A popular Surrey park
has been given a financial boost by the
Environment Agency to make further environmental
improvements to the much loved amenity.
Anglers, walkers and a range of lake users
are set to benefit from the improvements
made to Goldsworth Park Lake – which is
situated in the middle of a housing estate
in Woking.
The Environment Agency
has already donated funding and a range
of materials for the construction of fishing
swims (locations around the lake where anglers
fish from) including timber, posts and plastic
pathways. Work parties arranged by local
anglers has seen the creation of eight new
platforms which will be useful for all lake
users.
The Environment Agency
was approached by the Goldsworth Park Angling
Group with the aim of making further improvements
to the lake through new fishing platforms
and habitat for wildlife such as dragonflies,
damsel flies and frogs also wildfowl such
as grebes, ducks, coots and moorhen..
Fisheries officer, Adrian
Bicknell from the Environment Agency said:
“We are very pleased to be able to help
the park achieve even more for not only
the environment but for the local community
too. Several years ago we installed a disabled
angling platform which has proved a huge
success and attracts regular wheelchair
bound anglers. We hope the new enhancements
will encourage even more people to use the
area and attract wildlife.”
Further improvements
carried out at the lake to improve habitat
include planting of native species of marginal
plant and the introduction of an eco island
which provides a refuge for fish and wildlife.
The angling group has
also successfully received further funding
from the “River Wey Fisheries Action Plan”,
which supports local projects to improve
fisheries and habitat.
Mr. Westcott said: “We
are very grateful to the Environment Agency
and River Wey Fisheries Action Plan for
their help and support, with the donations
received we have got bigger plans for further
improvements at Goldsworth Park Lake.”
+ More
Environment Agency plans
next stage for Morpeth scheme
More than 300 people
attended a drop-in session in Morpeth to
discuss plans for the town’s multi-million
pound flood defence scheme.
Environment Agency staff
organised Thursday’s event at the town hall
to discuss the proposals to reducing the
risk of flooding from the River Wansbeck.
Environment Agency project
manager for the scheme Helen Tattersdale
was delighted with the response and said
there will be plenty of further opportunities
for people to feed back their opinions.
She said: “The next
stage is to put together the outline design
of the scheme. This will look at the exact
location of the defences in the town, and
the design of the dam structure upstream
of Morpeth. We will then be able to calculate
a more precise cost so that plans can be
submitted for approval and for national
funding.
“If funding is granted,
the next stages will be to work on a more
detailed design and to seek planning permission.”
It is anticipated that
building work on the scheme will start in
late 2011 and finish in late 2013.
Whilst most residents
were happy with the proposals, some concerns
were raised at the drop-in about the high
cost of house insurance for those at risk
of flooding, and some people queried why
the level of protection given by the proposed
£17 million scheme couldn’t be increased.
Helen said: “We know
that flooding has had a devastating impact
on Morpeth which is why we have worked over
the last few months to justify raising the
level of protection to a 1 in 115 chance
of flooding in a given year. If we were
to push for an even higher level of protection,
it would raise the cost of the scheme by
up to a further £10 million, and would
be unlikely to be funded.”
Residents who attended
last week’s drop-in are urged to return
their feedback forms as soon as possible.
Alternatively they can contact the Environment
Agency by emailing NEconsultations@environment-agency.gov.uk
A further drop-in session
will be held for residents living in High
Stanners on Wednesday, January 27 at Morpeth
Town Hall from 4pm – 8pm.
The project team will
also be visiting residents living on the
riverside of Mitford Road during February
to discuss how the flood plans will impact
on their back gardens.
