Welded fencing mesh will keep out the deadly otters
A few months ago I told you about the Leeds Club waters at Knotford suffering from otter predation and the value of these fish, being taken on a regular basis, running into many thousands of pounds.
club officials faced a dilemma, do they sit back and let the carnage continue until the entire stocks are wiped out or do they do something about it?
They turned to the Environment Agency for advice but the only suggestion it could make was to fence the entire site so that the creatures would be denied access.
Culling them is impossible for the otters are, by law, a protected species.
But back to the fencing for this is going to be massive for the lake covers some 21 acres with the entire site around 25 acres. a measure showed that around 1,500 metres of wire would be required and the proposed fence will need to be five feet high with a further two feet buried to prevent tunnelling.
I have been assured by a club official that the job has been given to an established firm whose previous work has been closely examined by Fishery Management secretary Dave Bonsals and his team who have worked hard to secure the best deal. they have visited many sites to inspect the quality of work done.
The final decision was close for there were five estimates with prices ranging from £25,000 to £40,000.
the approval of the Environment Agency has still to be considered for they will be making a substantial contribution towards the total cost.
The fence will be constructed of strong wire gauge which will have a two-inch mesh with tack-welded joints. work is due to start in the next few weeks.
For those who do not know Knotford it is a former gravel pit which was flooded around 50 years ago before it was purchased outright by the Leeds club in the 1970s.
On a preliminary survey for the fence, droppings were found in the pipe which forms the overflow from the lake to the nearby River Wharfe so this is how the otters have been gaining access to the lake.
