Cones, pallets and gas cylinder fished from Newton Lake (From St Helens Star)

Cones, pallets and gas cylinder fished from Newton Lake

6:45pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

TRAFFIC cones, tyres, pallets and old gas cylinders were among the items fished out of a lake as part of an Environment Agency-backed clean-up operation.

The build-up of debris at Newton Lake in Willow Park became a major concern for community leaders.

Newton Partners Community Group, which was formed in 2006, secured a community grant from the Environment Agency.

It brought in contractors Vertase to undertake the difficult clean-up operation after the task was classed as being too hazardous for residents.

The clean-up saw three skips filled with rubbish pulled from the lake and a culvert running under the M6 motorway.

Council officials believe the culvert was source of much of the waste material.

Newton Lake was created around 1855 as the centrepiece of a prestigious villa development. However, only a few of the villas were ever built.