Would-be anglers and established enthusiasts in Ivybridge near Plymouth are being given a big sporting boost with the creation of a coarse fishing lake in the town. Work has already started on the £ 60,000 project to create the lake at Filham Park in Ivybridge.
The scheme has come about through a partnership between the Environment Agency, the Plymouth and District Coarse Angling Club and Ivybridge Town Council. The Environment Agency’s contribution is being funded with money from the national rod licence scheme. A grant has also been given by Living Spaces, which is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and managed by Groundwork. Further funding has been obtained from Peoples Places.
The two-acre lake will take around six weeks to build, and is being created by a specialist lakes contractor, House Bros and Bailey Ltd. During the winter, fishing platforms will be built and the lake will be stocked with plants.
Lesley Newport from the Environment Agency said: “This lake will be an excellent facility for all the community, and we hope will encourage many new anglers to take up the sport and learn more about their natural environment. It is unusual for new public lakes to be created these days, and it is a credit to all the partners involved that this has come about.”
Lesley Hughes responded on behalf of Ivybridge Town Council by welcoming the investment by the Environment Agency and the Fishing Club in Filham Park and added “This has been an excellent example of partnership working and the town will have a superb facility to enjoy. The design of the lake, which was part of the Filham Park Masterplan developed by Scott Wilson, will ensure that it will soon look part of the natural environment, attracting wildlife to the area”.
Membership of Plymouth and District Coarse Angling Club is open to anyone or day tickets for fishing will be available for anyone with a rod licence wanting to use the lake once it is stocked with fish and opened next year.
Parents are warned to keep their children away from the construction work during the school holidays for obvious reasons of safety.
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