Updates-Corona Virus19

TEMPORARY UPDATE! CORONA VIRUS 19

New Update

UPDATE 10/04/2021
We are open for holidays from the 1st May . Previous bookings will be respected.
Hopefully this will be all going well from then.
Matches, Sorry none this year and no night fishing until we all feel safe again.
So far the opening times are 6.30am – 6 pm
This may change as the nights get lighter I will keep you informed, but please
stay safe, and take care

Please check on the Notice board and the Facebook Page.
UPDATE – January 5th, 2021

We are so very sorry, the rules have changed thanks to the gov

The lake will be closed until the lockdown is over.

This is the report from the Anglian Trust.

Statement from the Angling Trust on the national lockdown rules

UPDATE – January 5, 2021

Whilst the regulations have not yet been published we have been informed this evening by the Cabinet Office that the Government have taken the decision that fishing in England will not be permitted during this national lockdown period. Whilst this is disappointing news I would ask anglers, fisheries and clubs to respect these rules and the reason they have been put in place; to help save lives and support the NHS.

Individuals should not go fishing from midnight tonight (5th January) and clubs and fisheries should close their waters to anglers. We will be publishing more detailed guidance on specific areas like bailiffing and fishery maintenance once the Government regulations have been published.

Over the past few weeks we have been in communication with the Government at the highest possible level. We have presented a strong case on how fishing could continue safely during the third national lockdown. We have explained that fishing benefits physical health and mental wellbeing and that it is regularly the only form of activity individuals undertake. You can read our representations to Cabinet Ministers here.

My team and I have consistently presented the arguments ahead of the changing government guidelines, which have allowed fishing to remain permitted continuously since the first national lockdown was lifted in May. We have been successful when other sports have not as all anglers will know.

However, with 60,000 new infections announced today, the Government have taken the decision that leaving home for recreation or leisure, including all forms of recreational fishing, should be prohibited in England during this third national lockdown period.

I thank you for your support and for being a credit to our sport. As members, you can rest assured that the Angling Trust will continue to represent our sport at the highest level and will present proposals for the resumption of angling when it is safe and sensible to do so. We will come through this period of national crisis. We will fish again, but until then, please, stay safe.

Jamie Cook

CEO, Angling Trust

😷😪

UPDATE – December 23, 2020

In drawing up these guidelines we have examined carefully what is specified in the regulations and what remains as government advice. However, we urge all anglers to act within the spirit of the collective battle against this dreadful Coronavirus which is having such a devastating impact on our lives, our economy and our NHS. We are fortunate that even under Tier 4 restrictions angling remains a permitted activity. It is important that as anglers we continue to practice our sport safely and responsibly and maintain social distancing at all times.

The Tier 4 regulations are broadly similar to the 2nd national lockdown in that it is an offence to leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’. Among the 16 categories set out is the provision for ‘Exercise and Recreation’. More specifically ‘outdoor recreation’ in parks, countryside and outdoor public spaces with one other person, not in your household or support bubble. It is under this provision that angling remains a permissible activity and a ‘reasonable excuse’ to be outside of your home.

As in the national lockdown, the Government have banned virtually all grass roots sporting competitions in Tier 4 areas. So unfortunately, and regardless of the ability to run angling competitions with no form of ‘gathering’, the new regulations mean that any form of competition including more than two people from different households is prohibited.

The Government have made clear in their guidance, rather than in regulation, that they do not wish to see travel into or out of Tier 4 areas and we encourage anglers to respect this, notwithstanding the obvious anomalies where a County boundary might divide a fishery or separate a club carpark from the water it serves.

The guidance states that you can leave home for the purpose of: “spending time or exercising outdoors. This should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your Tier 4 area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)”. We want anglers to continue to enjoy their fishing safely but please do so as locally as possible whatever tier you are living in.

