Angling ban at Wingerworth Lido goes back to drawing board as Derbyshire Councillors agree to review controversial decision following campaign

Councillors on North East Derbyshire District Council agreed yesterday (Monday, 22 September) to formally review the previous decision which led to an angling ban and the eviction of Clay Cross Angling Society from the popular Wingerworth Lido – a water they have looked after for over 25 years.

Following a strong campaign on behalf of the anglers, including an online petition promoted by local angler James Duffy, threats of a Judicial Review and extensive lobbying and briefing of councillors by the Angling Trust, there now appears to be some real hope that angling will be able to return to Wingerworth in the future.

Local MP Louise Jones has also raised the issues describing angling as a ‘fantastic sport’ and calling on the Council to “find a way forwards that represents the views of Wingerworth as a whole, and one that supports improving the biodiversity of the site as well as allowing for recreational use.”

In response to an opposition motion that would have put the future management of the Lido back out to public consultation, the Council leadership effectively acknowledged that their earlier decision was flawed and passed an amendment to instruct their Environment Scrutiny Committee to review the decision and to consult stakeholders and report back. The Angling Trust had already written to the committee with a request to attend and provide evidence in support of the club and their return to Wingerworth.

The Council has announced that it wants to turn the Lido into a ‘Bio-Diversity Hub’ but without any explanation as to why angling is not compatible with this objective. The Angling Trust briefing to councillors highlighted numerous examples of joint working between angling clubs and wildlife groups both nationally and in Derbyshire as evidence as to why there was never any justification for evicting the Clay Cross anglers.

Angling Trust Head of Policy, Martin Salter welcomed the decision saying:

“Whilst we would have preferred to see the angling ban scrapped immediately there’s no doubt that it’s back to the drawing board for these fundamentally flawed plans to lock local anglers out of Wingerworth Lido. 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.”

Bill Parkin, Chairman of Clay Cross Angling Society, said:

“We are pleased that there appears to have been movement by the Council and as a club we are committed to working to get our members back fishing and helping to look after Wingerworth Lido as quickly as possible. This is a lovely public facility and a place everyone should be able to enjoy.”

Derbyshire Angling Trust Coach, Steve Clamp, added:

“There’s no reason why this ‘bio-diversity hub’ and angling cannot co-exist at Wingerworth. Just look at the excellent partnership working in Derby where all the city council’s lakes are successfully managed by the local Earl Harrington Angling Club who have improved the aquatic environment in all the lakes for all wildlife and not just fish. Hopefully this new review will acknowledge this once the Scrutiny Committee has heard all the evidence.”

Angling Trust Briefing Document sent to councillors ahead of the meeting