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Hi everyone.

Apologies if this is stated somewhere; I did have a search around but didn’t find what I was looking for. Perhaps an FAQ section might be an idea?

Is there a waiting list for membership? Is there a catchment area for membership? Are Day Tickets available and if so from where and at what price?

Finally, I’ve read on another forum that some nupty (or group of nupties) has recently illegally transferred fish from Mitcham Common to the Wandle during the most recent of the regular pond destocking programs. God alone knows what diseases came with them. Does anyone know anything else about this? Are the EA aware, and are they seeking to prosecute?

Womble,

if you give Tom Main a call on 0208 715 5828 ( his name and number is on the bottom of the applications in the committee forum ) he will be able to hook you up on the membership details and catchment area stuff.

As regards the Seven Islands....you are opening a can of worms there. By 'the other forum' you undoubtedly mean BFW. See you are from Sanderstead, and therefore you may not have seen what was actually happening on the Common.

1. It was not a 'regular destocking', it was a desilting exercise. The Mitcham Common Conservators had a licence to perform this from the EA; and yes as part of this they were 'reducing fish stocks' as part of their policy to discourage angling on this pond. As I understand it, the MCC were transferring fish to other ponds on the Common.

2. However, they have a legal duty to ensure that during this operation, fish do not undergo unnecessary suffering or cruelty. Local people - be they dog walkers or anglers - saw what was actually happening ....and I can assure it was not as described in the Mitcham Guardian, where it was claimed that the pond was drained in stages so that all fish could be netted and safely transferred. In fact, and posters on here can verify this, carp, tench etc were stranded in the silt, and were being scooped up en masse by the JCB and unceremoniously dumped on the islands.......apart from those that were crushed by the JCB tracks, that is. Other fish stranded in the receding waters were easy prey for seagulls and crows.

3. Consequently well intentioned locals started, on their own initiative, transferring fish to both the One Island and the Goat stretch of the Wandle. Yes, you are right that these were illegal (or not lawful) transfers, and there may have been a risk of spreading any diseases. But this must be weighed against the probability that as part of granting the licence for the transfer from Seven Islands to the other ponds, the EA ensured that the fish were disease free. In addition, and just as importantly, there is the humanitarian aspect.............could you have stood by and watched perfectly healthy fish being slaughtered inhumanely through inefficiency? In fact, the Mitcham Guardian praised the youngsters involved for their environmental concerns. Hardly the actions of 'numpties', in my opinion.

4. As regards prosecution........perhaps the MCC should be prosecuted for cruelty, which is a criminal offence. Speaking to the RSPCA on this, they previously had to attend a destocking at the Three Kings Pond. Whether or not that falls under the MCC, I'm not sure. But it certainly begs the question as to whether, in future, the MCC should request help from motivated locals - of which there are plenty - to assist in any future netting and transfer operations.

Pete wrote:Womble,

if you give Tom Main a call on 0208 715 5828 ( his name and number is on the bottom of the applications in the committee forum ) he will be able to hook you up on the membership details and catchment area stuff.

Excellent, thank you Pete.

As regards the Seven Islands....you are opening a can of worms there. By 'the other forum' you undoubtedly mean BFW. See you are from Sanderstead, and therefore you may not have seen what was actually happening on the Common.

Incorrect on both counts. Maggot Drowning, and what I didn't see one of my sons who lives very locally did.

1. It was not a 'regular destocking', it was a desilting exercise. The Mitcham Common Conservators had a licence to perform this from the EA; and yes as part of this they were 'reducing fish stocks' as part of their policy to discourage angling on this pond. As I understand it, the MCC were transferring fish to other ponds on the Common.

Correct. I simplified the matter, mainly for the benefit of those that didn't know the ponds are destocked to discourage angling...and there are many.

2. However, they have a legal duty to ensure that during this operation, fish do not undergo unnecessary suffering or cruelty. Local people - be they dog walkers or anglers - saw what was actually happening ....and I can assure it was not as described in the Mitcham Guardian, where it was claimed that the pond was drained in stages so that all fish could be netted and safely transferred. In fact, and posters on here can verify this, carp, tench etc were stranded in the silt, and were being scooped up en masse by the JCB and unceremoniously dumped on the islands.......apart from those that were crushed by the JCB tracks, that is. Other fish stranded in the receding waters were easy prey for seagulls and crows.

I'll be honest, I don't know enough about it. I do have first hand reports, but I'm a cynic, I wasn't there. And of course two wrongs never make a right.

