Fishing licence to be reconsidered at beauty spot

THE Angling Trust has welcomed a Derbyshire council's decision to reconsider reinstating a fishing club's licence for anglers at a popular beauty-spot after campaigners opposed the terminated tenancy arrangement.

- By JON COOPER

North East Derbyshire District Council recently voted by a majority for the withdrawn tenancy at the Wingerworth Lido for tenants Clay Cross Angling Association to be reconsidered at a scrutiny committee meeting as part of plans to preserve the popular pond as a biodiversity hub under the Friends of Wingerworth Lido community group.

The decision at a full council meeting on September 22 has been welcomed by the fishing club and the Angling Trust which has argued that there is no reason why angling clubs and wildlife groups cannot work together for the good of the environment.

Angling Trust head of policy, Martin Salter, said: “We will support Clay Cross Angling Society every inch of the way as we engage with the scrutiny process and hopefully come back with a sensible and balanced way forward that meets everyone's concerns.

“Public waters like Wingerworth need anglers on there to help manage and care for the amenity otherwise you end up with poaching and chaos”

The Angling Trust stated that it wrote to the council with a request to provide evidence in support of the club and their return to Wingerworth.

It claimed the council’s original’s decision was effectively acknowledged as “flawed” and effectively led to a “ban” on angling and the “eviction” of the fishing club.

Despite the council’s explanations this has been a tenancy non-renewal matter where due process was followed with correspondence, relevant councillors alerted, and time allowed for responses before submitting a ‘notice to quit’ to the fishing club.