PETERSFIELD Angling Club is giving "serious consideration" to banning fishing on the Heath until March 2007, amid estimates that £19,000 worth of fish has already been killed by toxic algae. Club chairman Ken Law said Environmental Agency (EA) experts estimate that up to 1,200 fish have already died following the outbreak of blue-green algae. And despite pumping large amounts of chemicals in to the water last week, it is feared the bloom could resurface at a later date. Mr Law said: "We have yet to get the bill, but we know that the chemicals alone will cost at least £1,500. "We are still waiting for reports to come back from the EA about the water quality, but we are seriously considering closing down the pond until next season. "The chemicals have killed much of the algae, but it is only a short-term measure and it looks like it is still active in the pond. "We will review the situation in February or March next year, to see if it has got to be closed for longer. My main concern is that the pond ends up in a healthy condition. "Together with the town council, we have got to look at the problem in the long term. "At the club, we have been working very hard to find ways of preventing this from happening again in the future." Petersfield Town Council closed the pond early last week while environmental experts looked into the deaths of a large number of fish. And Defra was called in to investigate a number of Canada Geese which had also been found washed up on the shores of the pond. The matter was due to go under the microscope at a meeting of the town council's grounds committee yesterday (Thursday). Councillors were due to receive an update on the pond's closure from new town clerk, Neil Hitch, and to consider any future action.
