| The campaign to maintain public access to Hatchmere Lake, Cheshire. |
Friends of Hatchmere For People and Wildlife |
email: yacovlev@hotmail.com |
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The denial of public access to fishing at Hatchmere Lake | |
| The Carriers Inn is now open following extensive refurbishment. See link below |
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Water temperature reached 21C on the 6th June 07 (measured 0.5m below the surface) |
Since Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT) acquired Hatchmere there have been a number
of incidents in which members of the public were intimidated by unidentified persons,
believed to be fishermen, while enjoying a day out at the lakeside.
The approach usually falls into one of three categories:1) the visitors are told that Hatchmere is now a private fishing lake and by swimming in it they are trespassing 2) a fisherman would order swimmers out of the water because ‘he is paying to fish the lake’ and they have no right to interfere with his pleasure. 3) a man, seemingly concerned with yours and your children’s health would politely advise visitors (usually mothers with young children) that by entering the water they face the risk of contracting some awful disease, not least Weils Disease. Regrettably there has been a noticeable upsurge in the number of such incidents during summer 2006. Consequently we have decided to issue the following guidelines. Members of the public have every right to bathe at Hatchmere. The lake has been used for this purpose for many generations and, since it was bought by CWT with a National Lottery grant, the owners are under an obligation to keep the site and all its facilities open to the public. CWT can not (nor, to the best of our knowledge have they tried to) absolve themselves from this obligation by entering into a conflicting contract with a third party. The resident fishing club holds the fishing rights. It has no business or right to intimidate other lake users. Responsible visitors appreciate that, by and large, those who fish the lake are reasonable, friendly people. We have a duty to respect their right to enjoy their sport in the same way that we expect them to respect ours. Conflict is in no-ones interest and should be avoided if possible. Our advise would therefore be that, if you are approached by a person ordering you to take an action which you have reason to believe he is not authorised to demand, ask for his identity and proof of authority. If either of these is missing then he is almost certainly not representing CWT - the land owners. In this case try to explain the situation and make him realise that he may have got his facts wrong. This approach can, and sometimes does, work. If it fails then withdraw politely from the conversation. If this does not bring the incident to an end you are advised to memorise and record the description of the person who approached you as well as details of any vehicle which may belong to him. Record the date, time and obtain witnesses’ contact details. Please send details of the incident, including the above information to CWT [Click here] (with a copy to us please) or directly to us. See our contact details on this webstie. To prepare yourself for the event of being approached by the caring type (category 3 above), we suggest you arm yourself with the facts regarding Weils Disease and other health hazards before your next visit. A brief summary is given here. The self-styled expert relies on public ignorance - he will soon realise that he has been rumbled and withdraw. On one occasion a visitor, in response to a lecture from such an expert, picked up a glass, filled it with lake water and drank it in front of him. The lecture was brought to an abrupt end and he survived to write this article. However effective this may be, we do not recommend this method to others. |
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FISHING FACTS The denial of public access to the fishing facility at Hatchmere remains an unresolved campaigning issue. The full scale of this injustice is demonstrated by comparing the current situation at the lake with provisions made by public bodies for access to fishing in their waters. Click here for more. |
| Latest news and pictures |
The site is being updated regularly. Keep in touch with developments. |
| Denial of access to fishing | Why Reg is unable to fish at the lake |
| More on access to fishing | How long will he have to wait? |
| Water safety |
Rob Fryer on the dangers in the water - Essential reading for open water swimmers |
| Working party |
Some pictures of the Hatchmere working party |
| Reg Holmes | Undiscovered till now - Reg is a Norley poet, musician,
humorist, rebel and Hatchmere veteran. |
| Post Message | Post a message (River and Lake Swimming Association Message Board) |
| See Messages | River and Lake Swimming Association Message Board |
| The Carriers Inn |
The Carriers Inn - the campaign's birthplace. |
 Reg Holmes |
 a website dedicated to frodsham and surrounding areas. |
 www.wildfile.co.uk |
 www.anthony-dacko.net |
 River and Lake Swimming |
 Roundhay Park User Group |