Angling club beats local council in legal battle

SOUTH Wales angling club has won £39,000 in damages and legal costs after winning a seven-year battle against its local council. Rhymney and District AS launched the case after its Deri Lake was drained, without warning, by Caerphilly County Borough Council back in April 2013.

“The council came to de-silt the lake. It didn’t warn the club, and it opened an outlet pipe through which fish were sucked until there was only 6ins of water remaining,” said Andrew Kelton, the club’s legal representative.

An image of how the lake was left by the council

Club members who turned up the next day were greeted by a scene of devastation, with most of the fish they had stocked just a few years earlier either dead or struggling in what little water remained.

“When the club asked the council for compensation, it claimed that Rhymney had no proof of the fish being lost, and this remained its position for seven years,” Andrew added.

Club Secretary Jesse Pugh measuring the depth

Reflecting on the final outcome of the case, heard at Cardiff County Court, the club’s honorary secretary Jesse Pugh said:

“It’s a massive boost and will set us up for 10 years or more. I’m just worried they’ll put my council tax up after we beat them!”

Rhymney Lake in normal conditions