Town trade will suffer because of the controversial decision to ban swimming at Maldon's Promenade Park, it was claimed today.

Chris Tibballs, treasurer of Maldon Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said news that the lake will be turned into a "glorified duck pond" comes as a huge blow for local business people.

He said: "I feel the Friends of the Prom could have done much better by their supporters.

"I gave them an alternative to option five which, I believe, could have been possible but it was passed over."

Mr Tibballs added: "I believe supporters were misled because they were not given the full opportunity to consider all the options and the final proposals were obviously never going to satisfy the council."

He said Maldon District Council's decision will mean fewer people coming to Maldon and as a result the town's shopkeepers' trade will suffer.

He said: "This year the lake was shut but many people did not know and turned up anyway, only to find it inaccessible so trade did not suffer too much.

"Next year, however, everyone will realise it will never reopen in its original form and many of those who regularly come to Maldon will just stop doing so."

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Published Tuesday, December 21, 2004

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