ALTON'S Kings Pond is to get something of a facelift this summer with £8,000 budgeted to shore up the wildfowl feeding station and to continue with work to restore the deteriorating islands and banks. Part of an ongoing management plan, the need for the work was highlighted in a report, commissioned last year by Alton Town Council, to return this well-patronised local beauty spot to its former glory. According to deputy town clerk Greg Burt, £5,000 was spent last year on rebuilding part of the bank along the railway side of the pond and opposite the larger of the two islands. Councillors were disappointed, however, that the planting, protected by mesh, had been routed out by wildfowl. The company responsible has agreed to strengthen the mesh box and replant free of charge. It has been agreed by the town council's recreation committee that Albury-based Land and Water should return to Alton to carry out the repairs and to continue working on the site. This summer it is planned to rebuild the stretch of bank used as a boat launching area near to the bungalows and to tidy up the smaller island at the weir end of the pond. When the pond was dredged, some 10 years ago, measures were taken to try and grow this island but while the core remains firm the enlargement project has failed, leaving it looking tired and unkempt. "Councillors view the island as symbolic of the general demise of the area, reinforcing the need to spend time and money on bringing it back up to scratch," said Mr Burt. He explained that to try to rebuild the island in the way previously envisaged would require many tons of scalpings and the use of boats - a costly exercise which was not guaranteed to work. Instead, the plan was to tidy up the island by sawing off the supporting poles below the water level and reinforcing the core of the island by planting yellow flags. "It should make it look more attractive and better managed," said Mr Burt. As well as the £5,000 now budgeted for on an annual basis for management of the Kings Pond area, ATC has agreed an additional £3,000 to strengthen the Tarmac feeding station on the road side of the pond using a steel-pile reinforcement technique which should make it sound for many years to come. Speaking at a recent meeting of ATC's recreation committee, council leader David Willoughby said he was pleased to hear that the standard of work carried out last year was to be redeemed at no cost to the council. He also hoped that the company will have learned by the mistakes made and will use the knowledge when carrying out this year's work. Councillor Pam Bradford said she had been impressed by Land and Water and had every confidence that the work would be up to scratch. "Last year they did an adequate job - the real culprits are the Canada geese," she said. Mr Burt reported that local naturalist Dr June Chatfield and her team would be out on the pond over the next few weeks, oiling the Canada geese eggs in a bid to control the number of geese on the pond.