Prime minister helps save club

The Prime Minister has helped to save a community angling club lake just weeks after its lease was terminated by its landowners, the Ministry of Defence.

Oakhanger AC had managed Kingsley Pond for 46 years but they were recently kicked off the venue following a dispute over the installation of new platforms.

The move caused uproar among its members and even the PM David Cameron wrote to the club to offer his support after hearing of their plight.

The lake is a popular fishing spot and is regularly used to coach junior anglers as well as ex-servicemen.

The argument arose after a new surveyor employed by the MOD had questioned what Oakhanger AC deemed as a routine installation of new platforms to replace damaged old ones. The club refused to comply with orders to remove all the platforms and claimed the MOD was unwillingly to meet at that time to address the unfortunate situation.

An agreement has now been made between the two parties and a new licence is being drawn up, following a meeting between which also included the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. Kingsley Pond Fishery manager, Fred Bell, said that he was relieved to have the lake back again.

“We agreed to forget what has happened over the past three months as mistakes have been made on both parts. We now have a much stronger agreement than ever before and the MOD has even offered to buy and install new disabled platforms,” he said.

“We would like to thank them for accommodating our wishes, they stated that they always wanted us to have the licence at the pond and praised the way we control and maintain the area. It was important to have The Angling Trust and the EA advising us during this time,” he said.