Angling Trust makes moves to save historic waters for future of our sport.
Angling’s governing body has announced it is working hard to try and secure the future of some of our sport’s most cherished waters.

Following the recent shock news that Cemex Angling is to wind up its operations and place its vast portfolio of waters up for sale, the Angling Trust has revealed it is to enter talks with the agent charged with selling off some of the most historic angling venues in the country.

Including such gems as Burghfield, Yateley, Frimley and the Roach Pit, the Trust is looking to try and save the waters by acting as a ‘middle man’, helping to broker deals for the venues between interested angling parties and the agent, FennWright.

"The Cemex Angling brand has an excellent reputation for good fisheries management in waters that have produced no fewer than six British record fish. These waters have become an important part of the history of modern angling and it would be a tragedy if they were lost to our sport. I am also sure that you would want to do everything possible to retain the good name and legacy that Cemex Angling will be leaving behind them,” wrote the Angling Trust’s Chairman Mike Heylin in a letter to the head of FennWright’s fisheries division, Martin Freeman.



"We are very keen to work with you to ensure that angling access is maintained on this range of historic and important waters that still contain many of the country’s famous fish. We would be happy to encourage local angling associations to submit joint bids for waters in their specific areas if that would facilitate your preferred outcome of minimising the sub-division of the Cemex portfolio. Alternatively we are able to send the details of waters available to our member clubs in the localities and work with you to secure both a fair price and the continuance of these important fisheries."


Following the contact, FennWright has agreed in principle to meet with the Angling Trust, an encouraging move for the thousands of anglers who fish Cemex waters and fear for their futures.

The Trust is now urging any club, society or angling organisation with an interest in becoming sole or part owners of any of the Cemex waters up for sale to register their interest with FennWright.

"Like many anglers I consider this amazing collection of waters to be of huge importance to the specialist angling scene,” said the Trust’s campaigns co-ordinator Martin Salter.

“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."

Any angling organisation interested in registering their interest must do so before the end of the first week in May, and can register online by clicking here.