<b>One of Felixstowe's top seaside attractions is being turned into a bird sanctuary, the Suffolk Gazette can reveal.</b>

The former yacht pond, which is currently being used as a seafront eyesore, already attracts many seabirds, including gulls that enjoy resting there before stealing chips from holidaymakers sitting on the prom.

Now the pond is to be an official wildlife haven to rival facilities just up the Suffolk coast at Minsmere.

The proposed bird sanctuary has a puddle in the middle of it and is ideal for birds who can't be bothered to fly the few extra feet to the sea.

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/empty-lake.jpeg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/empty-lake-760x570.jpeg" alt="empty-lake" width="760" height="570" class="aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-1424" /></a><center><i>The new Felixstowe bird sanctuary will eclipse Minsmere</center></i><br><br>

There are many other factors which have made the former yacht pond the perfect place for a new wildlife facility. One of the most compelling is that people are rarely seen near the old pond as all the seats around it have been removed.

Another factor is the free water supply to the puddle in the middle. The puddle is replenished regularly, free of charge, by the sky.

This means the owner can continue to run the seafront feature without doing a thing to it or spending any money. This will please locals who will see virtually no change to the eyesore amenity apart from a few extra birds who have heard about the sanctuary.

We asked local resident Ivan O'Pinion for his thoughts on the proposed plans. He said: "What yacht pond? Oh that. Mmmm...dunno really."

But not everyone in Felixstowe is so enthusiastic. Nearby resident, Ms Sandy Foot, said: "Why can't they just keep it as a dump for bits of old wood and sweet wrappers? Why do we want to encourage more birds to come here and put a strain on the local economy? They take our food and shit everywhere."

Other people pointed out that the current use of the former yacht pond as an eyesore has worked very well for years as a deterrent for day trippers.

We tracked down an Ipswich mum who recalls the days when the pond was used as a boating lake. Mona Lott told us: "We used to bring our kids down here and pay good money to watch them bobbing around in boats screaming, 'Mum, come back!'. We used to pay the man a fortune to keep them trapped in the boats while we went down the pier to play bingo. I think it's disgraceful what they are doing. People have to get babysitters now."

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felixstowe-boating-lake.jpeg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/felixstowe-boating-lake-760x570.jpeg" alt="felixstowe-boating-lake" width="760" height="570" class="aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-1425" /></a><center><i>The pond used to be enjoyed by families before becoming an eyesore</center></i><br><br>

We pointed out to Ms Lott that further along the seafront is a plastic pond-like structure where you can zip your child up in a gigantic ball for a large sum of money and watch them struggle to 'walk' across the water. She responded by telling us that this may come in handy for her grandchildren who are bingo resistant during the school holidays.

The official opening of the new bird sanctuary was marked by birds just turning up and floating aimlessly in the puddle before flying off at high speed screeching "Mmmwaaark!'

<a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/birds-in-felixstowe-eyesore.jpeg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/birds-in-felixstowe-eyesore-760x570.jpeg" alt="birds-in-felixstowe-eyesore" width="760" height="570" class="aligncenter size-thumb_760x570 wp-image-1426" /></a>

People wishing to enjoy the new facility are advised to take their own chairs which they may place in the charming little spaces where the old seats used to be. You may be eligible for a council tax refund.

<i>To read more from this contributor, visit <a href="http://www.anythingexcepthousework.co.uk" target="_blank">anythingexcepthousework.co.uk</a></i>

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