RETROSPECTIVE planning approval is being sought after a conservationist and his family created a wildlife pond on woodland near a Peeblesshire village.

Geoff Small from Peebles was unaware that approval was needed when he created the pond on land north west of The Brae at West Linton.

A retrospective application has now been submitted to Scottish Borders Council.

The pond was formed on a hillside with a gentle gradient by scraping soil from the uphill side and depositing it on the lower side to form a pond which is lined with fabric underlay and a PVC liner, then covered with natural Hessian and soil to permit regrowth of vegetation.

In a submission with the application, Mr Small said: “The land is designated as woodland. My wife and I purchased the land as we are keen conservationists and wanted to develop the somewhat neglected woodland.

“We understand the woodland was harvested 10 years ago then replanted about seven years ago and no further works had been done. As a family we visit the woodland regularly and are trying to improve it for nature. We have rescued many trees, installed bird boxes, cleared some paths etc.

“I wrote to the planning department asking if I needed permission for installing two ponds. I quote my response as: ‘Unfortunately, Scottish Borders Council no longer provide written confirmation in response to general planning enquiries about the need for planning permission. Guidance on what needs planning permission is however available on our website.’

“On reading the website I could not see any need for planning permission. However, I now learn this is deemed as ‘engineering works’ so I was wrong.

“Somebody raised a complaint about my developments in the wood and the council’s enforcement officer visited the site to assess the situation.

“I had previously requested for a hut to be put in the wood and permission was granted.

“I then asked about the ponds and understood that permission was not needed so proceeded with one pond. I was then advised by the enforcement officer that retrospective permission was needed for engineering works.”