A CAMPAIGNER battling to save Powick Weir has pledged "the fight goes on" following a meeting with river authorities.

Around 70 concerned fishermen met with Environment Agency (EA) and Severn Rivers Trust (SRT) representatives last week to discuss proposals to remove the weir from the River Teme.

The EA, which owns the long-standing weir near Worcester, says it wants to increase the population of the protected Twaite Shad fish and that a partial removal of the weir is one option being looked at.

And the SRT says it forms part of the larger Unlocking the Severn for People and Wildlife Project which could bring £19.4 million to the River Severn catchment area.

But anglers say the consequences could "decimate" fish stocks and more than 170 people have already joined the Save Powick Weir Facebook group to lobby the EA to scrap the idea.

Lawrence Breakspear, of the Save Powick Weir campaign, was at the Angling Trust Special Fisheries Forum last Thursday at Worcester Racecourse.

He said: "There was a lot of frustration from the audience. We were deemed as just a bunch of anglers.

"We didn't expect it to be so badly presented and a poor display of communication. We didn't expect them to say: 'We are sorry we offended you', we knew that wouldn't happen. We hoped for something better.

"The fight goes on. We are not rolling over."

Mr Breakspear says the EA proposal could disrupt the river so dramatically it could take a decade to return to normal.

Campaigners believe the change could also cause chemical-filled sediment to wash into the River Severn.

Mr Breakspear added: "If they remove the weir it will result in a catastrophic drop of at least one metre of water in the weir - from directly above the weir right the way up to Bransford.

"If they move the weir we will have areas that will dry out where fish fry will die, but more importantly the bigger fish that take refuge in the deeper pools will become very susceptible to predator action and decimate fish stocks in that area."

Tony Bostock, from the SRT charity, said: "It is a small, but important part of the overall Unlocking the Severn for People and Wildlife Project which in total will bring £19.4 million pounds to the Severn catchment."

He explained the number of migratory fish in the river has declined dramatically, and this project could help fish travel upstream to breeding areas in the upper reaches.

The project is a joint venture by the EA, SRT, Canal and River Trust and Natural England.

An EA spokesperson said: "The meeting with the Angling Trust was a great opportunity for both sides to openly discuss their thoughts and current plans on the removal of the weir.

"At this stage we are still developing our plans and will update representatives from fishing clubs that may be directly affected in due course.

"The outline design we have at present will be developed into more detailed designs and if suitable will be submitted for the relevant consents.

"We will also arranging further drop in sessions to give general updates on the scheme progress at the appropriate times.

"If the weir is removed, the area immediately upstream would return to its natural state of riffle and pools within a year at the most. The river bed and banks may take longer than this to fully settle back to a natural state."