Tim Abbott - 25-May-2007
- The Environment Agency will reopen a section
of the Thames Path near Folly Bridge, Abingdon
Road, Oxford on Wednesday 30 May, which
has been closed since February so that a
corroding footbridge could be replaced.
The bridge carrying the path, over a backwater
of the River Thames near Folly Bridge, was
originally built in 1942. But, following
an inspection by the Environment Agency
in December 2004 it was found to be corroding,
and the decision was made to replace it.
Now a brand new bridge of modern design
has been installed, at a cost of £340,000,
enabling local residents and members of
the public alike who want to walk along
this popular part of the Thames Path to
continue to do so for many years to come.
The new steel and stainless steel bridge,
was lifted into place at the end of April
with the help of floating cranes. Despite
high river flows preventing work on demolition
of the old bridge during March, the new
bridge has been completed and opened ahead
of schedule. During the work, the path was
diverted but has now been reopened.
Don Vickers, regional recreation manager,
said: "We are delighted to reopen this
section of the Thames Path and new bridge
ahead of schedule, and hope that it will
prove to be just as popular and well used
as its predecessor obviously was.
"We never like to shut stretches of
the Thames Path, even for short periods
of time, but it is almost inevitable when
major works need to be carried out. We are
therefore very grateful to the residents
in the area for their patience and understanding
during the time this essential work was
carried out.
"£340,000 may seem like a lot
to spend on a footbridge, but we feel that
it is money well spent to ensure that this
vital link in the Thames Path National Trail
is maintained, and the project has been
completed ahead of schedule."
+ More
Bumper catch of illegal anglers for Environment
Agency
Rachael Collins - 25-May-2007 - Seven men
caught by Environment Agency officers fishing
without a licence were ordered to pay a
total of £615 in fines and £455
in costs today at Central Hertfordshire
Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that the separate incidents
all took place between 10 November and 12
November 2006 at fisheries in London Colney
and Welwyn Garden City.
Environment Agency regional fisheries specialist
Matt Carter said: “Those who try to cheat
the system and avoid buying a rod licence
are cheating their fellow anglers. All the
money raised from licence sales is put straight
back into improving the environment for
wildlife and anglers.
“We are delighted the court has taken this
action today. Illegal anglers should realise
that our officers are on the riverbank and
if anyone is caught flouting the law they
will be caught and punished.”
The Environment Agency's Fisheries Permitting
and Enforcement Team (FPET) licences anglers
across England, Wales and the Border Esk,
and it is their dedicated prosecution team
that takes action against anyone caught
fishing without a licence.
The following cases were heard:
1. Scott Watson, 23, of Blacksmiths Hill,
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was fined £100
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 10 November 2006
at Holwell Hyde Lake, Welwyn Garden City.
2. Colin Parsons, 35, of Kingham Road,
Wareside, Hertfordshire, was fined £100
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a licence on 10 November 2006 at
Holwell Hyde Lake, Welwyn Garden City.
3. Steven Taylor, 24, of Frenchs Close,
Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, was fined
£35 and ordered to pay £35 costs
for fishing without a rod licence on 10
November 2006 at Holwell Hyde Lake, Welwyn
Garden City.
4. Matthew Beech, 22, of Folly View, Stanstead
Abbotts, Ware, Hertfordshire, was fined
£75 and ordered to pay £70 costs
for fishing without a rod licence on 10
November 2006 at Holwell Hyde Lake, Welwyn
Garden City.
5. Michael Clissold, 24, of Selbourne Road,
Luton, Bedfordshire, was fined £125
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 12 November 2006
at Willows Lakes, London Colney.
6. Andrew Murphy, 42, of Palmer Avenue,
Bushey, Hertfordshire, was fined £100
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 12 November 2006
at Willows Lakes, London Colney.
7. David Bryant, 39, of Spear Close, Luton,
Bedfordshire, was fined £80 and ordered
to pay £70 costs for fishing without
a rod licence on 12 November 2006 at Willows
Lakes, London Colney.
Buying a licence couldn't be easier - there
are around 15,000 Post Offices and other
outlets which sell them direct, and for
a small additional charge they can be purchased
over the phone on 0870 1662662 or from our
web site - www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish.
