Anglers bidding to get involved in running of lake at Cleethorpes Country Park
BIDS are being made to take on the management of Cleethorpes Country Park to protect it against council cut-backs.
Local anglers are drawing up proposals about how they can take on the management of the park's lake from North East Lincolnshire Council.
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Beauty spot: The council has met with anglers over proposals on the running of Cleethorpes Country Park.
And, while the council maintains it has "no specific plans" over park resources, a spokesman admitted the council must "work differently".
NELC held a meeting with anglers and a number of proposals have been made by groups who live and breathe the beauty spot.
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John Kimpson, 66, of Weelsby Street, Grimsby, is keen to get involved.
He said: "The park is a jewel in the crown of Cleethorpes, not just for anglers but for the whole town and it needs looking after properly.
"It is very early days but we wouldn't say no if the council wanted to work with us."
The proposals only concern the lake, as the rest of the reserve will be maintained by the council and Friends of Cleethorpes Country Park.
Volunteers will make sure the banks are litter-free and fish are looked after. They will also collect fishing fees to pump back into the park.
Previously, council officers collected fees but according to anglers, often no one would be available to do the rounds – which meant important revenue for the park was lost.
The move is part of a council review into how volunteers can help with parks borough-wide.
Late last year, Sidney Park in Cleethorpes was taken on by volunteer group The Sidney Park Friends Group and is proving a success.
Now, John hopes the park's future will be safe if the anglers take over.
He continued: "It is so important to people and for us. For fishermen, looking after the place is like having a child look after a sweet shop.
"We will love it. We all think such a lot about the park and we were worried for its future at one point.
"We want to look after the fishing there. The fish are bred ever so well, they are in good health and it is a joy to fish there."
Deputy council leader and portfolio holder for Tourism and Culture, Councillor Mick Burnett, said: "We currently have no specific plans to change the way resources are allocated to specific parks. It is fair to say with budget cuts we have to work differently.
"We are looking to work with local communities and businesses to develop options for how the borough's parks and open spaces might be managed in the future as we rise to the challenge of making the most of our reduced budget.
"We have been approached by a number of local anglers who are interested in managing some of the fishing activities at Cleethorpes Country Park.
"No decisions have been taken as yet but we are open to proposals that are both sustainable and in the best interests of the country park."
3 Comments
by GRIM_oldie
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 12:22PM
“Yes, chaps -- glad to agree, 'pilgrim'; sad to agree, 'porcelainblak'.
Trouble is, the council has an extremely high and downright astonishing success rate in demolishing things, losing things, sinking things and running things into the ground, while excluding anybody with any sense and ability, as you say, 'porcelainblak', by invoking their great god Elfansafety: witness Friends of Sidney Park and supporters of the Humber Bank path not being allowed to pick up rubbish to name but two... so witness the smack 'Esther', the p.s. 'Lincoln Castle' [oh yes, at the council's door, that one], Scartho Baths, The Municipal College Building... at the rate they proceed, the list is definitely appraching endless.
Still... the lake's a new challenge for them. Just wait until the philistine chauvinists, a.k.a. NE£incs, find the plughole! Ooops! Oh dear, another hole to fill with rubbish!”
by pilgrim2010
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 8:13AM
“This is great news, real people power. With money tight due to government cuts letting groups run ponds is the way forward. A similar scheme has been run successfully in Immingham for several years.”
by porcelainblak
Monday, February 04 2013, 10:05PM
“Fantastic - people who are prepared to put in time and effort where the Council fail. Just wait though, some jobsworth will come up with a multitude of reasons why not, including the old chestnut of elfin safety, and the whole lake will go to ratsh!t.”