emails to St.Helens Council's Parks & Gardens and the Sutton Ward Committee about Sutton Mill Dam, which have all largely been ignored. Or I've been made promises of responses that haven't been kept. However, Sutton councillor Brian Spencer, whose also the Leader of St.Helens Council, has found the time to respond to one of my letters to himself. He writes:

"The latest work of pruning and making good the footpaths is partly funded by the Woodland Trust and a contribution from the ward committee Environmental Fund which I set up after I became Leader. Further pruning work is scheduled for the future and comments have been nothing but positive up to now. People feel safer and more sunlight can get into the area which helps to keep it dry and walkable."

Rex watches the ducks in the lake before walking up
some of the new steps (photographed 18/05/08)

It's certainly much nicer at the Mill Dam now although it's a shame that the railings have not been replaced and that there's been rubbish dumped in the lake for some five months that's still waiting to be removed.
           
It's also disappointing that the Council can't be more open about the work that they're doing in our community and responsive to requests for information. A vociferous letter to the St. Helens Star last December complained rather unjustly about the work that was being undertaken at the Mill Dam. The programme had only just begun and it had left the place in rather a mess, albeit a temporary one. The author of the angry letter wasn't to know that, however, as there were no notices of the work programme on the site or elsewhere and I've discovered that writing or emailing the local authority is not a particularly rewarding experience. We really should be able to raise points of concern with council officials without being expected to attend regular two hour ward committee meetings. I raised this in a letter in May but that's also been ignored! There's a couple of lines about the work at the Sutton Mill Dam in this month's edition of St.Helens First magazine, but it's rather belated.

However, this website was not created to criticise or for personal rants. The Mill Dam has been considerably improved and ultimately that's all that matters. So congratulations to all concerned and hopefully St.Helens Council and its partners will be able to maintain and improve Sutton Mill Dam's present condition for the future benefit of all in our community.  SRW

Click any image above for a new 2008 Photo-album
(10 pictures)

Four new-born cygnets fresh on the water at the Sutton Mill Dam

When I was there last Friday the pen was still sitting on her nest incubating her eggs but was noticeably unsettled, no doubt missing her partner who was nowhere to be seen. I suspect the cob had been removed by the RSPCA for treatment. But as of Monday this week the pair were back together on the lake proudly showing off their new brood of four gorgeous, fluffy cygnets!              

Wherever Mum goes, the four cygnets have to go too!

Whilst I was there I was told of a boy that had used a brick to "cave in a duck's head " over the half-term holidays, decapitating it. Later as I was taking pictures of the four cygnets from the west bridge, I spoke to a friendly chap who wondered whether the quartet would be able to survive the actions of the yobs. A very good question indeed.

AS USUAL CLICK ON AN IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW AND FOR A NEW MILL DAM PHOTO ALBUM (15 pictures)

14/06/07 - A FLASH SLIDESHOW VERSION IS NOW AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE TO VIEW MILL DAM SPRINGWATCH '07

The Peacock butterfly adding colour to the Sutton Mill Dam

The downside? Well considerable damage has been caused to a number of the angling platforms during winter with at least one set on fire. A few trees were damaged during the January gales with one now sprawled across the lake. Another fallen tree on a woodland path is inhibiting access to Clock Face Road (edit 3/4/07 it's now been cleared) . However, it's the dumped rubbish and overall condition of the wildlife park which is the main cause of concern. Standing on the west bridge I could count five tyres and one waste bin that had been dumped into the water nearby. I do wonder how often the council retrieves rubbish from the Mill Dam. It clearly happens but it doesn't seem to be more than a few times a year.

Several of the angler's fishing platforms have been damaged

In 2006 I spent many days at the dam making a video and taking photographs. I was very impressed by the number of locals who would regularly stop to talk to me. They were so passionate about the site and upset at its deterioration. One said "Prince Charles wouldn't recognise it if he came back ", referring to HRH's visit to the Sutton Mill Dam in 1988. Another wondered why those undertaking community service weren't delegated to improve the dam.

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MILL DAM PHOTO-ALBUM