Derbyshire councillors have finally endorsed plans for angling to return to Wingerworth Lido on a short-term interim basis most likely in the New Year after a decision to withdraw a fishing club’s tenancy at a beauty spot triggered a controversial dispute.

NE Derbyshire District Council withdrew Clay Cross Angling Association’s tenancy at the Wingerworth Lido during concerns for the area’s biodiversity but following complaints from the angling club and some councillors its Environment Scrutiny Committee reviewed the future of the site and the council’s Cabinet voted at a meeting on December 18 for angling to return in the short-term and potentially in the long-term in the future.

Council Leader Nigel Barker told the meeting: “There was a clear vision from the council that we want as many groups to enjoy that facility as we can and to do that we have to listen to all the different sides.”

He added: “I accept it has taken longer than some might wish but I hope at the end of the process we can accommodate all the different groups and aspects.”

Wingerworth Lido, In Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Courtesy Of The Angling Trust.

placeholder image — Wingerworth Lido, In Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Courtesy Of The Angling Trust.

The Labour-controlled district council originally issued a formal six-month ‘notice to quit’ in December, 2024, to the fishing club, after considering the views of its Asset Management Board and a letter was received from the club in January, 2025, acknowledging the correspondence, and the lease formally ended on June 30, 2025.

But the future of angling at the lido was reviewed after angler James Duffy organised an online petition for the reinstatement of fishing rights at the pond which attracted over 5,000 signatures and after Independent Councillors Ross Shipman and David Hancock raised concerns along with the Angling Trust and the Countryside Alliance.

The council agreed in September to review its original decision to withdraw the angling club’s tenancy and to launch a consultation due to growing public concern alongside the authority’s plans to improve biodiversity at the site and the Cabinet has now voted to approve the Environment Scrutiny committee’s recommendations.

These include: Exploring interim arrangements to reinstate angling at the earliest opportunity; The council should continue site maintenance and acknowledge the part angling can have as a long-term activity at the site providing it is compliant with biodiversity plans; Recognising the strong support for angling and seeking to secure fishing as a long-term activity on the site while ensuring fishing activities contribute to biodiversity; Explore best practice and biodiversity enhancement at the lido; Acknowledge the consultation feedback showed the need for greater accessibility; Support the idea of a community group including Wingerworth Parish Council and interested parties to act as a consultee on a biodiversity plan; And that the Environment Scrutiny Committee is to be kept informed about the progress of angling and the council’s biodiversity improvement plan.

Campaigners Including Clay Cross Angling Association Chairperson Bill Parkin, Centre, Calling For Ne Derbyshire District Council To Reinstate Its Fishing Licence At Wingerworth Lido.

Cllrs Shipman and Hancock had also claimed during the dispute that the council’s Asset Management Board had originally made a decision without a consultation and that the AMB had exceeded its powers in the decision-making process.

But Environment Scrutiny Committee Chairperson, Cllr Caroline Smith, said the committee was satisfied that the AMB’s decision-making process was compliant with the council’s constitution although the committee felt greater consideration could have been given to the users of the lido.

The Cabinet also voted for the council to provide training for councillors to better understand the process of the AMB and that in the future an annual ‘open’ report should come before Cabinet to highlight decisions made by the AMB.

Cllr Smith said a lot of advice was considered by the Environment Scrutiny Committee from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Angling Trust and there is a willingness to work with these two groups in the future.

District Council Director Matthew Broughton told the meeting that a formal agreement to allow angling on an interim basis is expected in the New Year and a longer term agreement, dependent on the outcome of a biodiversity plan, could be expected by September, 2026.

Council Managing Director Lee Hickin thanked the Environment Scrutiny Committee for the review and for their diligence and he thanked council officers for their professionalism during the process.

Mr Hickin said: “I need to highlight that this unfolded against a backdrop of unhelpful distraction and misinformation that does not help anyone.”

He added: “I am pleased to see the recommendations reflect a balanced approach to the future management of the lido and that is something I always feel has been the goal since the beginning.”

Council officer Amy Bryan also told the meeting that the consultation had highlighted that 71per cent of respondents rated angling as important and that it also highlighted a range of other interests at the site including watching nature, fishing, wildlife watching and dog-walking.

Campaigner and angling business owner, Dom Webb, who attended the meeting, said: “It’s the outcome that needed to happen. It was the outcome that was recommended and it’s important officers follow through with the timeline.”

He added: “We are encouraged by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s comments at the Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting a couple of weeks ago. The important thing is they clearly stated angling is not incompatible with biodiversity and therefore the long-term future of angling at the lido can be secured.”

Cllr Smith, previously stated there are very few people who think angling and biodiversity cannot work together at the lido but to achieve improvements there will need to be a collaborative approach with all interested parties including Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Wingerworth Lido community group.

The council had originally grown concerned about the lido after receiving complaints over certain activities and the council’s Assistant Director of Property Estates and Assets, Damien Johnson, confirmed at the Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting the authority had received complaints about the death of cygnets and the use of a blue dye at the pond as well as other activities.

However, a Freedom of Information request revealed that between 2022 and June, 2025, there were only three formal complaints and seven concerns were raised with the council regarding the lido and the three formal complaints were all during July, 2024.

Clay Cross Angling Association member Andrew Parkin previously stated that he has been pleased to learn that fishing could soon be brought back in the short-term and eventually in the long-term.

Cllr Shipman, who fought a long campaign for angling to be reinstated at the lido, said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic that common sense seems to be prevailing on this issue, and I want to thank campaigners, organisations, the local and national media, and residents for continuing to raise this issue and getting us to this point.

“The next stage is to ensure that this injustice is resolved permanently, and that Clay Cross Angling Association are given the lease to the lido long-term, so that biodiversity and angling can work hand in hand and offer value for money for tax-payers.”