TROUBLED waters are brewing at a Rawdon dam where anglers have been told they now have to pay to fish - after years of enjoying the sport for free.

People in the Rawdon area, many of them children, have regularly fished free for a few hours a day.

But officials of Bingley Angling Club, who have leased the water for the past three years, have said enough is enough.

John Berryman, 44, of Markham Avenue, Rawdon, a member of Aireborough Angling Association, said he had often fished the dam, taking his sons Thomas, 13, and Luke, ten.

"I must emphasise I have no problem with anyone who is managing the water but I am disappointed at being told I have to pay to fish there, particularly as I have fished the dam for donkey's years for free," he said.

Mr Berryman said Bingley AC had only recently put up notices stating the dam was for members only.

And he said charges of £10 a year for children to fish were considerably more than those at Aireborough AA. "We charge £3 a year for youngsters which means they can fish Yeadon Dam and Nunroyd Pond," he said.

Notices stating the dam is for members-only have been pulled down. Some anglers have been further upset by a large metal fence built two years ago to keep walkers out.

Ian Ward, treasurer of Bingley AC said:

"We retain the water for our members. No-one has been able to fish the dam for the past two years because it has been covered with weed," he said.

He said a programme of weed removal had cost the club quite a lot in time, labour and money. The work had been carried out in conjunction with the Bradford Model Boat Club, whose members also used the dam.

Mr Ward said his club wanted an attractive water for its members. "We are not looking to rob the local people. The money we receive from our members is ploughed back into our waters. We are working on a shoestring and we are trying to maintain what we have for our members," he said.

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