Anglers outraged over fish removal

By hthompson

The council has denied taking part in any 'fishy business' at Earlswood Lakes.

Reigate and Banstead borough council have fiercely disputed claims that they "sell-on" valuable carp netted during lake drainage.

But they have admitted the money made from re-homing carp is taken off the bill from the contractors who do the job.

Last week, the Mirror reported how several fish had perished after the upper lake water level at Earlswood Common was deliberately lowered so they could clear it of rubbish and debris.

But after the story was published, the paper was contacted by angry anglers and dog-walkers.

Fisherman David Cooke, 48, from South Park, said: "I want to know if the upper lake is a nature reserve or a fishery?

"A large carp can be worth over £5,000 if you sell it to a private fishery – and I personally believe they only did it to get to the carp.

"It's frustrating as a fisherman because the lower lake is just disgusting at the moment.

"I feel like they only care about the top lake because that makes money."

Fellow fisherman, Dave Bashford, 55, from Redhill, said: "The bottom lake is a mess.

"It has loads of debris in it, fallen trees, the water level is low.

However, the council insists it did not profit from removing the carp, and that the lowering of the top lake's water level was essential to ensuring it remained a wildlife haven.

A council spokesman said: "The council will not be selling the fish that are removed. As is usual practice, we are paying a professional contractor a fee to remove the fish on our behalf."

The council claims the fish needed to be removed because they eat the tadpoles of frogs and newts and invertebrate lava.

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