Anglers hit out at plans to close fishery at Draycote Water

Nov 23 2009 By Tina Junday


ANGLERS have hit out at plans to close the fishery at Draycote Water, one of the most popular reservoirs in the country.
The closure at the site in Kites Hardwick, near Rugby, will coincide with building work to improve the visitor centre and car park next year.
It would mean hundreds of people would be forced to fish elsewhere during the season which runs from March to October.

Although bosses at Severn Trent, which owns and operates the site, said it would reopen in 2011 anglers are still uncertain about its future.
Draycote fisheries warden Keith Causer, who works with wife Margaret, said: “From my own point of view my lease period finishes at the end of the year and so I can only assume that this will be the end of my connection with the fishery.
"In that vein Margaret and I would like to thank all of our customers, suppliers and staff who have given their support to the fishery.
"We have appreciated all the help and loyalty.”

Severn Trent has made plans to change the route to the car park to enable access for coaches and refurbish the visitor centre, which will include a new exhibition.
Robert Griffiths, a member of Draycote Fly Fishing Association for 30 years, was shocked by the news.
The 59-year-old lorry driver, of Clifton Road, Nuneaton, said: “It’s just so disappointing.
There is a huge following of fishermen not just locally but all over the world. It’s so well-known and is one of the top fisheries in Britain. It’s terrible really.

“When they built the visitor centre we were still allowed to fish and worked together with the disruption, so why must it be different this time is beyond me. This shouldn’t stop us from bank fishing.”
Club member John Dews wants to hold a meeting with Severn Trent to discuss the matter further.
He said: “Severn Trent don’t care about bringing the hobby of thousands of people to an end for at least 12 months.
"As members we’re attempting to arrange a meeting with them to arrive at some compromise to enable fishing to continue next year.
“I lost my wife of 40 years this July and the support I received from my fishing friends and Keith and Margaret at the lodge has helped me get through.”

Draycote has five miles of bank fishing and a fleet of hire boats. The reservoir, which opened in January 1969, is by far the largest in Warwickshire.
Gill Dickinson, of Severn Trent, said: “We are making some improvements at the site as part of a wider project.

“We are having construction work done which means some activities might have to be stopped completely.
“The fishery is a temporary closure next year for construction work to go ahead effectively and we will reopen it when the improvements have been made.
“We know anglers are disappointed but we wish to reassure them we are not closing for good because it is an integral part of what we offer at Draycote.
“It’s going to be for the benefit of thousands of visitors.”



www.thedeadskunk.com

Thanks for the update.

__________________
Silversedge
LETS TACKLE CANCER SUPPORTER
"MON THE HILL CLIMBERS!!"

I note that in the article that STW do not mention that the boat club will still be open.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Its a joke complete rubbish one rule for one if you ask me,how can you stop the trout fishing but let the boats stay open? If a porta cabin was put in the carpark by the barrier then we wouldn have to go anywhere near the building,so how can the boaters get to there boats they would have to pass right by the lodge . Its aload of rubbish,draycote is a place where you can spend a day meet some cracking blokes and do what we all enjoy.

It's good to see the press involved, early on.
I just hope that the Draycote members can secure a compromise.
Although I fear that some of the bank fishing will be lost when a new lease is drawn up.
As ST made it clear, at Foremark, that they do not want fishing from 'Operational Structures'.. (Dam Walls) and where the general public have access then fishing would not be allowed..(this on unfounded H&S grounds).
I suspect that his effects an awful lot of the bank fishing at Draycote?

I also find it strange that they have closed the fishery prior to any planning consent.. as if the consent takes, say, over a year to be granted, then does this not mean that the fishery would be closed for longer?

If anyone from Draycote needs any of the H&S executive findings, That were received during the foremark battle -then please PM me an e-mail address and I will forward on what the HSE sent to us..(as this may help at any meeting with ST).

Thanks for that Paul. As just posted on the other thread, I have just e-mailed Andrew Marsh at STW.

Buzzerman - you are correct about planning timsescales - I am professionally involved in "the planning system" - have been for over 20 years. They are either being very optimistic, presumptious, or both. The various responses from STW all added up just don't hang together, although that could be just as much down to poor organisation as anything sinister.

__________________

Hi Jeff, I received the reply below from A.Marsh:

Paul,

Thank you for your e-mail.

The following statement reflects the current picture (apologies if you have already seen this).

Severn Trent Water is making a number of improvements to its site at Draycote Water. This is part of a programme of ongoing improvements to all the public access sites that we own and manage. By regularly reviewing the services that we provide we are able to offer the best. and most suitable blend of conservation, access, recreation and education opportunities to our customers and communities.

Unfortunately, whilst construction works are taking place we have to review the activities that will be offered on site. It is important to us that all activities can be enjoyed by visitors but we need to be able to manage these properly and, for that reason, activities which will be affected by the works will be scaled back or closed during the development of the site.

So yes, we do now plan to close the fishery for the 2010 season so that construction work can go ahead. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but we have concluded that it is the only sensible option under the circumstances.

We understand that some anglers may be upset at our decision to temporarily close this site and we have organised a meeting with the Draycote Flyfishing Association to speak with them directly regarding our plans. I would like to reassure you that we do not plan to close the fishery permanently, and we fully intend for fishing to remain an integral part of the site’s facilities when the works are complete.

The improvement plans for Draycote Water are currently under development. Amongst the proposed changes to the site are changes to the road layout, increased parking facilities, coach access to the visitor centre and improvements to the visitor centre, including a new education exhibition. No planning applications have yet been submitted.

Regards

Andrew

Paul - thats the same reply Steve C got and posted on the other thread ("Draycote closed next year"). I've asked some more specific questions, so hopefully will not get the same (standard?) reply, but we'll see.

__________________