It’s troubling news that a question mark hangs over the future of Aldenham Reservoir. There are few more pleasant places in our area than Aldenham Country Park, with its lovely mixture of animals, lovely walks and Winnie the Pooh. And right next door is that wonderful reservoir.

I’ll confess a personal link to this.

I used to go sailing on the waters of Aldenham every week and always loved it.

The wind was good, the waters not too fearsome and the wildlife a constant distraction, so I’ve got some very happy memories.

I’m hardly alone in that.

Every time I’ve been to the reservoir, there have been boats bobbing along on the reservoir, people walking around it and smiles everywhere.

It’s a real jewel - if you haven’t been there, you really should.

And you might need to get a move on.

The reservoir is owned by a company called Safari, which leases it to Hertfordshire County Council, and that lease will run out later this year.

There’s now no guarantee as to what will happen to it, with one plan involving a subsidy to maintain the reservoir based on a great big housing development going up next door.

It may well turn out to be the least worst option.

This is a truly historic building. The reservoir was dug out, by hand, by French Napoleonic prisoners more than 200 years ago, and it’s been in constant use ever since.

For decades, now, it’s been used by the public, but its future has never been under greater threat.

Much now will depend on the whims of Safari.

Investment companies tend to look at the bottom line rather than the history books, so let’s hope a deal can be done to keep the reservoir going. On a summer’s day, there are few better places to be.