River view being ruined by rubbish and weeds

There are fears the state of the River Devon in Newark is a safety hazard.

The section beside Devon Park has been labelled an eyesore with fallen branches, masses of weeds and a half-sunken rowing boat spoiling the scene.

Mr Ron Dawes, 62, of Mercia Road, said if a child fell into the river and got entangled in the weeds and debris it would be a major task to get them out safely.

He said debris like the boat enticed youngsters to the river.

Mr Dawes, a keen angler who learnt to fish on the Devon as a boy, said it was virtually impossible to enjoy the river in its current state.

“It is just an eyesore,” he said.

Mr Dawes remembered rowing boats and canoes using the river in the past, but said there was no way they could use it now.

He was disappointed the river had been left to get into such a state when so much money had been spent on the regeneration of Sconce and Devon Park.

The £1.6m scheme, mostly paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was completed in the summer.

A committee member of Newark and District Piscatorial Federation, Mr Pete Willis, said the problem was the river was silted up.

He said the flow was not as strong as it used to be and further upstream fish were not spawning as they should.

“It needs scraping back to the gravel layer,” he said.

“The problem is rectifiable but not until the Environment Agency gets the money to do it.”

The agency says owners of land adjoining the river, known as riparian owners, are responsible for maintaining the bed and banks, and also trees and shrubs growing there.

It says riparian owners must clear any debris, whether natural or man-made, even if it did not originate from their land.

The land adjoining the river is owned by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

The council’s parks and amenities manager, Mr Phil Beard, said: “We have been in discussions with the Environment Agency and Newark and District Piscatorial Federation, which rents this stretch of the River Devon for angling purposes, about how we can work together to clear weed and generally improve this section.

“This stretch has a particularly slow flow speed and with run-off from nearby agricultural land, growth becomes an issue.

“Plans include utilising volunteers to work with the park ranger, as we have in the past, to clear weeds from these areas.

“As part of the regeneration of Sconce and Devon Park we will also be installing fishing platforms.”