Night-time fishing on Lurgan Park lake could become a reality as one of a number of potential benefits of a new partnership arrangement currently being explored.
ABC Council has agreed to work on a business plan which could bring major changes and improvements for fishing at the popular County Armagh lake from next spring.
At the same time, there have been further calls to explore measures to address repeat incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area, given that such a new partnership also has the potential to attract investment to improve facilities there.
Council’s environmental services agreed on Tuesday night to further explore a new arrangement which would see ESOX Fishing Club involving in managing and developing all angling activity on Lurgan Park Lake.
Council business manager Martin Towe – who presented a paper to committee – told the committee they had been approached by the club in 2024; while based in Lurgan, he said, the club had many members right across the borough.
He explained that the club had proposed a joint partnership for the management of Lurgan Park Lake and “initial discussions” had taken place around what such an arrangement might involve.
Legal advice was sought and it was indicated that ESOX could take on fishing rights.
The partnership would buy fish and stock the lake, with day permits and annual tickets sold to allow people to fish the lake.
Members of the club would then take on a “bailiff status” and would check for tickets and permits.
The lake could then also be opened up for night-time fishing too, in a “controlled manner”, as well as educational purposes, such as “come and try it sessions and fishing courses for young people”.
Water quality and pollution and weed control would see the club and council both attempt to manage any issues.
And, in terms of infrastructure, involving maintenance of fishing stands and jetties, there were also positives from any such arrangement.
As Mr Towe explained: “One of the advantages is that the partnership would be able to leverage in grant aid that the council wouldn’t ordinarily be able to access, and therefore maybe bring capital funding into the lake itself and some investment.”
The council has agreed to work with the club to “develop the practical outworkings of this partnership” and “revert to committee before the end of this year” with a recommendation.
If all goes to plan, the hope would be to “activate the partnership next spring”.
Former DUP Lord Mayor, Alderman Stephen Moutray welcomed such a move and proposed that they proceed with further investigation.
He said: “I think this could be a very positive initiative and I hope it can go a long way towards regenerating fishing at the lake, improving the condition of the lake itself and, importantly, investing in fishing infrastructure for those who use it.
“There is clearly an opportunity here to make better use of Lurgan Park, and I would like to put on record my support for the officers engaging with the fishing club and exploring what can be achieved through this partnership.”
At the same time, Alderman Moutray said they also needed to look at how they would protect existing facilities in Lurgan Park.
He added: “There have been repeated incidents of vandalism in the park in recent weeks, including the destruction of seating. It is extremely frustrating to see ratepayers’ money being spent repairing and replacing facilities only for them to be damaged again a week or two later.
“I would therefore ask that, as well as proposing the recommendation, that council engage with PCSP and PSNI to look at what preventative measures can be put in place.
“I appreciate that CCTV cannot be the answer to every problem, particularly in a facility as large as our park in Lurgan, but I think there are other preventative measures that can and must be explored.
“If we’re serious about regenerating and investing in Lurgan Park Lake and its surroundings, we must also make sure that the infrastructure of the park as a whole is protected.”
Alliance Councillor Robbie Alexander agreed and seconded the proposal in supporting a partnership.
“I think it’s a fantastic thing to see coming to Lurgan Park and I think if it is something that we would be able to go ahead with,” he said. “There’d be a lot of positives that come out of it.”
But he too echoed concerns around potential vandalism and referred to previous calls for park wardens to operate in the area, adding: “It would be a real shame to see a large investment in something come to the park only for it to be damaged by anti-social behaviour in the future.”
In addition, Councillor Alexander highlighted the need to ensure adequate access to the lake by emergency services if they were to open it up for night-time fishing.
Claire Duddy, head of climate, parks and sustainability, responding to a question by DUP Councillor Peter Haire, acknowledged that there was “some work to be done” in order to bring infrastructure, such as jetties, “up to standard”.
There were plans to bring forward a business plan for their repair, as well as those at Loughgall, while it was further agreed to look at jetties at Craigavon Lakes after Independent Councillor Kate Evans described them as being in disrepair, overgrown and “an absolute state”.
In terms of park wardens at Lurgan, meanwhile, Ms Duddy said these were already in operation.
She also revealed that free training is to be availed of next month to “give staff additional confidence” in terms of de-escalating anti-social behaviour and engaging with those involved.