3. Consequently well intentioned locals started, on their own initiative, transferring fish to both the One Island and the Goat stretch of the Wandle. Yes, you are right that these were illegal (or not lawful) transfers, and there may have been a risk of spreading any diseases. But this must be weighed against the probability that as part of granting the licence for the transfer from Seven Islands to the other ponds, the EA ensured that the fish were disease free. In addition, and just as importantly, there is the humanitarian aspect.............could you have stood by and watched perfectly healthy fish being slaughtered inhumanely through inefficiency? In fact, the Mitcham Guardian praised the youngsters involved for their environmental concerns. Hardly the actions of 'numpties', in my opinion.

That's your take, one of the 'nupties' (not 'numpties') was my son! To transfer to One Island is of course common (excuse the pun) sense, but the Wandle and now I hear possibly Cannon Hill Common (neither of which I'm glad to say involved my son)? Let's not kid anyone here, that's not about fish welfare, that about selfish anglers (which afterall is why the common ponds are destocked in the first place). The plight of a few fish in one pond does not justify jeopardising a whole watercourse, especially one of such national and historical importance that has had so much work and money poured into it. Had I have witnessed these events, and as a caring responsible angler, I would have called the EA, RSPCA, and the national press. Then taken lots of photos for the record. Do any photos exist incidentally?

4. As regards prosecution........perhaps the MCC should be prosecuted for cruelty, which is a criminal offence. Speaking to the RSPCA on this, they previously had to attend a destocking at the Three Kings Pond. Whether or not that falls under the MCC, I'm not sure. But it certainly begs the question as to whether, in future, the MCC should request help from motivated locals - of which there are plenty - to assist in any future netting and transfer operations.

Yes that would be an excellent idea. Still, I'm sure that all responsible and caring anglers here will agree that those that put fish in the Wandle need to be named, shamed, and prosecuted. I'll quote the EA here 'If you have any information on illegal fish movement, please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.'

Geoff

[quote="Womble"]
I'll be honest, I don't know enough about it. I do have first hand reports, but I'm a cynic, I wasn't there. And of course two wrongs never make a right.

That's your take, one of the 'nupties' (not 'numpties') was my son! To transfer to One Island is of course common (excuse the pun) sense, but the Wandle and now I hear possibly Cannon Hill Common (neither of which I'm glad to say involved my son)? Let's not kid anyone here, that's not about fish welfare, that about selfish anglers (which afterall is why the common ponds are destocked in the first place). The plight of a few fish in one pond does not justify jeopardising a whole watercourse, especially one of such national and historical importance that has had so much work and money poured into it. Had I have witnessed these events, and as a caring responsible angler, I would have called the EA, RSPCA, and the national press. Then taken lots of photos for the record. Do any photos exist incidentally?

Which is why I said 'well intentioned'. The ideal situation would have been as I said, to have called for volunteers. I did, in fact, call the RSPCA, which is how I know that they had previously had to attend a call at the Three Kings. As regards the anglers being 'selfish', as you say, that's your take. Can be called either way.

BTW, it's 'numpty', from numbskull. Try Googling it in UK...numpty gets 45,800 results; nupty 81 results

Yes that would be an excellent idea. Still, I'm sure that all responsible and caring anglers here will agree that those that put fish in the Wandle need to be named, shamed, and prosecuted. I'll quote the EA here 'If you have any information on illegal fish movement, please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.'

I am a responsible caring angler, and there is no way I would name anyone who acted in what they considered to be a humane manner. Prosecution - surely in this instance education is a better course. Presumably that is the course you chose to take with your son?

Pete wrote:

Womble wrote:
BTW, it's 'numpty', from numbskull. Try Googling it in UK...numpty gets 45,800 results; nupty 81 results?

Lmao, no no, you misunderstood. I'm using the word nupty, a word that's been around in my vocab and writting since at least 1988, I got it from my boss, both ex. Army and from up North, who knows its origins? I was pointing out I hadn't made a spelling mistake. I'm sorry Google didn't know that.

I am a responsible caring angler, and there is no way I would name anyone who acted in what they considered to be a humane manner. Prosecution - surely in this instance education is a better course. Presumably that is the course you chose to take with your son?

Tench and Carp were released into a chalk stream (where they will no doubt suffer and die), let alone any damage done to the River, and you wouldn't name those responsible? Wow!

Womble wrote:Tench and Carp were released into a chalk stream (where they will no doubt suffer and die),

Or not. Maybe they will flourish.......check out the threads in "It Was This Big" on this forum.

From what I heard there was a representative from the EA at the pond who was well aware of the transfer of fish to the wandle.

The MCC should be prosecuted for allowing the fish deaths.

By the way there are plenty of carp tench and even bream in the wandle thriving; it's not all 6 inch deep rapids, many parts of it resemble the wey or mole.