Fishing row at Halesowen pool (From Halesowen News)

Fishing row at Halesowen pool

5:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Local

A CONTROVERSIAL fishing ban at a Halesowen pool will be debated at next week’s area committee meeting when petitions both for and against its resumption will be debated.

Keen angler Paul Thomas, who has fished at Priory Pool in Leasowes Park, for about 30 years, is urging fellow anglers and supporters to attend the meeting at Cornbow Hall to lend weight to calls for the pursuit to be allowed.

Although the tradition of fishing there dates back about 60 years, It has been suspended twice since 2008 amid claims anglers were causing bank erosion, damaging new planting and endangering wildlife.

The number of platforms was restricted to four prior to the current ban, imposed in September 2010 and anglers have drawn up a 165-named petition calling for their re-instatement over an 18-month trial period.

Mr Thomas, from Oldbury, said it was unfair to blame law-abidding and legitimate anglers for problems at the pool.

“There is now much indisputable evidence to show that prejudice, exaggeration, distortions and even untruths have been used to conceal some hitherto inadequate site management and present a case for a complete ban on this long-established and valuable community leisure facility,” he added.

The Friends of Leasowes Park has supported the fishing ban but a council spokesman said the counter petition, containing 282 signatures calling for the ban to continue, had been submitted by a local resident.

Next Wednesday’s area meeting will start at 6.30pm.