Victoria Park Anglers Alliance (VPAA) is a voluntary community group set up in 2003, by anglers living in East London, to improve the fishing in Victoria Park lakes. Victoria Park is run by Tower Hamlets Borough Council (forming part of the border with neighbouring borough Hackney).

 

By improving the underlying health and biodiversity of the ecosystems, both in the water and within the surrounding habitats, VPAA intend to provide opportunities for local people to learn to fish in an enjoyable, safe and pleasant environment rich in wildlife.

 

 

 

To

Mayor Rahman

From

Michael Rowan

 

Dear [..Victoria Park Anglers Alliance...]

Thank you for your letter concerning the angling in Victoria Park.

I understand from the Head of Cultural Services that a letter was sent to you in early November advising you that the fish would be re-homed following advice from the Fishery that they may not survive the winter in temporary storage, especially if it was as cold as the previous two.  From your email to me it appears that you did not receive this, so I have asked for it to be sent so that you are aware of its full content.  I apologise that you have experienced difficulty with communications and can assure you that there was nothing sinister in this; we have always sought to secure the best outcome for the fish and believe we have achieved this.

I can confirm that the fish have now been permanently re-homed in suitable lakes and will not be returned to Victoria Park.  I have asked that the website reflect this and that in future it should be updated more timely, although I am aware that officers leading on the Victoria Park project are focussed on completing the work, which is in its final stages.  

As the letter to Rushanara Ali MP indicates, at present there are no firm plans to allow angling in the West Lake and we will not be stocking it with fish.  Once the boating operation has been established and operating for some time, we will look at the feasibility of re-introducing it, subject to of health and safety considerations.

Only native species will be introduced at the East Lake and these will consist of tench, rudd, perch and roach. These species have been chosen on advice from the Environment Agency and the Council’s biodiversity officer.  The value of the carp has been used to offset the cost of storing the fish, with the balance being used to purchase new fish, together with revenue funding from the Park’s budget.

I trust that this answers your questions and would like to assure you that no decision has been taken without the full backing of the Environment Agency with whom, I believe, you are in contact.

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Rowan