Yateley Complex

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Short description|British gravel pit and fishing site}} [[File:Yateley gravel works.jpg|thumb|The gravel works]] The '''Yateley Complex''' is a working [[gravel pit]] and a series of fishing lakes at [[Yateley]], [[Hampshire]], England, operated by [[CEMEX]], the world's largest building materials supplier. The fishing side of the facility is under the management of CEMEX Angling, a subsidiary of the main company. CEMEX Angling operates 11 lakes at the site, which includes part of the [[River Blackwater (River Loddon)|River Blackwater]] and is stocked with a variety of fish. Around 5000 anglers a year visit the complex, which was also home to [[Heather the Leather]] (a carp), described{{according to whom|date=February 2016}} as "Britain's most famous fish". In addition to angling use, some of the gravel pits have been restored as sports pitches and some were nominated as potential [[Allotment (gardening)|allotment]] sites.

== Angling == [[File:Horseshoe lake yateley.jpg|thumb|Horseshoe Lake]] The complex contains the following fishing lakes:

*North Lake *Sandhurst Lake *Pumphouse Lake *Horseshoe Lake (watersports only, no fishing is permitted) *Summer Pit *Tree Lakes (two lakes) *Nursery Lake *Split Lake *Match Lake *Car Park Lake

Fishing is also allowed in the stretch of the [[River Blackwater (River Loddon)|River Blackwater]] that runs through the complex. The lakes are stocked with [[carp]], [[bream]], [[tench]], [[rudd]], [[catfish]], [[Rutilus|roach]], [[Esox|pike]], [[Silver fish (fish)|silver fish]] {{Definition needed|date=August 2020}} and [[perch]].<ref name="cemex1">{{cite web|title=Yateley Complex - Daylight|url=http://www.cemexangling.co.uk/venue_guide.php?function=book1&venueid=57|publisher=CEMEX|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="cemex2">{{cite web|title=Yateley Complex - Day & Night|url=http://www.cemexangling.co.uk/venue_guide.php?function=book1&venueid=56|publisher=CEMEX|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref> One can fish for silver fish, carp and [[Barbel (fish)|barbel]] in the Blackwater.<ref name="cemex1"/> The complex is popular with anglers and around 5000 fish at the site each year.<ref name="cemex5">{{cite web|title=CEMEX angling makes changes to 2 yateley sites|url=http://www.cemex.co.uk/ac/ac_pr_20090226.asp|publisher=CEMEX|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref>

Some of the individual lakes are famous in their own right. The Car Park Lake has been described as one of the most famous carp lakes in the country,<ref name="cemex3">{{cite web|title= Yateley Car Park Lake|url=http://www.cemexangling.co.uk/venue_guide.php?function=book1&venueid=32|publisher=CEMEX|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref> whilst the Sandhurst lake won the "Best day ticket lake in Britain" award.<ref name="cemex5"/> Sandhurst lake, the newest in the complex, is available on a day ticket basis only with ticket available from [http://www.yateleyangling.co.uk Yateley Angling Centre] <ref name="cemex4">{{cite web|title=Yateley Sandhurst Lake|url=http://www.cemexangling.co.uk/venue_guide.php?function=book1&venueid=10|publisher=CEMEX|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CEMEX Angling Plus Open Day at Yateley Angling Centre|url=http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/yately-cemex-angling-0709.html|publisher=AnglersNet|access-date=14 June 2010|archive-date=5 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705091107/http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/yately-cemex-angling-0709.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Heather the Leather=== {{main|Heather the Leather}} The complex was home to a 50-year-old scaleless (also known as leather) [[carp]] that has been described as "Britain's most famous fish". Heather was one of the oldest and largest carp in Great Britain and weighed {{convert|52|lb|kg}}.

== Restoration == The CEMEX company has explored various means of restoration of the gravel pits after they have been exhausted. In addition to angling, they have restored some as cricket, football and hockey pitches which were donated to the local council for use as a park.<ref name="park">{{cite web|title=Sean Devereaux Park|url=http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/sean_devereaux_park.htm|publisher=Blackwater Valley Countryside|access-date=14 June 2010|archive-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808042236/http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/sean_devereaux_park.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a result of this restoration the site won the Cooper Heyman cup for gravel pit restoration.<ref name="park"/> In 2007 CEMEX offered a further {{convert|5|acre|m2}} of land to Yateley Town Council for use as allotments.<ref>{{cite web|title=September 2007 Minutes|url=http://www.finchampstead-pc.gov.uk/Documents/SEPT%2007%20MINUTES.doc|publisher=Finchampstead Parish Council|access-date=14 June 2010}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> This land was rejected by the council and a further site was offered in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fresh hope for allotment campaigners|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2034068_fresh_hope_for_allotment_campaigners|access-date=14 June 2010|newspaper=Get Reading|date=August 19, 2008}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Recreational fishing in England]] [[Category:Lakes of Hampshire]]