Fears over dying fish

Thousands of fish are dying unnecessarily at Chasewater because of a botched rescue operation, according to angry anglers.

Lichfield District Council is draining the reservoir to allow vital safety work on the dam to be carried out, and scores of fish were due to be re-homed as part of the process. Bosses enlisted British Waterways to relocate the animals to other sites across the West Midlands, and many were moved last month.

But as the draining operation nears completion, local anglers claim thousands of fish have been left behind.

They have expressed concern that many of the remaining pike, bream, roach and carp will perish in the shallow water.

Lichfield businessman and keen fisherman Terry Turner is a member of the board of the Angling Trust.

He said he had visited the reservoir last weekend and had been alarmed at what he had seen.

"I had quite a few reports of fish dying in there so I went to see for myself," he explained.

"I saw around 50 dead fish. The reason they are dying is lack of oxygen.

"There's thousands of pounds' worth of fish in there and they are all going to die.

"They should all have been moved months ago."

"To me, this is absolutely disgraceful. It's terrible."

Around a billion gallons of water has been drained from the reservoir as part of a £2.5 million project to repair the crumbling Chasewater dam.

Bosses expect to begin refilling in September, but it could take up to four years for levels to return to normal.

The fish that have been moved will not be returned, with the reservoir instead allowed to restock naturally.

No-one was available from Lichfield District Council for comment.