IMPACTS ON ANGLING IN TIER 4

Outdoor recreation remains a ‘reasonable excuse’ to leave your home so going fishing locally with one other, outside of your household or support bubble, is permissible.
The regulations are a return to lockdown in Tier 4 meaning no sporting gatherings including fishing matches.
Travelling to fish should be local ‘wherever possible’ and entering or leaving a Tier 4 area is actively discouraged within government guidance.
Tackle shops and other stores can still remain open to operate a click and collect service.
Outdoor facilities such as fisheries can remain open.
No time limits have been placed on outdoor recreation so night fishing remains permissible, as previously confirmed in writing by both DEFRA and DCMS.
Voluntary or paid fishery management work, including bailiffing and maintenance work, remain a legitimate reason to leave home.
Charter boats can continue to operate in Tier 4 areas but with only one client.
Angling coaching and guiding can continue to operate in Tier 4 areas but with only one client.
The police have powers of direction to order people in breach of the regulations: ‘to return to the place where they are living’.
We will open as we said, but the shop is only available for click and collect and will be open as stated previously.
Unfortunately Holidays are a no go for now.
Stay safe and have a good family Christmas.

Merry Christmas all.

We have made some tough decisions for Christmas and the New Year.

The lake will be closed 25th and 26th Dec and the 1st Jan other than that open as normal apart from bad weather.

Ian as a mechanic will only be available for emergencies. So please no popping in to chat. He cannot fix it if the suppliers of parts are closed! Punctures, breakdowns (local) are okay. phone first.

I will close the shop 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th Dec and Jan 1st

open 29th, 30th,31st Dec for the morning 9am -12pm

Please all our clients take great care

Please stay safe and enjoy your family while you can.

take care hugs and love and best wishes for a better New Year. 💕🙏🎄🥂🎉

WE ARE OPEN – UPDATE as of 2nd Dec.
We are now going to be in tier 2
This is the report from Anglian Trust and we will adhere to them.

Having taking guidance with the Angling Trust, we are staying open.

Covid-19

UPDATE – November 26:

The Government’s Winter Covid Plan: What it means for angling

The Angling Trust has now had an opportunity to consider the government’s comprehensive, 64-page Winter Covid Plan for England which will introduce a revised three-tier system from Wednesday, December 2nd. (Details of Covid restrictions and how they affect angling in Wales can be found here)

Full details of the Winter Plan can be found here

We are pleased that ministers appreciate both the importance and safety of outdoor recreation and organised sport and that the plan opens more opportunities for more people to enjoy leisure and recreation. Although anglers have been in the fortunate position to be able to fish continuously since May 13th, there have been a number of restrictions in place during the latest lockdown which will now be lifted. Tackle shops can open up fully, competition fishing can resume as can coaching and charter boat fishing with up to six participants in total. This is all positive news for our sport.

Meeting people

The Rule of Two is now back to the Rule of Six. This applies both indoors and outdoors in T1, outdoors only in T2 and in T3 only in ‘outdoor public spaces’. Of course, most angling is, by its nature, already socially distanced, and organised matches and events have their own rules.

Travel

Once again, we expect the travel guidance will be advisory rather than law but the Angling Trust will be urging anglers to exercise common sense and act within the spirit of the government’s guidance.

The Government is advising against all unnecessary travel into and out of T3 areas, the exceptions being for ‘work, education, youth services, medical attention or caring responsibilities’. Travel for fishing within T3 areas is not currently discouraged.

In all other tiers, travelling to go fishing is fine but long journeys should be avoided ‘wherever possible’. Sea anglers should focus on their local beaches and fishing marks, and freshwater anglers should not be travelling hundreds of miles in search of fishing during the current pandemic.

You absolutely must not leave home to fish if you have Coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating.

Tackle Shops and Clubhouses

Retail outlets can open in all three tiers meaning that tackle shops are no longer restricted to ‘click/call and collect’. Indoor venues such as clubhouses and on-site cafes serving food and drink can now reopen in T1 and T2 providing table service is offered. T3 allows only for takeaway service. All outlets must continue to adhere to the appropriate regulations including the requirement to ensure social distancing.

Fisheries

Angling-related businesses, now including those offering accommodation in T1 and T2, can operate as normal whilst adhering to the appropriate regulations including the requirement to ensure social distancing.

Match Fishing

With the rules on gatherings due to be revised to once more allow sporting events and outdoor activities, match fishing can resume as long as appropriate risk assessments are in place. Participants and organisers still need to follow the published Angling Trust guidelines to ensure compliance with social distancing and to minimise the risk of infection.

To comply with the travel guidance in the Winter Plan, match organisers will need to revise any planned competitions which could result in participants seeking to enter or leave T3 areas. Local competitions within T3 areas remain within the parameters of the government’s travel guidance.

