Sixteen people have been appointed to two groups which will have a role in shaping the future of Kings Pond in Alton.

All those recommended for membership of the task and finish group, which will be responsible for overseeing work on the pond management project, and the community and stakeholder group, which will spread information on the scheme and give feedback to the task and finish group, were unanimously approved by Alton Town Council on March 5.

Cllr Peter Wadman - who is on the task and finish group alongside councillors Don Hammond and Doug Richards - acknowledged officers’ work to recruit people suitable for the roles and the “extensive publicity” generated to help the process.

He added: “We have been very pleased with the response, the number of volunteers and the skills and level of interest that each brought to the table, which was noted by councillors.”

Applicants, either members of the public or representatives of organisations, were asked about their experience, what they knew about the Kings Pond Feasibility Project, whether they were members of community groups and their availability to attend meetings.

They were also asked about their ‘openness’ - whether they were open-minded to consider both the dredging and the pond-and-river options.

Sixteen responses were received and Cllr Wadman met officers on February 18 for an initial review of the applications.

Angela Owens, Eric Phillips, Timothy Pinchen, Catherine Ayres, Paul Ebbutt, Ryan Doran and John Quincey were appointed to the task and finish group, and Terri Quincey, Patrick Swaby, Dr June Chatfield, Olivia Paynter, James Willis, Jenny Griffiths, Cathy Wilson, Vicky Kuhn and Maggie Hage to the community and stakeholder group.

Representatives from the Environment Agency, the River Wey Trust and East Hampshire District Council’s planning department will be invited to join the task and finish group and attend meetings when required to provide expert opinion.