There is an Environment Agency Rivers Consultation taking place – which they are not publicising very well.
SFAS wonder if they don’t really want to hear, or if the’re not interested in our views?
They have issued a paper called North West Basin – Challenges And Choices
Please have a read of this document – North West River Basin District Challenges and choices
Then complete their questionairre here – https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/wfd/water/choices
The EA seem to think that the major issues in our area our pollution, river connectivity, physical modification, abstraction etc – which to be honest is a load of guff.
Despite spending a small fortune on so called “improvements” on the Irwell – the fishing is far worse now that it was 10 years ago.
The EA consultation seems to ignore the issues we have with accessing the river. The banks of the Irwell are now virtually inaccessible for many months of the year due to the huge amount of dangerous Giant Hogweed which is now growing every year. Hogweed is a serious public health danger, but no one is doing anything about it. Lots of meetings, lots of talk but no action.
What about the flocks of cormorants devastating our fisheries each winter – what are the EA doing about it ? Nothing!
The EA employ large numbers of people in their offices in the NorthWest – but there are very few people on the ground working to improve our rivers. Why ? Surely a couple less office dwellers and more rivers officers doing work on the ground is a better use of rod licence resources.
Anglers pay £20m+ a year into EA coffers through our rod licences – surely our sport should be improving not getting worse!
Please bare these issues in mind when you are completing their questionnaire. If enough people start highlighting the REAL issues that we face as anglers – then maybe the EA might have to have a re-think of their agenda.
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