Anglers set to net pool fishing rights at Bateswood Local Nature Reserve
CONTROVERSIAL plans to allow angling at a nature reserve are likely to go ahead.
Councillors have recommended that managed fishing should be allowed at Bateswood Local Nature Reserve in Halmerend.
Opponents say angling will disturb birds and other wildlife, and claim illicit fishing at the site already results in littering and anti-social behaviour.
But proposals for a new bridle route are set to be rejected because of health and safety concerns.
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Halmerend Wildlife Trust opposes both fishing at the site and the new bridle path.
The charity claims parties of anglers from as far away as Liverpool already camp at the nature reserve and illegally dump catfish into the pool.
Members also say that the RSPCA was recently called out to the pool to attend a swan which had two feet of fishing line wrapped around its beak.
Trust secretary Mary Turner said: "The lake isn't big enough to support fishing without harming wildlife.
"The lake is the main focal point for many people and the area proposed for fishing takes up the whole of the most accessible side. There is very limited parking and no toilets.
"Volunteers spend a great deal of time at Bateswood, picking up litter – cans, discarded line and weights, bottles, bread wrappers and so on, and this will undoubtedly increase."
A working group at Newcastle Borough Council say illicit fishing cannot be stopped, as neither the police nor the council can patrol the site constantly. They suggest that the only way forward is to allow a responsible fishing club to oversee angling at the pool.
Their report states: "Handing fishing over to a recognised club with a contract to control the site would regularise the situation. Angler numbers would increase, but their presence at night would help to curtail anti-social behaviour.
"Well managed fishing would help to curtail problems with unauthorised fishing and stocking of the pool, camping and damaging wildlife."
But the working group has recommended that calls for a new bridle route be rejected.
Wenslie Naylon, chairman of Newcastle Equestrian Forum, said members were now working on an alternative proposal.
She added: "We knew there was opposition but all we want to do is create a safe route.
"There is lots of room for us all to get along at Bateswood."
But the council's report says: "The bridle route proposals are too close to the main pool and would result in a 'pinch point'
where it would be difficult for horses to pass one another. "It would increase the risk of conflicts arising between other users of the nature reserve."
The findings will be discussed by the council's active and cohesive communities overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday. If approved, the cabinet would consider the recommendations.
Comments
by gormhenghast
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 3:03PM
“Yes its "OUR" back yard and we need your sort like an hole in the head, the pond currently enjoys in the summer grass snakes in the water,damsel and dragon flies, the odd visit from kingfishers and rare breed wildfowl in the winter, these will no doubt vanish due to the disturbance of anglers and the ever present depositing of discarded line, bait and human faeces in the bushes,some of the rare dragonflies have already departed mainly due to the predation of larvae by illegally introduced species of predatory fish, well done the "responsible" anglers there then.
Not a problem though subject to the plan going through on Thursday. the only part of the proposals turned round by the Labour controlled Cabinet were those headed up by an ex Liberal Councillor, true to form though ever running with the fox and hounds, Eddie the puppeteer and new sibling the trainee MP will chase the vote and agree to fishing on Bateswood, all singing to the same hymn sheet as ever.
Never mind our backyard, you just concentrate on where these reactionary Councillors lurch to next. They`ve already hoodwinked the ever ready`s from Clayton and the Westlands and other areas that they are safe from the developers on their open spaces putting adverse pressure every where else they like us were NIMBY`s but eh ho leopards and spots the cabinet may have an epiphany.Actually by the time the clowns that can call themselves anglers have messed up Bateswood you may as well solve the Boroughs housing problem and build there...................?????
After all there will be no wildlife left to call it a Nature Reserve, and no one looking after it, so its back to the wild west, I wonder how long before the scramblers get on there?”
by Focus386
Monday, September 03 2012, 2:48PM
“Just another group of "not in my back yard club" who do they think they are stating who they think can use the country side and who can't? Yes I am a fisherman and have fished many of the local fisheries around this area and can say most if not all are well looked after fisheries and while fishing I always enjoy watching the wild life. The wild life doesn't get up and move if fishermen turn up, both sides learn to live in harmony. If this is handed over to be run by a fishing club I can say with certainty that the club will rigoulsy protect the area, it's in their own best interest to look after the site.
I was unfortunate enough to have to travel in this area yesterday and had to drive up the lane past this pool. In front of me were 4 horses moving slowly up the middle of the lane, one by one each horse did what comes naturally and left a pile of warm steaming fresh manure behind. At no point did any of the ladies on any of the horses make one single move to stop and clean their mess from the road surface. Is the local trust or the local parish council in Audley going to take to task the matter of horse owners leaving their mess on the roads? I a guessing not, but let's target fisherman that you know nothing about.
If in the fullness of time it proves from evidence presented that the fishing was a big mistake, then I will be the first to apologise for the failings of my fellow anglers but until such time.........”