Angling in Liverpool Parks
Angling News
As a precautionary measure Walton Hall Park Main Lake will be closed from 12th May 2008
Due to the presence of suspected blue/green algae at Walton Hall Park Main Lake and reports of fish deaths over the weekend, we have made a decision to close the lake for all usage in the interests of Public Health and Safety.
Blue/green algae has not been officially confirmed by the Environment Agency or the Health Dept. but we are taking this action as a precaution.
More details
The algae in Walton Hall Park Main Lake are currently giving the council some cause for concern.
Algae is a natural (in most cases a single cell) plant form that is constantly present all around us.
From time to time, given changes in weather conditions and other environmental factors which are beyond our control, water based algal "blooms" form and grow out of all proportion to their natural state.
The result of this algae "bloom" can be quite dramatically visible, as the water body changes colour to green, or green blue, or sometimes red. It has been known (given the species of algae present) to resemble thick paint spills in a myriad of colours.
Algal blooms can be dangerous to fish and other lake inhabitants when they "die back", which normally follows changes to weather conditions; usually during periods of cloud cover and after a drop in temperature.
Most species of algae are harmless to humans and wildlife, but some, which include the so called blue/green species, can prove to be toxic to young children and small animals if ingested.
An algal 'bloom' can cause considerable stress to fish due to de-oxygenation of the water. If any of the fish stocks are already infected with lice or disease, this can result in fish mortality, as the weaker fish die off. Carp species may be particularly prone to these circumstances, as there are various carp diseases currently endemic across the UK, which has resulted in the Environment Agency issuing warnings against their movement.
Liverpool City Council takes its responsibilities toward the Health and Safety of the Public, its Partners and employees seriously and as such has arranged with the Environment Agency for the particular algae species to be identified (using tried and tested Public Health procedures), in order that we take the appropriate action.
The Environment Agency has not yet confirmed that the species of algae present on this lake is in fact Toxic Blue-Green Algae.
From 12th May 2008 and until further notice, the City Council withdraws all permissions for use or access to the facility that also includes Walton Hall Park Lake and its immediate banks, and gives notice that this will be enforced through the auspices of the City Council by laws and that prosecutions/penalties will be incurred in the event of breach of the by laws concerned.
The City Council sincerely apologises for temporary loss of this facility but trusts that the overwhelming numbers of park users will support our actions.
Thank you for your support.
Calderstones Event
Calderstones Park Lake will be closed for an event on 29th May 2008 from 10am - 4pm. Public fishing will not be permitted during this time. Angling on other Park lakes will not be affected. We apologise for any convenience this may cause.
Summer Splash to be Repeated
Look out for details of the 'Get Hooked on Fishing' scheme at Walton Hall Park this summer. This scheme encourages young people to take up angling and ran successfully last year, with the help of the Friends of Walton Hall Park.
Angling
![(PDF [144.1Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
. All anglers are now required to register.Download the Spring 08 Angling newsletter here
Downloading documents
This page may contain Adobe PDF documents. If you have problems accessing PDFs you can: Download a PDF viewer, use a PDF conversion tool, or find out more about PDF accessibility.