 | A plea has been made for a ditched funding bid to enhance a “neglected” pool in Halesowen’s historic Leasowes Park to be revived. Plans to reel in £39,000 from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All |
missed the deadline almost two years ago.
But keen angler Paul Thomas is calling for the bid to be signed off by the Friends of the Leasowes now and finally submitted.
He claimed Lady Pool has suffered from “horrendous neglect” in recent years and was in desperate need of restoration not just to improve angling but to boost the whole environment.
Mr Thomas, who has fished there for 40 years, said: “Overall, the pool surrounds continue to show evidence of gross neglect – unfettered growth of coarse vegetation, brambles, nettles, 6ft plus tree saplings etc and many rocks littering the shallow water edges.”
He added: “This is not in any way solely an angling issue, it’s for the whole ecology and visual benefit of the park and, therefore, is within the remit of the friends’ group to support.”
Dudley Council was not eligible to apply for the funding itself and Halesowen North councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said officers worked with the friends’ group and anglers to draft the funding bid.
She added: “Unfortunately, due to the serious illness of the chairman of the friends’ group, the proposal could not be progressed and the funding deadline was missed.”
He claimed Lady Pool has suffered from “horrendous neglect” in recent years and was in desperate need of restoration not just to improve angling but to boost the whole environment.
Mr Thomas, who has fished there for 40 years, said: “Overall, the pool surrounds continue to show evidence of gross neglect – unfettered growth of coarse vegetation, brambles, nettles, 6ft plus tree saplings etc and many rocks littering the shallow water edges.”
He added: “This is not in any way solely an angling issue, it’s for the whole ecology and visual benefit of the park and, therefore, is within the remit of the friends’ group to support.”
Dudley Council was not eligible to apply for the funding itself and Halesowen North councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said officers worked with the friends’ group and anglers to draft the funding bid.
She added: “Unfortunately, due to the serious illness of the chairman of the friends’ group, the proposal could not be progressed and the funding deadline was missed.”
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