Fishing ban set to be scrapped in victory for anglers after backlash at Labour move | Politics | News
Anglers are celebrating the lifting of what was called a de facto ban on fishing over biodiversity concerns in a UK lido by a Labour council. North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) refused to grant permission to anglers who wanted to cast off into the Wingerworth Lido. In September, the authority insisted it had not banned fishing at the body of water, but admitted that there were “currently no permissions in place”. Now, after extensive reporting by The Express on the row, at a meeting on Monday (8 December 2025), councillors on the authority’s Environment Scrutiny Committee agreed to recommend that a temporary lease be progressed between the local angling club, the Clay Cross Angling Association.
This would allow angling to return to the lido while longer-term plans are developed in conjunction with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, campaigners say. “The main issue is not the angling, it’s the management of the site (under the council) which we know has been declining for a few years and we have a lot of data on that.” Anglers have pledged to work with the Trust to ensure biodiversity thrives.
The Countryside Alliance and Angling Trust submitted formal responses to a consultation on behalf of their collective members and supporters.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance said: “Returning angling is absolutely the right decision. The ban on angling has always been completely unjustified and it’s a shame it has taken so long to resolve.
“We were right to fight this tooth and nail.
“While this is extremely positive news, there’s still a way to go in securing angling at the site for the long term.
“We will work with anglers to make that case. Angling and nature go hand in hand.
“This would not have happened without the valiant efforts of the amazing local campaigners I’ve met.”
Local angler and TikTok star Big Duffs Fishing, who organised an online petition for the reinstatement of fishing rights at the pond which attracted over 5,000 signatures, said: “We were told there was no hope in getting the council to see sense but after dedicating months to fighting this, the council have finally done the right thing.
“Let’s just hope angling remains in place for the long term.
“I sincerely hope the council don’t delay any longer and that anglers are back around the lido in time for Christmas. It would be a festive dream come true for so many locals”.
Independent Wingerworth councillor Ross Shipman said: “This is a positive step forward for the site and for everyone who values the Lido as a community space.
“A huge thank you to residents, campaigners and organisations for backing this campaign”.
Local angling business owner, Dominic Webb echoed councillor Shipman’s comments saying: “This is the first time we have cause for hope.
“That the council’s own wildlife experts stated in the meeting that angling is not the issue but the wider management of the Lido as a whole, which is entirely the Councils responsibility, is vindication for all anglers.
“Cllrs Alex Dale, Carolyne Renwick and Lilian Deighton provided much needed common sense to the meeting. Common seems that means angling should now return to the Lido without further drama.”
In November, the council’s leader Cllr Nigel Barker defended the the authority’s stance, stating the Lido had been designated a “local wildlife site”, and that the council had a “legal duty to protect and improve biodiversity”.
“I don’t think anybody has said that this can’t happen alongside angling,” he added, also confirming that all activities had been “paused” while the council “assesses the situation”.
Cllr Barker repeatedly insisted the council had not “banned” angling.
But when a member of the public shouted “if I go now can I go fish?”, he replied: “No.”
