Wildlife rescue group opposes new angling club plan for Blackpool's Stanley Park
“We fully oppose it. There remain more injuries in the last three months than there was for the same three month period in 2025.”
A Blackpool-based wildlife rescue group say it is opposed to plans for an angling club in the town’s Stanley Park after a cynet got a hook caught in its beak.
The injured bird was discovered in the lake at Stanley Park in Blackpool last Friday.
The discovery came the week after Blackpool Council confirmed that a new angling club could be established at Stanley Park as the authority looked to make fishing available to a wider audience.
The council said it was working alongside the Friends of Stanley Park on plans for the new club, which would be run in partnership with the group.
In a statement on its Facebook site, Brambles Wildlife Rescue (BWR) stated its opposition to such a move.
It said: “We fully oppose it. There remain more injuries in the last three months than there was for the same three month period in 2025.
“There is so much work to be done to reduce injuries before irresponsible anglers should be rewarded with a fishing club.
“From now onwards the costs of rehabilitation of any animals coming to Brambles that were injured due to a lack of enforcement of the Stanley Park PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order) will be charged to the council leader in full.
“We will also be recommending local vets and other rescues also do the same should they wish.
“We believe there have been no fines ever issued to people breaching the PSPO.There remains no publicised way of the public reporting breaches of the PSPO to the council.
“These animals call this lake their home and they deserve better.”
The council says that while the plans aim to give more people the opportunity to enjoy fishing in the park, it is important that proper fishing protocols are followed to protect wildlife from equipment including fishing lines, discarded tackle and hooks.
An initial engagement session was held on Tuesday September 8, when further information was made available for anyone interested in finding out more about the proposed club.
A spokesman for Blackpool Council said: “ We were pleased to welcome 48 people to the engagement session, to hear about their thoughts and ideas for a potential angling club.
“We’re continuing to explore the appetite and feasibility of establishing a club.”