After a meeting with British Waterway’s Engineers, it has now been decided to install a new valve. This work is scheduled to commence on 3rd January and completion should be by 11th February. When this work is complete the lake will be left to re fill and the fish returned.
Professor Ian Trayer kindly visited Cofton today to take samples of the water. When he first arrived he phoned to say that as far as he was concerned BGA was not visible with the naked eye as it is at Lower Bittell. After testing he confirmed that there is a trace of BGA in Cofton but the strain we have got is not ‘nasty’ and the infestation is very light – not harmful to dogs or swimmers! He is an expert on the subject and recons that once end of Sep/Oct is here and the weather gets colder it will disappear and should not be a permanent problem. He is in charge of checking the purity of the water at Bittell and he kindly offered to re check Cofton at the same time. As a member of the White Swan Piscatorials and a keen fisherman he has a vested interest in Cofton!
We are now awaiting a reply to our letter to BW regarding the valve.
British Waterways have issued a report that Cofton Reservoir is contaminated with Blue/Green Algea. Although we know that Lower Bittell has BGA it has not yet been established that Cofton has. The people who have so far looked at it think it very unlikely. However, we are having it tested later in the week and our web site will be posted with the outcome.
Three of the Directors from Cofton Lake Conservation Ltd met British Waterways Engineers at the lake on 18th August to discuss the draining of the lake. A letter is being sent to the Chief Executive of British Waterways to complain about the workmanship of the Engineers who attended the repair work to the valve which seems to once again be causing problems. An update will be posted when a reply is received.
Some of you may have noticed that the lake has started to be drained down – yet again today!!! Just as it was starting to refill – We are meeting British Waterways tomorrow for yet further discussions – Our web site will be posted with the outcome.