Wybunbury Anglers Association, Cheshire, has received a £25,000 grant to restore the banks of the Jubilee Pools following HS2 construction work.

The organisation is the first in the Crewe & Nantwich area to successfully apply for funding through the Community & Environment Fund (CEF).

HS2's Community & Environment Fund (CEF) was set up by HS2 in 2017 to provide additional funding to local charities, community groups and organisations 'demonstrably disrupted' by the construction of the UK's new high speed line.

Paul Harding, Hon. Secretary for the Wybunbury Anglers Association said: "We are extremely honoured, and grateful, to be the first organisation in our area to be awarded grant funding for our important project.

"This will allow us to restore both the access to the pools and install safe fishing platforms; all of which were damaged by flooding over the last two winters.

"It will also allow our team of qualified Angling Coaches to resume a regular programme of angling 'taster and development' sessions throughout the Summer and beyond.

"The benefits to health and wellbeing from angling participation is now well recognised, and the improvements will benefit all our anglers for many years to come.

"We must also record our thanks to all those from HS2 who assisted with our application and made the process as seamless as possible. "

HS2 trains will travel up to 225mph and the line between London, Birmingham to Crewe is estimated to begin operating between 2029 and 2033.

Cathy Elliott, Independent Chair of the HS2 Funds, said: "I am pleased that Wybunbury Anglers Association has secured additional funding to restore the Jubilee Pools, ensuring the club remains attractive to current visitors and encouraging future generations to explore the sport.

"HS2's CEF & BLEF schemes were set up to ensure people living along HS2's line-of-route receive their fair share of local investment and I encourage any organisation impacted by the construction of HS2 to also apply."

The funding received from HS2 will be used to restore the damaged banks of the Jubilee Pools, a series of three angling pools teaming with fish species including carp, tench, bream, pike, roach, and perch.

The funding will also pay for the construction of a series of platforms built into the pool banks.

Made from re-purposed railway ballast and railway sleepers, these structures will protect the bank from erosion and ensure the club is more accessible to disabled users and young anglers.

The installed platforms, made from recycled plastics, will also support the delivery of the club's 'Get Fishing' and 'Let's Fish' projects, which introduce angling to young people through a series of monthly taster sessions.

Dr Kieran Mullen, Member of Parliament for Crewe & Nantwich said: "It is great to see this local project get funding and I am hugely grateful to the organisation for taking the time to put in an application so young people can benefit.

"HS2 will be great for Crewe in so many ways and this grant programme helps compensate us for the disruption we might face while it is being built, so I would strongly encourage other local charities, schools, parish councils and community groups to have a look and see if they could get funding for positive work locally as well."

The Jubilee Pools will close from 15th March until 1st June to allow for construction and restoration works.

The HS2 Community & Environment Fund (CEF) and Business & Local Economy Fund (BLEF) have currently provided funding for 189 projects, totalling around £11 million.

Following Parliament's approval of the next phase of HS2 in February 2021, the CEF & BLEF Funds were extended to the new 36-miles of route between Crewe and the West Midlands and a further £5m was made available.

Both the CEF & BLEF Funds are still welcoming grant applications. You can apply here.

In case you missed it: Crewe motorists to benefit from 5p fuel duty cut.

[I] Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.