THE family of John Simmons has sent a letter to our local newspaper in which they call for the pond (The Clegg) where their 15-year-old son tragically drowned to be filled in. I have a lot of sympathy with the Simmons family but I disagree and will not support the filling in of the \'Clegg\'. Pockets of nature and lakes in residential areas are very rare to find these days in St Helens with easy access. I fished at the Clegg with my son when he was a youngster and we had some great times down there together during the summer holidays before it started to be an attaction for other activities. If children and teenagers want to mess or play on lakes they will find them, filling in the Clegg will not solve anything in my opinion but would spoil it for locals who enjoy going down there to feed the ducks, fish and to stroll round the Clegg in spring and summer with their families and friends. The St Helens Council are considering making the lake shallower. To do this it would be ludicrous inviting younger children to play in the lake which is not only more dangerous but would encourage them to wade accross to the island which is a sanctury and nesting area for wildlife. The Clegg is also a breeding ground for newts and the common lizard. Most of St Helens residents live walking distance to a lake of some kind where they go for walks or recreation. Filling in The Clegg could be the thin end of the wedge and more of our lakes and ponds in St Helens could have an uncertain future if this plan to fill in The Clegg goes ahead IMO. IMO Relatives and friends of john should be more positive instead of being negative and filling in The Clegg. Why not have a bench made and erected at the side of The Clegg with a memorial plate for John. I am sure it would be respected by the locals PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU WANT TO SAVE \'THE CLEGG\' and it\'s wildlife.

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