Feedback Responses

Message

Clearly with just reading the feedback there are a lot of questions that need to

answered. Also the fair weather fishermen/women who fish OUR ponds in the nicer

weather wont know anything about this proposal.

Message:

Speaking as a member of Reddish Angling Cub the thought of fishing the ponds on

Reddish Vale make me fall of my fishing basket in laughter. The place is untidy,

the water stinks & the swans & ducks are a nuisance. Hardly a place to park a

car & the place is crawling with yobs. Best idea would be to level the land &

build something useful on the land.

My personal opinion anyway!

Message:

I have no objections to fishing if it is properly managed and an ethos of

responsible fishing is maintained.

 Unfortunately our wild fowl have suffered greatly due the complete lack of

consideration by certain anglers for the Vale habitat as they continue to

discard line and weights to the suffering and ultimate death of wild fowl and

birds and animals whose home it is.

I have been raising my concerns for several years, the most important being the

withdrawal of the position of wildflife officerfrom the Vale . I have questioned

what happened to the money/ funding that went with this post and to date an

explanation has not been forthcoming.

 I believe we need to reinstate the position of Wildlife Officer first to ensure

the maintenance of protection for both habitat, animals and wildfowl.

This needs to be done with public consultation before any decision is made

concerning fishing rights.

I add a further concern, that of night fishing and the indescriminate fire

lighting

 around the ponds, by drunken yobs who feel it is there right to frighten

attack and destroy habitat and wildlife.

I ask what strategies are going to be put into place to ensure this doesnt

happen and how is it going to be policed? these are further areas of concern

that need to be raised and solutions found.

I believe Wildlife and Habitat have to be cared for and protected first. These

and other concerns of the public have to be addressed and solutions found

before any committe can consider an approval of fishing rights.

We have to focus on the improvement, preservation and protection of habitat and

all wildlife first.

Please lets do this well for the benefit of all.

Message:

In principle the proposal sounds reasonable as the bailliff service, which would

be in addition to the warden service may help police the anglers and reduce the

damaged caused by discarded lines etc. However whilst I would wish to be

optimistic I find that difficult because:

Many anglers do fish with a complete disregard for the wildlife and I have seen

children accompanying anglers being allowed to throw stones at wildlife.

The organisation should be answerable to the Area Committee.

Pathways are, at times obstructed by fishermens' equipment on some of the paths

around the ponds.

I would wish to see guidelines for the behaviour agreed by the organisation and

agreed by those who fish. Behaviour should be monitored by the bailliffs.

My perception is that the number of users at the Vale has increased already and

although there is space for all restricted access limits further increses.

Fishing match days appear to severely restrict vehicular access by local,

regular (year round) users. Agreement to this proposal would worsen this situation and I

find that unacceptable.

Message:

I know little about fishing, but I know a number of regulars to the ponds. Among

these, there are very responsible ones and some irresponsible ones. Some try to

evade the bailiffs and that is not difficult because volunteers are not

encouraged at present. What I do know is that any change in the rules on

fishing at the Nature Reserve is important. As such, the people who frequent

and care for the Vale should be consulted and told what, if any difference it

will make to the habitat of the waterfowl.

I, for one, do not want to see any more pegs on the Nature Reserve. In fact the

swan nesting area should be out of bounds for the nesting season. Our

waterfowl are not going to take second place. It is their home and their only

source of food. Many anglers enjoy their presence but some feel that predatory

birds should not be there. Biodiversity is the most important aspect of a LNR.

We have to keep it that way.

Message:

My major concern is for the wildfowl on the pond. We are all aware that

fishermen do not like certain species of birds (i.e. cormorants and herons) and

increasing the fish population within the pond will only serve to increase the

numbers of such species of birds upon the pond. We are also aware of the

devastating effects fishing on the pond has had on the wildfowl in the past,

i.e. the death of many birds due to lead poisoning or being strangled by line,

etc. due to the carelessness of fishermen using the pond and not clearing up

after them. Who will be responsible for the welfare of the wildfowl should the

fishing rights be handed over.

I visit Reddish Vale on a daily basis and witness at first hand mess left by

fisherman; fires in wildlife area used by night fishermen; line; hooks;

discarded fishing tackle and rubbish (in the form of beer cans; empty cans;

plastic bags, etc.) left around the pond all of which have an adverse effect on

the wildfowl. Would awarding a

 licence for the fishing rights increase the amount of fishing undertaken on the

pond, thus increase the death/injuries to the wildfowl and the rubbish and

destruction of the habitat?

I also assume that before any fishing rights are handed over a public

consultation will be undertaken?

Finally would awarding a fishing licence not constitute a formal use of the

facilities? My understanding is that as a country park any activities

undertaken should be on an informal basis only?