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Fishing Proposals Spark Protest in Redditch | |||||||||||||
posted 23-6-05 | |||||||||||||
Despite being condemned in the Redditch papers(see below) by local campaign group Redditch Animal Rights, the borough council still intend to go ahead with their `improvement` plans for a beautiful wildlife oasis in the Oakenshaw district of Redditch. Plans for Oakenshaw Spinney include de-silting the pond, building new fishing platforms, re-stocking with fish and teaching local children to fish `responsibly` there!! Immediately adjacent to the pond is the Duck Pond Pub, who have their own angling club and are delighted about these plans, which also include tarmacing over a section of land between the pub and the pond in order to improve access for pub goers!! Picture the scene - crowds of drunken fishermen by the waterside, dropping beer cans in the water, smashing bottles, leaving line/hooks behind for wildlife to get tangled in etc!! The pub landlord has even admitted to campaigners that he anticipates a boost in profits!! So not only are the council encouraging children to take part in bloodsports, they`re also helping the pub make a bigger profit from animal cruelty!! |
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6 campaigners, including someone in a giant fish costume, attended a peaceful protest in Redditch Town Centre on Thursday 23 June. The general public were leafletted and many pledged to object to the councils plans. Even before the protest began, the media couldn`t get enough of the story! The Redditch Advertiser featured a short article the day before the demo and pre-recorded interviews were given to Radio Hereford & Worcester and The Bear Radio, which both went out on the morning of the demo. |
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During the protest, both the Redditch Standard and Redditch Advertiser turned up to take photos. And Radio Hereford & Worcester came along to record a longer interview for their evening broadcast!! After 2.5 hours handing out leaflets in the baking sun, campaigners marched to the town hall and attracted lots more attention on the way! The demo continued briefly outside, where more local residents were appalled by the councils plans. And it seems that Redditch Council were so inundated with calls from the press, that they emailed out their own press release, a copy of which was handed to each of us as we protested infront of the town hall. The council put the press release on their website and it can be viewed here |
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Please contact the council and lodge your strong disapproval to their plans. Remind them that Oakenshaw Spinney is a wildlife haven, and their plans will seriously harm/kill that wildlife, as well as confuse children about what are acceptable ways to treat animals - which will no doubt lead to yet more mindless, yobbish attacks on wildlife/pets!!
Landscape & Countryside Dept. Redditch Borough Council, Town Hall, Alcester Street, Redditch, Worcs. B98 8AH Email - Nat.Healy@redditchbc.gov.uk Phone - 01527 64252 |
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Recent reports in Redditch papers http://www.redditchstandard.co.uk/news/default1.asp?id=965 Outrage at fishing pool plans Redditch Standard - 27-5-05 ANIMAL rights activists are outraged at proposals to 'improve' an Oakenshaw woodland pond, which they say will encourage children to kill wildlife for sport. Members of Redditch Animal Rights (RAR) attended a meeting at Oakenshaw Community Rooms regarding proposed developments by the borough council to Oakenshaw Spinney, a wildlife area behind the Duck Pond pub. Activists, who discovered draft plans included de-silting the woodland pond, building new fishing platforms and teaching local children to fish, have since written letters of complaint to the council hoping to discourage the idea. RAR member Clare Evans said: "Oakenshaw Spinney is a wildlife oasis, and the council should not be encouraging children to kill wildlife. "If children really must take part in this sport, there are numerous sites in Redditch which they can use. "Why must another wildlife haven be turned into a bloodsport venue?" Kevin White, also a member of RAR, claimed teaching youngsters to fish was sending out a confusing message to them. "We are telling children they shouldn't harm wildlife such as birds and swans, but it is okay to stick a hook into a fish - surely this is a contradictory message," he said. Nat Heeley, the council's landscape and countryside manager, said children already fished there and the proposal would provide a controlled environment in which young people could be encouraged to fish in a more responsible manner. "We understand the group's sentiments, but children will always want to fish and by teaching them how to do it properly we can make sure they take care of the environment and not leave hooks, rubbish and dangerous equipment lying about." Outcry at plans for spinney (not available online) Redditch Advertiser - 25-5-05 Animal rights activists are outraged at plans to encourage fishing at Oakenshaw Spinney. Members of Redditch Animal Rights(RAR) hit out after a meeting when Redditch Council unveiled plans to improve the spinney using a government grant. Blueprints include removing silt from the woodland pond, building new fishing platforms and teaching children to fish there. But Clare Evans, of RAR, said: "We were outraged when we heard of this proposal and were determined to lodge our disapproval at the meeting." "Oakenshaw Spinney is a wildlife oasis within the estate and the council should not be encouraging children to kill wildlife for so-called sport." She said by encouraging children to fish, it was sending mixed messages about the way animals can be treated. "The plans also include proposals to `open up` the Spinney and encourage residents in but it is not a park, it is a wildlife conservation area that was there long before the housing development," she added. "It is already very accessible to dog walkers or anyone wishing to enjoy a peaceful walk in beautiful woodland." "If children really must take part in this `sport`, there are numerous sites in Redditch already - Arrow Valley Lake, Lodge Park Pool and Batchley Pool. Why must another wildlife haven be turned into a bloodsport venue?" she said. |
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