Night Fishing

There are presently no limits on the time that can be spent on outdoor recreation, anglers are able to continue fishing into and through the hours of darkness providing the other rules are observed. Therefore, night fishing will continue to be permitted under the re-introduced tier system.

Coaching

The Winter Plan allows for angling coaching to resume at our recommended ratio of 1:4 and in accordance with our previously published guidelines. The Winter Plan specifically identifies ‘classes and organised sport’ together with ‘organised activities for …under 18s and disabled people’ as something that can take place outside in all three tiers.

Charter Boats

Charter boats can resume their previous operations in accordance with the Rule of Six – so a skipper plus five clients.

Tackle Shows and Game Fairs

The Winter Plan takes the first steps on the road back to restarting major events. In T1 this is limited to 50% capacity or 4,000 persons outdoors and 1,000 indoors. In T2 this reduces to 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors. The only large-scale events permissible in T3 are drive-ins. We are hopeful that planning can now begin for the resumption of tackle shows and events involving angling in the latter half of 2021.

What happens next?

Details of the tiers will be announced on Thursday, November 26th, and the regulations themselves will be published in advance of a vote in Parliament on Tuesday, December 1st and following the vote further guidance and FAQ’s are likely to be produced by the various government departments. Once we’ve seen the details of the regulations we will update, where necessary, our published guidelines and distribute to our members and to the wider angling community. In the meanwhile please use this document as a guide.

What we will not be doing is seeking to police the government’s regulations as that is not our responsibility. People wishing to report breaches of the regulations should contact the police via the 101 telephone number. Our job, as the recognised national governing body for angling, is to provide advice and guidance on how these regulations affect our sport and to ensure that anglers can continue to enjoy their fishing safely. However, we will take a stand against any conduct or practices that bring our sport into disrepute and threaten the good name and reputation that angling has built over many years and throughout this pandemic.

Jamie Cook, CEO of Angling Trust & Fish Legal, said:

“Angling has conducted itself safely throughout this pandemic and must continue to do so. These new restrictions are good news for angling as a whole and we urge all anglers to continue to fish responsibly and not to put themselves or our sport at risk. The Angling Trust will continue to monitor guidelines published by the government and keep members and informed as to what they will mean for angling.”

**************************************************

The following reasons apply. Unless the Gov change their minds.

Fish safely, locally and respect the ‘rule of two’ during lockdown

Overall the Angling Trust and us are pleased that ministers have recognised the value of allowing angling and some other forms of outdoor recreation to continue through the forthcoming lockdown period in England. However, the new rules are more complicated than we had hoped and anglers should be fully aware of what we can and can’t do in the next 28 days.

How to fish

The regulations are clear and you can only leave home to fish with members of your own household, your support bubble or with one other individual. The Rule of Six is now effectively the Rule of Two for most of us. The tightening of the rules on ‘gatherings’ means that match fishing or any other organised fishing event is prohibited by law during lockdown. However, competitive fishing will be able to resume once there is a return to the three tier system of restrictions.

Where to fish

Angling is deemed a permissible form of ‘outdoor recreation’, and a lawful reason to leave home. It can take place, without time limits, within the provision allowing people “to visit a public outdoor space for the purposes of open air recreation”.

A ‘public outdoor space’ is defined as an ‘outdoor place to which the public have, or are permitted, access (whether on payment or otherwise).’ We believe this clearly includes riverbanks, towpaths, beaches and stillwaters that can either be accessed freely or on the payment of a day ticket or subscription levied by the owner or leased to a publicly available fishing association. The government clearly intends for people to be able to take their outdoor exercise and recreation in the form of angling and these regulations allow this to occur.

Fisheries are not on the published list of businesses that the government has ordered to close and there is no reason that they should do so providing that they operate in accordance with the rules

It does not permit club outings or organised amateur sporting activities of any sort. All indoor or social facilities in any way connected with a fishing venue must close or refer to the relevant Government guidance. Fishing tackle shops, whether onsite or not, can only operate a ‘click and collect’ service.

Travelling to fish

Whilst the government have chosen not to write their travel guidance into law we are urging anglers to respect the advice which states that it is permissible to travel in order:

“to spend time or exercise outdoors – this should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)”

Put simply, you can travel to go fishing but long journeys should be avoided ‘wherever possible’. Sea anglers should focus on their local beaches and fishing marks and freshwater anglers should not be travelling hundreds of miles in search of fishing during lockdown. It is up to the individual to apply common sense and act within the spirit of the government’s guidance. You absolutely cannot leave home to fish if you have Coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating.

