Anglers are feeling the bite of budget cuts with news that fishing at one of Fife’s most popular locations will no longer be funded.
Fife Council has announced it will be removing the subsidy it provides to Lochore Meadows from April 1 and will refund any season tickets already bought for 2016.
The statement has been described as an immense blow for anglers who come from far and wide to fish at the popular spot.
Sean Baxter, owner of Cowdenbeath tackle shop Deals On Reels, said the removal of the loch’s stock of brown and rainbow trout would be a huge loss for the area.
“I’ve had my shop for 17 years and the amount of people who come in here for bait who are going to Lochore Meadows is amazing,” he said.
“This is going to affect the community, local tackle shops like myself and anglers who enjoy going there.
“It’s not just a fishing thing. It’s a social thing for a lot of people.”
The management of Lochore Meadows Country Park, including the loch, was transferred from Fife Council to Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) nearly two years ago.
The 260-acre loch is generally regarded as an excellent fishery for both boat and bank fishing.
A statement issued by FCCT said: “Fife Council confirmed this week that they are no longer able to fund fishing at Lochore Meadows Country Park.
“Fife Coast & Countryside Trust currently manage the park on behalf of Fife Council, who, like many other local authorities, are facing huge financial pressures.
“Following the recent Fife Council budget meeting, the trust has been advised that funding to subsidise the fishery provision at Lochore Meadows will be removed from April 1 2016.”
The statement added that FCCT had managed to partially stock the loch with rainbow trout to allow some fishing this month but that no further funding was available.
“Bank fishing is now free and FCCT can confirm that any season tickets already purchased for 2016 will, of course, be refunded in full.”
Fife Council is having to make £38 million of savings this financial year to balance the books and has warned that no service will be immune from cuts.