Anglers fear M6 Toll plan will shut pool

Anglers in South Staffordshire fear for the future of their pool and club because of plans for a £70million extension of the M6 Toll Road.

Highways chiefs are drawing up plans to link the toll road with the M54.

Under the plans, a three-mile stretch of road would be created to bypass Featherstone.

They are still more than a year away from revealing the details of the scheme but 150 members of Chubb Angling Club believe their pool may be bought from under them.

Middle Pool, or Chubb Pool as it is known to anglers, has been on the site off Cannock Road for more than 60 years, while the club has been around for 21 years. Anglers believe there is a strong likelihood that their pond will have to be compulsorily purchased for the road to go ahead.

Secretary of the club Keith Woodbridge, aged 62, said: "The Highways Agency have said they have several possibilities in mind but there aren't many ways of building a road from the M54 to the M6 Toll.

"It's a beautiful spot and we've spent thousands of pounds over the years. It's full of every type of fish from carp to roach.

"We just need someone to tell us what is going on because otherwise we are going to be worrying about this for more than a year."

Highways Agency spokeswoman Annie Harris said: "We are looking at all of our options and hope to be able to go to consultation some time in 2009. We are aware of the club's concerns and we are keeping in touch with them."