Sorry , I have started a new thread so we dont overlook this issue, I personnally think it is important , we may loose bank fishing on lots of waters . Below is a copy of an Email that I have sent to ST Water. If all the forum members did the same , I am confident such pressure would have an effect. Yes some of you may think its not in my area , BUT the next time it may be yourselves asking for assistance , lets all rally round , please , APATHY gains nothing.

PS , I am sure that there are better orators and writers on this forum than myself , who are far more capable of generating a suitable Email , thanks and please ignore my grammar and spellings, regards Mick


I write with disgust at your proposals for Foremark Trout Fishery.
You blatantly are disregarding the hard work Mr Dixon has put in to get this fishery back on its feet, by denying him first choice of renewing his lease, YOU will go down the route of Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns by selling off the lease to the highest bidders , eventually getting someone who cannot sustain the fishery due to costs and then losing your customer base and eventually resulting in a lease that is unsaleable, please give this matter some attention and I urge you to rethink .
Secondly the issue of bank restrictions , as fishermen you have to follow the Trout if you want to catch any , why are you closing 60% of the bank, Is it due to general public , who contribute NOTHING towards yours and the fisheries revenue. If you say fishing from the Dam wall is dangerous , I agree at certain times it may be , the fishery manager should have the right to decide and close it when appropriate. How on earth do you think Farmoor and Toft Newton trout fisheries operate with concrete bowl construction, I fish Toft regularly and have seen no incidents due to Concrete.

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its not how you tie your flies , its how you tease your flies

I emailed ST the other day in a similar vein. This is the reply I got today:-

"Thank you for your feedback regarding your views of the Fishery at Foremark.

We welcome views and feedback from those who have visited our sites, and have experienced the activities offered by ourselves and our tenants.

The lease for the Fishery at Foremark is open for tender, and this is due to a number of changes required in the terms of the lease, since it previously expired.
If I explain the reasons behind the need to make changes then I hope that the situation will be clearer to you.

The changes to the Fishery at Foremark are part of a wider set changes across the site to enable us to provide the best and most suitable blend of conservation, access, recreation and education opportunities to our customers and communities.

The alterations in the scope of the Fishery Lease twill allow more effective and efficient management of the whole of the Foremark site, and it is the wider implications of the condition and use of the whole of the Foremark site that we must consider and manage.

Some of these changes relate to managing Health and Safety risks, some to the Conservation of the site and some (perhaps most importantly) relate to ensuring a secure and guaranteed provision of wholesome drinking water sourced from the reservoir.

Foremark is not just a Fishery, it is a multi-usage water production site with Public Access, Biodiversity and Conservation areas, walking and riding trails, sailing, and quiet enjoyment areas. But foremost it is a significant part of the water supply infrastructure of the Midlands region, and we must manage the whole site with that primary use, and all the other site activities and opportunities balanced safely, effectively and efficiently.

As the existing lease expired at the end of the season last year, and the new scope of the Fishery is different then it is wholly appropriate to place the lease into the open market, thereby allowing an equitable opportunity for all parties who may be interested in taking on the Fishery lease to make an application that is based upon a clear understanding of the future scale and responsibilities of the fishery at Foremark.

Yours sincerely

Karl James
Head Ranger"


My email was sent to Martin Kane who I think is head of public relations at ST. The address is

customer.relations@severntrent.co.uk



Jeff

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Location - Just outside of Nottingham - Robin Hood country!

Just got the exact same reply as yourself , J . I wonder if they actually read my comments?

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its not how you tie your flies , its how you tease your flies

A meeting has been set up for this week between STW's H&S manager, head ranger and the Angling Trust and representatives of Foremark Flyfishers. Hopefully discussions will enable sensibility to prevail

Health and Safety goes mad at reservoir

Anglers who have fished Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire for a generation were hanging their heads in despair last night after a meeting with Severn Trent Water’s health & safety officials who confirmed that two thirds of the reservoir is to be closed for angling due to concerns about health and safety of the public, the anglers themselves and the structural integrity of the dam wall.

Severn Trent’s official said that he was concerned about non-angling visitors getting hooked by fly anglers’ back casts and anglers tripping over on the uneven surface of the dam wall, which comprises a gently-shelving structure built of large rocks. Nearly three miles of bank previously available to anglers will now be closed to all fishing at all times of the year.

Anglers were most incredulous that one of the reasons cited was that they might cause damage to the dam wall by moving stones about. The dam was described repeatedly by Severn Trent as an “operational structure”; its only purpose being to contain water and therefore should not be used for angling.

Foremark Fly Fishers contacted the Angling Trust to seek its support after their complaints about the plans had been ignored. Severn Trent agreed to meet with the Club Chairman and Secretary and Angling Trust chief executive Mark Lloyd. However, despite a long list of proposed compromise measures being put forward by the anglers, the massive reduction in fishing will remain.

Chairman of Foremark Fly Fishers said: “We are very disappointed with the meeting. We felt that a very negative, unco-operative stance was taken by Severn Trent. The word compromise didn’t seem to exist – it was obvious in the first few minutes that the company was not prepared to take on board any of the proposals we put forward.”

Secretary. “I have been fishing Foremark for a quarter of a century and as far as I am aware there have never been any incidents involving anglers and other visitors to the site. There happen to have been two accidents in the last year and these are the only two reported accidents to have occurred on the dam wall in all the time I’ve fished there. The Health and Safety Officer clearly stated that this was a policy that will affect not only Foremark, but every water owned by Severn Trent as their leases come up for renewal.”

Mark Lloyd Chief Executive Angling Trust said: “The Angling Trust is extremely concerned about the implications of this policy for reservoir angling throughout the country. Having visited the site, I could see no reason why angling could not be continued on the dam wall, which would be one of the safest places I have ever fished. We call on Severn Trent to re-consider this policy for the benefit of hundreds of thousands of regular reservoir trout anglers and the future of our sport.”

Jobsworths

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Let's "Tackle Cancer" supporter.
World Record Holder for Navigating the length of Loch Ness.......on a Pedalo!!!

I'm speechless

Short sighted

Ill-informed

Patronizing

The list goes on......

A sad day indeed

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Peregrine Team Esthwaite

Still no news on this?

Does anyone have contact with Phil as his views have not been heard?

Jeff

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Location - Just outside of Nottingham - Robin Hood country!

Just a quick update. The campaign is rolling. We now have the following

The Health and Safety Executive are investigating on our behalf.
Local MP's contacted and acting
national press interested and acting

Hopefully STW will now start to get the message on what they have created.

thanks buzzerman lets hope that phil gets what he deserves and common sense prevails i for one shall have a season ticket if it all goes phils way