THE Royal Forest of Dean Angling Club has lost its right to fish on the River Wye at Lower Lydbrook.

The Forest of Dean Angling Club took on the rights to fish the mile-long Courtfield Stretch (pictured) in 2008.

Club spokesman Tony Summers said: "It's our only stretch of flowing river. There were no negotiations, then we were offered half the stretch at twice the rent.

"We feel the lessee is trying to price the river out of the range of the average bloke."

The lessee, Mr Donald Macer-Wright – who rents the stretch from the Courtfield Estate – refutes such suggestions. He said: "Originally, I had the stretch at a peppercorn rent but in order to renew it for the next five years I had to pay more.

"The Forest of Dean Angling Club says there was no negotiation, but I could only inform them I would not be able to resume the sublet after I had negotiated my lease."

The club alleges it took on a run-down fishery with a severe litter problem, poor access, (despite the adjacency of the main road), with overgrown banks and pathways.

Mr Summers said: "In the ensuing three years, the club has breathed life into the venue.

"Our fisheries management officer Dennis Sherwood has himself spent over 40 hours on the bank."

Mr Macer-Wright responded by saying: "I am obliged as a tenant to maintain the fishery. The club fulfilled the obligations of the sublease and I feel it would be wrong to suggest the banks were not maintained when they took them on."

Mr Macer-Wright admits he has taken a commercial decision, but says he is also concerned that the quality of fishing has deteriorated.

"I want to reduce fishing pressure to a manageable level," he said.

The Forest of Dean Angling Club will continue to have use of the Courtfield Stretch until March 14.

It is likely that those wanting to fish the stretch from next season (June) will have to pay around £15 per day, rather than £5-£6.

Mr Macer-Wright said: "I am tied into giving a proportion of money, dependent on income, to the estate.

"I am passionately concerned about the health of the river and it is my dream one day that the salmon will come back."

Angling Club chairman Kevin Kear said: "This is a bitter blow and hard to take. Our committee and members have put so much time and effort into making something of the stretch, only to be given this news."

His colleague Tony Summers believes the new high prices will drive anglers away, saying: "Our club was formed more than 50 years ago with the purpose of offering affordable angling to its members.

"We proudly hang on to that tradition and do not intend to take this decision lightly.

"What has eventually been proposed to us is not viable in today's economic climate, and we feel justifiably aggrieved at the way our club has been treated."