Converting a pond to a conversation pit ideas?

[robwilk]

Hi PHs
We have a deep pond about 2m at its deepest with a step, to approx 1.2m deep with a diameter of 4m and we have decided to get rid of the fish (gone) and the rest of the pond paraphernalia. My wife has been reading about 'conversation pits', which would make better use of the huge hole we have in our garden
On George Clarke's programme last night (s4 ep6) a girl did a similar thing and I thought it would answer my question but it did not, it appears they just filled the bottom of their pool hole with two feet of pebbles.
I'm in a pickle on how to provide drainage from rainwater gathering in the pit.
The bottom of the pond is below the level of the drains of the house so a straight forward drain is out. My thoughts are sinking a tall bucket in concrete in the deep section so the rain will collect in the bucket and have a submersible pump with a float switch to pump out the water when the bucket starts to fill.
Do you think I would need a back up pump? would this mean a bigger bucket.
I did think at first just to put two pumps in the pit but my wife was concerned that the amount of water permanently in the bottom of the pond would smell whilst the volume held in a bucket would be very small.
I open this up to ideas, comments and advice.
Rob

[robwilk]

kryten22uk said:

I fail to understand the rain water problem. Is your pond hole concreted, or isn't it just earth covered with pond liner. Once you remove the pond liner, then why wouldn't water just soak into the ground like everywhere else in your garden?

Its a concrete lined hole.

[robwilk]

ILoveMondeo said:

digging a soak-away should do the trick.

Its 2 meters deep im guessing that to get a soak away deeper than that it would be below the water table.

[robwilk]

Something along these lines.