I am writing with regard to the article (Gazette, May 3) about the couple in Waterside Lane, Colchester, who live in constant fear of flooding.

I feel Mr and Mrs Bridgeman are wasting their time, energy and money in taking any owner of nearby Distillery Pond to court.

I was born in 1951 and lived on Hythe Quay from the moment I left the maternity home to the time I married in 1971, and maintained my ties with the area until my parents moved away in 1982.

My family and I were frequent visitors to the pond.

There was occasional flooding at the bottom of Distillery Lane, between the junction with Hawkins Road and the Quay (the great flood of 1953 obviously causing the whole of the Hythe Quay area to be affected more seriously).

But there was never any flooding near the pond because it was on higher ground and there was minimal development.

During my time, the River Colne was a working river and was frequently dredged. Some people believe the cessation of this has adversely impacted on the current flooding issues at the Hythe.

This may be a contributing factor for the Quay environs and, perhaps now, the pond – I don’t know.

Certainly, there used to be an excellent outlet stream from the pond down to the river.

However, it must be pointed out Distillery Pond is connected upstream to Bourne Pond and beyond by a network of water channels.

Personally, I feel the increase in population and, thus, tarmac either side of this miniscule valley, will not have helped the area at large.

There are more players in this equation than the owner of the pond.

Mrs H A Johnson
Capel Road
Colchester