If large swathes of the rest of the country have more in common with my locale than the South East, I'm not surprised that there's little comment. Having travelled to the Wraysbury area, and been based in Oxfordshire for a time, I was always staggered by the sheer number of gravel pits available to anglers and other recreational users. Companies such as Cemex were once very keen on angling and the income source it brought.
Cemex, and others, operate in my area too. There are large numbers of gravel pits within a mile or two of my front door. Currently, only two are available to angling, with just one more slated to become available. The pits vary from very mature (30 years plus since working) to still in operation. In most cases, operations are due to be completed in the next year or two. Cemex, in their angling heydey, never showed any inclination to extend their angling operation beyond the South East and Notts/Lincs. I know because I pestered them often enough and was largely ignored. When I did get answers, they were always negative. Just a single Cemex Angling gravel pit, filled with what would have been considered tiddlers in their southern waters, would have become an instant Mecca for huge numbers of North East anglers.
A couple of the local workings have never been used for anything other than landfill. I suspect that use will have been a condition of planning permission.
Those lakes that could support angling, or other recreational activities, remain largely inaccessible. The landowners simply do not want public access of any kind. I know that clubs and syndicates have been proposed to several different owners and been refused. I've knocked on doors of landowners myself, some of whom I've actually known, to no avail, even for just me.
Whilst having good waters turned into landfill is hardly desirable, for anyone, the realities of living in a densely populated part of a small island mean that rubbish has to go somewhere. The pragmatic view will remain that utilising former gravel workings is better than many other options. In a way, based on my experiences, I'm inclined to suggest that South East anglers should be rather grateful that so many gravel pits ever became available to anglers in the first place. Whilst they may exist in other locations, it doesn't automatically follow that angling sees any benefit.
