Anglers near Diglis Fish Pass face brown sewage problem

Anglers near the Diglis Fish Pass are having to fish right next to sewage flowing into the river when pipes overflow.

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Today (February 1) marks the first day of the fishing season.

But despite this being a day when fishermen are happy to get back next to the water, the challenges they face overshadow their excitement.

Sam Salisbury, bailiff for Diglis Weir and regular fisher in the area, said the main challenges fishermen face nowadays are restricted fishing, polluted waters and birds preying on the salmon.

"You can see the sewer from the white foam it pushes out.

"If you have a downpour of rain or a thunderstorm in the summertime, you can see it go in the river.

"Brown coloured - its horrendous - and that is being pumped in.

"It is a swathe of brown down the river.

"I can't imagine the fish like it, with all that going in their gills."

Harry Dawson has been fishing in Diglis for over 50 years.

He added: "There are too many phosphates in the sewage.

"It must make the fish sick, and it puts you off because of the pollution.

"It is not good and not very pleasant.

"If you are here when the river is low, it lingers."

Sewerage being dumped in rivers has been a hot topic this week, with the reveal of a blue plaque calling out Worcester MP Robin Walker for "voting to block a law requiring water companies to dump less raw sewage" in Worcester.

The plaque on Worcester Bridge followed a recent vote on the Draft Environmental Targets Regulations which was passed with 300 ayes to 170 noes on Wednesday, January 25.

MPs signed off regulations required to enact the Environment Act’s targets on biodiversity, trees, water, marine protected areas, air quality, and resource management, despite concerns that the measures were 'weak, late and unambitious'.

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In response, Mr Walker declined all accusations, and in a comment discussing the vote, he said: "In a week parliament has voted to strengthen the law instead watering it down.

"By voting against it, they would have failed to set any legally binding targets, but thankfully they are now being put in place.

"It is about improving the situation and making sure water companies are being held accountable."