A JUSTGIVING page has been set up to fund a bid to protect an ancient five-acre lake from a village development.

Concerns have been raised about the future of the Brantham Decoy Pond as plans for 288 new homes nearby would see surface run-off water fed through new ditches to the lake.

David Fisk has applied to have the lake listed as a protected monument in the National Heritage list for England but wants to fast track the application, which is set to cost about £2,000 or more.

He said: “This pond has stood the test of hundreds of years and never dries out or stagnates.

“It must therefore be fed by natural springs with a natural outfall.

“The level rarely changes so there is a natural balance.

“A proposal to use the pond for run-off water from a proposed housing estate would change the natural balance and cause considerable harm.

“Run-off water would contain contaminates from roads, roofs, parking areas and in the winter salt spread on the ground.

“Salt will destroy all lifeforms in the lake, which is home to a huge stock of carp, roach, rudd and perch.

“It is imperative that this ancient site of a decoy pond and the surrounding woodland be protected and preserved.”

If approved, an extension to the current Suffolk Coasts and Heaths area of outstanding natural beauty would cover the lake, but Mr Fisk said that protection is limited.

So far the justgiving page has raised more than £1,000.

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey, the developer behind the new homes, said: “Following outline planning permission for the development from Babergh Mid Suffolk District Council in November 2016, we held significant consultations with Suffolk County Council, who acts as the lead local flood authority, regarding the drainage strategy for the site.

“As part of this, we carried out a full assessment of the existing drainage system, which includes the Decoy Pond.

“Following the assessment, the authority requested that a small part of the site still drain into the Decoy Pond to ensure the water level is maintained.

“The new strategy outlines that drainage entering the Decoy Pond will come from roofs and private driveways, and will be transported through open ditches to provide a level of treatment before entering the pond.”

The detailed development plans for the site were given the go-ahead in June.