EVESHAM’S angling experience could get even better after a safe haven for baby fish was created on the River Avon to improve fish stocks.

The Environment Agency has spent about £35,000 of rod licence income to enlarge an existing ditch and improve access for fish in Corporation Meadow.

It’s west area fisheries, recreation and biodiversity team has been working with Evesham Market Town Partnership, Wychavon District Council and the Evesham Angling Festival committee to create a ‘fish refuge’ in the town.

The refuge, which is connected to the Avon, will provide an important nursery habitat for young fish, as well as providing shelter from high river flows and predators.

The idea was proposed at a special meeting of the committee after the floods in July 2007.

Chairman Lew Hammond said: “It was particularly clear that after the devastating floods in 2007 two generations of fish has been washed away because there was no refuges to protect themselves. The suggestion came forward that we should build a back water. The primary motive was to preserve fish stocks for the future, to make sure that Evesham’s fishing heritage can be protected for the foreseeable future.”

Sam Chapman, fisheries technical officer for the Environment Agency, said: “This new refuge is designed to improve fish stocks at Evesham and help to secure the future of the important Evesham Angling Festival. We hope that local and visiting anglers of all ages and abilities will make use of this great facility.”

Wychavon has installed safety barriers and will landscape the refuge and provide information boards.

Similar schemes have been used very successfully in a number of UK rivers.

Mr Hammond added: “It is very good news for the angling festival. It will go a long way to guaranteeing its future for many years to come. The junior fish are going to grow up so we will have that continuous breeding in the river and the population will stabilise.”