Call to save Theale and Burghfield fishing lakes

Aggregates firm Cemex decided to sell its angling business, which includes 70 lakes and 19 fisheries across the country, last month.
The Angling Trust is now urging its member clubs to work on a joint bid, which will strengthen their negotiating position – if they do not, it is feared that an alternative bidder might by the lot for a use other than fishing.
The majority of the sites are former gravel pits. The five in West Berkshire are Burghfield Blue Pool and Burghfield Match Lake, both in Cottage Lane, Burghfield; Theale 1 and 2 and Woolwich Green in Station Road, Theale.
Angling Trust Campaigns Co-ordinator and former Reading MP Martin Salter said: “Like many anglers I consider this amazing collection of waters to be of huge importance to the specialist angling scene. Lakes such as Longfield, Theale, and Burghfield are very much part of my own fishing history going right back to the days before Leisure Sport to the old Halls Angling Scheme.
“They hold a similar place in the memories and affections of thousands of anglers and it is important that we pull together, and if necessary pool resources, to see off any bids from organisations that would exclude angling as future activity on these iconic venues.”
Announcing the planned sale on its website, Cemex wrote: “A difficult decision has been made to put CEMEX Angling up for sale.
“As part of the regular and on-going business reviews, we have decided that Angling is not core to our operations and in the current economic climate we have limited resources and capital to develop the business in the future.
“We will be honouring existing tickets sold and will be selling tickets for this season only."