A Benfleet resident today hit out at a plan to resurrect the fortunes of a disused lake by claiming it was not in the interests of residents.

Eileen Reid, 57, of Lake Drive, has been horrified by a proposal to turn the dry lake in Coombe Wood, at the bottom of Lake Drive, Benfleet, into a privately-run area for fishing.

Alan Foster of Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, has applied to lease the land from the council and plans to return water to the lake and stock it with fish.

However, Mrs Reid claims that the land will become a private area with only paying fisherman being allowed to enter. She said: "Mr Foster is going to make it a private fishery for members only.

"I am not against the regeneration of the area, but I am against the exclusion of the public."

However, Mr Foster refuted these claims and was baffled that people were objecting to his plans.

Published Wednesday October 16, 2002

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