Summary

This is going to be an extremely difficult period for everybody and as anglers we must recognise that we are fortunate that our chosen form of recreation can continue even though there are restrictions on what we can do. The Angling Trust made the case for fishing based on the health and wellbeing benefits that angling offers coupled with the importance of reducing pressure on other open spaces by allowing us to continue to safely enjoy the social isolation and peace that fishing brings. It is incumbent on us all to continue to act responsibly and to fish safely, fish locally and respect the Rule of Two.

So for now, all we ask is that please follow the guidance until otherwise changed.

We are gutted to lose another few holidaymakers, but due to their understanding, they will rebook for next year and have refused to take their deposits back.

We are truly blessed to have amazing people love coming here.

Bless you all and stay safe.

Hugs from Gilly and Ian and family.

ALGAE BLOOM

Please check on the Notice board and the Facebook Page.

During the lockdown and when fishing was allowed for a brief period.
We decided to collect donations for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity.
You did great! and they are very happy with the donations given.
Thank you so much for taking part.

As of Monday 29th June normal charges will resume.

Thanks to your Charity donations, I will have a count up and let you know what we did manage to collect and that will continue until Sunday 28th.
Night fishing will resume from 4th July until then the same hours will be for now 6am – 6pm.
Safety rules will continue, and oh just to point out Please Stop putting your rubbish in the loo bin!. Take it home.
Sanitizer and usual washing will still be recommended for the foreseeable future.

Night fishing to be booked and it will be a lock in for no more than 7 pegs You will need to book first.

I have decided no matches for a while yet. folk need to come back and feel safe, I respect that.

I will be sorting out the shop so the tackle will not be available for another couple of weeks while we are waiting for deliveries to start again.
The snack bar is closed and will remain so.
I am also looking at keeping cold cans in the fridge at work, when I open the shop again. I may even look at a machine to help with other stuff, we will see…
It has been tough and we are still re organizing everything to stay safe and also serve you better.
we still have a lot to do yet so you may not see me on here for a little while longer.
Please if you can call me to check your holiday bookings so I can make sure that is brought up to date. thanks.

I will where possible keep in touch and let you know what is going on as best I can
Take care, stay safe

NEW RULES AND CONDITIONS!!

THE LAKE WILL BE OPEN FROM FRIDAY 15^th MAY

THIS IS GOING TO BE A NOT TO MAKE PROFIT

THERE WILL BE A DONATION BUCKET FOR THE EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE

SO BASICALLY, NO CHARGE FOR FISHING

WHAT YOU DONATE IS YOUR CHOICE.

THE HOURS WILL BE 6am TO 6pm

IF THERE IS ANY CONCERN GO HOME!

THE SHOP, WORKSHOP & SNACK BAR WILL BE CLOSED

DO NOT GO NEAR THEM AT ALL!

KEEP 2 METRES APART THIS INCLUDES PARKING TOO!

WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY THERE IS SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS IN THE LOO

SANITIZER IS ORDERED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN IT ARRIVES.

THIS IS A DEADLY DISEASE YOU MUST ADHERE TO THE RULES!

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE STAY AWAY FROM GILLY & IAN

PHONE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AT THE LAKE 01842 829796

KEEP CHECK ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE WHITEBRIDGE FISHING.

SHOULD YOU ARRIVE AND THE GATES STAY LOCKED THERE WILL BE A GOOD REASON! THIS IS FOR YOUR SAFETY AND OURS!

WE ARE SO SORRY FOLK HAVE LOST THEIR HOLIDAY AND WE HAVE CANCELLED THE MATCH, BUT THEY CAN STILL COME AND FISH IF THEY WANT TO.

REFUNDS WILL BE MADE FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS

OR WE CAN HOLD AND RE ARRANGE WITH YOU LATER, WHEN WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND!

YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS AND DEPOSIT SHOULD YOU WANT IT BACK. TELL GILLY IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY

SERIOUSLY..

TAKE GREAT CARE

STAY SAFE

RESPECT THOSE AROUND YOU

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.

DO NOT BREAK THE RULES PLEASE!