Canoeists angered after tree felling causes slalom pole loss

The poles had been suspended from wires between the trees at Lock Island, situated on the fast-flowing mill stream on the River Kennet at West Mills.
The stretch of river has been used to train British and European champions for more than 40 years, including three-time gold medal winner at the Canoe Slalom World Championships, Shaun Pearce, of Newbury.
The overhanging trees were cut down by the Environment Agency as part of the Newbury flood alleviation scheme and the slalom poles, which are the property of the canoe club, have been presumed lost.
The trustee of the Newbury Canoe Club, Bob Tilling, said he was very frustrated to discover that trees on both sides of the river had been removed, after visiting the site at the weekend. “I knew nothing about it,” he said.
“I had no idea why it was done or who did it. I was completely and utterly surprised. “I know it wasn’t done by vandals, but to everyone involved in canoeing it seems like an act of vandalism.”
Mr Tilling said that although the site was not used as frequently as it had been in the past, it was still used for slalom training as it was a quick paddle from the club hut and out of the way of boats.
He said: “It is a perfect site for slalom training and there’s not another site like it in Newbury.”
The issue was raised at a meeting of Newbury Town Council’s community services committee on Monday, when Richard Howison-Johnstone said that he was horrified to discover the trees had been cut down without consultation with the canoeing club.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, Hayley Willoughby, said that permission was given by the town council for the work to go ahead.
She said: “We were given permission by Newbury Town Council to cut down several willow trees on Lock Island.
“We are in discussions with Newbury Town Council about the replacement of the slalom poles.
“The trees were cut down by contractors as part of wider environmental enhancements along the mill channel, as part of the Newbury flood alleviation scheme. We will be replanting shrubs along the banks of the watercourse later in the year.”