A Kenilworth councillor has said a decision is needed on the long-term future of the lake in Abbey Fields following multiple reports of the fish dying during the recent heatwave.

Cllr John Dearing, who is also a professor of physical geography, said this was only going to continue if a proper management plan was not agreed.

The Green Party councillor claimed the lake was being overlooked in the Abbey Fields Management Plan currently being put together by Warwick District Council.

"In particular this week we have seen the results of the hot weather causing a lot of fish to die," he told last Thursday's Kenilworth Town Council meeting.

"This is something that is going to happen more and more as climate change brings more extreme heat waves. 

"It also promotes the growth of green algae which if you look closely at the water it creates this sort of scum - some of that can be toxic both to humans and also to dogs drinking the water. 

"This is brought on by the heat and the high levels of nutrients that come through feeding the ducks with bread."

A large number of fish from the lake in March, managed by fisheries manager Jon Wall of Jon Wall Fisheries and Anthony Simmons from Leamington Angling Association

This was the first time in two years that the work had been carried out due to the pandemic.

But Cllr Dearing said a public debate was needed on what sort of lake local people wanted in the long term.

He added: "If we want it to continue as a green, stagnant duck pond then there at least needs to be a management plan to reduce the fish populations to a low level so that we are not seeing all these fish dying every summer. 

"The alternative would be if the public want to see it as a clear water lake where you would have lily pads where you could look into the lake and see the high levels of biodiversity with frogs and so on. 

"But in that case you would have to ban the feeding of ducks and remove all the fish. 

"There is a debate to be had there."