Pool will open to anglers
FISHING will be allowed at a nature reserve after councillors rubber-stamped controversial plans.
Newcastle Borough Council's cabinet has given the go-ahead for 'managed' angling to be introduced at Bateswood Local Nature Reserve, in Halmerend.
The ruling comes despite opponents claiming angling will disturb birds and other wildlife at the site.
The council claims it would be impossible to prevent the illegal fishing which already happens at the reserve, and that the only way forward was to allow a responsible fishing club to oversee angling at the pool.
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Councillor George Cairns, who had backed the plans, said: "I'm glad the cabinet has backed the proposals, which will benefit the people of the community.
"We know fishing takes place there illegally with people coming from all over the country, and they camp and leave the area in a mess when they go.
"We want to protect the wildlife at the site and certainly don't want to jeopardise it, and by having a club running the fishing at the reserve, it means it will be well preserved and look after.
"Because they are running the facility, it will be in their interests to look after it and tidy up and equipment which is left behind."
Proposals for a new bridle route were rejected because of health and safety concerns.
Halmerend Wildlife Trust opposed both developments.
The charity had claimed parties of anglers from as far away as Liverpool already camp at the nature reserve and illegally dump catfish into the pool.
They also claimed that the RSPCA was recently called out to the pool to treat a swan which had two feet of fishing line wrapped around its beak.
Trust chairman Ike Williams said: "We are disappointed that the borough council have done this.
"Our belief is that this area was designated as a nature reserve, not as a place for angling or horse riding.
"It was created after the people in the area had to put up with all the aggravation of the open cast mining.
"The nature reserve was supposed to be somewhere where people could go and enjoy nature in the peace and quiet.
"But now it appears that other people are only interested in their own activities.
"I am glad that the council has stopped the new bridle path though."
Comments
by kjhgfd
Monday, February 04 2013, 2:09PM
“great place for a bq and a few tinnies”
by gormhenghast
Sunday, October 21 2012, 10:01AM
“Lee the pool was never intended to be populated by Fis, these arrived courtesy of the so-called responsible anglers, no doubt stolen from other pools. The pool was envisaged as an area for breeding Dragon Flies, wild fowl, grass snakes, amphibians etc. Angling is hardly conducive to that end. Not wishing to be defeatist or anything but personally I give in with Newcastle Councils cavalier action of rescinding its Local Nature Reserve status and giving carte blanche for angling to take place, they are of course the lease es of the land and I presume they have got permission from the lease holders to take these actions.
Good Luck with your pipe dream scenario of the Police and Council working with you on Bateswood, they have so far an abysmal record, once the anglers take over and the wildlife group moves on its going to become like the wild west over there, quoting the Council "The council claims it would be impossible to prevent the illegal fishing ", the Council and Police have struggled to prevent anything, what makes you think that anglers from outside the area will fair better, and mores to the point what club is going to deal with the locals who want to fish the pool, the majority of whom do not hold a licence or it seems from past experience brain cells.
Anyway good luck you`ll need it.”
by _Lee_
Friday, October 19 2012, 4:06PM
“I am quite surprised by the reaction from Halmerend Wildlife Trust regarding the decision to allow fishing on this water.
It is a PROVEN fact that in the vast majority of cases that not only does wildlife flourish but also incedents of anti-social behaviour tend to decrease on waters run by fishing clubs due to clubs themselves wanting the enviroment in which their members fish to be as pleasant as possible.
There are several pools in the area which i live and there used to be major issues with anti social behaviour and harm being caused to the local enviroment. These issues are thankfully a thing of the past as since they were taken over by local fishing clubs as there work with the council (and police when required) have made these area's safe and a haven for wildlife.”
by gormhenghast
Friday, October 19 2012, 1:56PM
“Sad day for Bateswood, thanks to witless Councillors.”
by Notanumber
Friday, October 19 2012, 1:23PM
“Angling and wildfowl do not go together so how the statement about protecting wildlife can be achieved I don't know!”