A variety of fish including roach, bream, rudd and tench have been stocked into Banwen Lake, which is being developed by the Agency, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the local community council to generate interest in angling as a sport and encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. The Agency also hopes to further improve the fishery over the next couple of years by constructing angling platforms at the lake to improve access to the water.
Steve Brown, from Environment Agency Wales said:
“This community fishery will provide local people with an excellent facility on their doorstep which they can get involved with. It also provides a safe place for young people to take up a new hobby and learn new skills.
Angling is a sport which can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. What we’re developing here is a facility that will bring both social and health benefits to the area, and will be enjoyed and valued by the community for many years to come.”
The whole project is funded jointly by the Agency and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and a group of local volunteers plan to establish a new Angling Club to manage the fishery in the long term; they also hope to apply for grant aid to the Maes Gwyn Wind Farm Community Fund to further improve the fishery in the future.
