Arbroath’s Keptie Pond will not be the subject of an in-depth review into the “debacle” over the drainage problems plaguing the beauty spot.
However, the one-time boating attraction is at the centre of urgent talks involving Angus Council officials and local councillors.
They are making an effort to finally secure an end to the weed and algae issues damaging the pond’s appearance and the town’s tourist reputation.
The ‘pondie’ came back on the radar recently with the summer explosion of unsightly algae.
It prompted local members David Fairweather and Bob Spink to renew their long-standing call for action.
Despite around £50,000 of Arbroath Common Good money being pumped into a borehole scheme to improve drainage a number of years ago, the system has never worked satisfactorily.
Critics have said the borehole specification was not up to the job and have called for experts to be brought in.
The arrival of summer has once again led to the pond being covered in weed and algae, with fears for the wildlife population there. The local members were hopeful of forcing a scrutiny review of the situation under a council programme which looks at a range of topics across the authority.
Mr Spink, who chairs the scrutiny and audit committee, said; “We have now taken Keptie Pond off the scrutiny review list.
“We have had a couple of meetings with officers and a number of issues have been identified which will be the subject of a report coming to us in August/September.
“That’s not to say that we will not look at it again because there are other issues.”
Councillors also recently agreed a £47,000 upgrade of the gravel path around the pond to a full sealed surface as part of the authority’s ring-fenced cycling, walking and safer streets fund.
Mr Fairweather said that despite the problems with the pond level and the failure of the borehole solution, upgrading of the path was a boost for the attraction and “a step in the right direction”.
The topics chosen to come under the spotlight are a major review of customer care, as well as mini-reviews of housing repairs, economic development links to planning, service level agreements and business managers in schools.
Council officer Janine Wilson said the main review area was one which did not score particularly highly last year.
“It was felt that this area had a direct link to council priorities and the workstream of improved customer experience within the council’s Transforming Angus change programme,” she added.
Forfar councillor Lynne Devine was selected as the chair for the customer care review panel. Each panel will have six members and a lead officer.