Anglers' pool closure anger
A popular fishing pool used by hundreds of anglers from across the region will shut next week. News that the Brades Fishery, Roway Lane, Oldbury, will close next Monday has been met with fury by anglers and wildlife lovers alike. A popular fishing pool used by hundreds of anglers from across the region will shut next week. News that the Brades Fishery, Roway Lane, Oldbury, will close next Monday has been met with fury by anglers and wildlife lovers alike. They were stunned last month when owners revealed plans to build 52 homes on some of the pools. The plan was set to be rejected by Sandwell planners but it was withdrawn. However, anglers have now found they will no longer be able to use to facility after owners said they could no longer afford to run it. The campaign to save the Brades is being led by Councillor Darren Cooper who said that he was horrified to hear it would shut in days. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
They were stunned last month when owners revealed plans to build 52 homes on some of the pools.
The plan was set to be rejected by Sandwell planners but it was withdrawn. However, anglers have now found they will no longer be able to use to facility after owners said they could no longer afford to run it.
The campaign to save the Brades is being led by Councillor Darren Cooper who said that he was horrified to hear it would shut in days.
"Since this news has broken I have been inundated with calls from people devastated that this is happening," he said.
"People flock from all over to come here and can't believe this facility will be lost. I have also had calls from lorry drivers who stop off to use the cafe that will also go."
Councillor Cooper added that he didn't believe the reasons given for closing down the pool.
"Things will pick up dramatically there with spring and summer on the way and the suspicion is it was bought to be cashed in on."
Andy Beddington of Ridgacre Land Ltd who owns the fishery said it was no longer possible to keep it open. "It just isn't a sustainable business," he said.
"It is losing hundreds of pounds every week and the simple fact is that we can't afford to keep it open any longer. It needed to be shut a while ago and we've kept it open for as long as we possible can."
Mr Beddington said that no decision had been taken on the future use of the site or what would happen to the fish in the pools.
Mick Johnson, of the Professional Angling Association, this month backed calls to stop developers building homes on land.
He added that he planned to hold talks with the Birmingham Anglers Association which previously expressed an interest in taking over the site.
