Anglers to fight plans for otter park between Northwich and Winsford

Sep 30 2009 by Dave Goodban, Mid Cheshire Chronicle

ANGLERS are leading calls to scrap plans for an otter park in Mid Cheshire.

The Chronicle revealed in April that proposals had been floated for the creation of ‘natural habitat’ for the iconic river-dwellers along a stretch of the Weaver linking Northwich and Winsford.

The scheme is the brainchild of a ‘task group’ set up by the Weaver Valley Management Board (WVMB), which hopes to get funding from Cheshire West and Chester East councils.

But an online campaign started by Northwich Anglers Association in June has already been backed by more than 450 people.

Supporters of the Weaver Otter Park project hope it will encourage the animals, which can only flourish in a high-quality water environment, to naturally breed in Mid Cheshire.

But the campaign at www.gopetition.com claims the park would be ‘a serious threat to fisheries in Cheshire’.

Mark Leathwood, who launched the campaign, said: “We have to question some of the claimed advantages which the WVMB says otters will bring, in particular the notion that otters ‘will improve water quality for people and wildlife’. It doesn’t make sense.

“Also, the claim that otters will ‘improve fish populations’. Surely they will have the opposite effect? As anglers, we can't let this happen.”

The proposed scheme will also create new habitats for fish breeding and a programme to create and manage existing woodland.

Agencies including Cheshire Wildlife Trust and British Waterways will be consulted before an action plan is drawn up, says WVMB task group coordinator Steve Clarke.

The initiative will be developed alongside the Weaver Way, which aims to improve access along the river for walkers and cyclists.

But fishing enthusiasts are united in their opposition to the plans.

Craig Vernall said: “The otter park must not be given the go-ahead – protect our precious fish stocks!”

Saul Gardiner said: “I spent many years fishing in the area and the idea of an otter park is crazy. Years of hard work and many thousands of pounds spent on stock fish will be at risk.

“The social and economic benefits of angling in the area far outweigh benefits of having an otter park.”

Mike Quinn, from Widnes, said: “If this goes ahead, I’ll no longer be travelling to fish in Northwich!”