A full survey of Abbey Fields lake will be completed by the district council before next summer.

Town councillors were told last week that Warwick District Council is "committed" to completing the survey and that it will not delay the much-anticipated Abbey Fields Management Plan any further.

Kenilworth Town Council had written to its district colleagues at the start of September asking for a full action plan to be agreed to prevent more fish from dying in the lake next year.

This summer a group of volunteers took it upon themselves to keep the lake's water aerated as fish continued to die in the increasingly shallow water during the heatwave.

The remaining fish were eventually moved to Lavender Hall Fisheries, but members of KTC backed a motion urging the district council to find a long-term solution to prevent the episode being repeated.

Volunteers removed around 650 fish from the lake this summer (Images by Richard Smith)

A response from WDC read at last week's full town council meeting said: "The Abbey Fields Management Plan, which has involved extensive engagement with stakeholders, has addressed many of the issues around Abbey Fields lake and is due to be published in October of this year.

"The council is also looking to meet with stakeholder representatives on the future management of the lake with the intention of carrying out a full lake survey which will be undertaken by a qualified and experienced specialist later in the year. 

"This survey will look at the water quality and the sediment levels of the lake and any impact this may have had on wildlife.

"The management plan will not be affected by the length of time taken to complete the survey."

It added: "WDC is committed to completing this full lake survey which we estimate will be done this year or at a time the specialist recommends. 

"All findings and recommendations will be shared in a report to all interested parties including the town council."

Cllr Kate Dickson later told councillors that the 250-page management plan will not actually be available until November.

She also said that an executive summary will be produced.

WDC had already released a statement saying it was committed to making sure the events of this summer are not repeated.