After our band of instructors, our second greatest asset was a well established relationship with Warwick District Council. We identified a piece of land next to the River Avon owned by the Council. To everyone's surprise and delight we were offered it at a peppercorn rent! Its location, next to the river and in the centre of town would make it quite accessible. But a planned walkway and cycle path around the site would make it even more ideal. The potential for a community facility was clear. At this point, having seen a clear need, we decided to design the facility to accommodate the disable too. We also wanted to create a dipping pond for nature study for local children.
Now we had to consider the mammoth task of funding. Digging a large two acre hole was frighteningly expensive. The location on the flood plain meant that all spoil would have to be removed from the site. Add to this the cost of platforms, paths and stocking fish and the cost was daunting. We thought about £200,000 in total.
But hope sprang eternal and we decided to go ahead with a Sports Lottery bid. It seemed the only, but unlikely, solution. First we had to set out to raise the necessary10% “ up front” cash and “in kind” offers to meet the Sports Lottery criteria. We approached fishing interests, local businesses and charity funds and put on fund raising events. Planning permission needed to be obtained in advance and then we set about making our application. Six months later, after hundreds of hours preparation, the documentation was complete and our bid was ready.
We were in the first batch of applications and the four month wait was nail biting. On June 4th 1996 we were told that a grant of £181,000 would be made. Because we seemed to have put things in place well, unbelievably, by October 1996 the lake and its 37 specially designed platforms and paths was complete. Although Stocking took place the following Spring.
Kingfisher Pool was opened by John Wilson on June 15th. I997. Since then, the number of uses by junior permit holders has been over 3,000 each year and use by the disabled is increases steadily. We continue to lay on its beginners courses and children are helped at other times by regular visits of bailiffs. A free Guide to Angling is available to all. Kingfisher Pool is an example of what can be done with perseverance and not a little hard work. The project is managed by The Junior Angling Committee, made up of representatives of the local angling community and individual volunteers, and is available to all youth and disabled groups. Individual permits may be obtained. It is not a Day Ticket water.
