The Rosie

The Rosie pool used to be a lovely feature of walking in Wepre Park and was once a five star sight. I used to walk around with wife and sometimes our dogs, who were kept close on the lead. I enjoyed quietly watching and chatting with anglers (if there were any), they had no problem with our presence. Unfortunately, over four years, some angling club members have been putting efforts into excluding the general public from around the pool. Bite by bite, obstacles to easy access have been appearing.Temporary fencing appeared, I heard from a ranger that in a lease agreement with Flintshire council and in exchange for regular payments, the angling club was given responsibility for maintenance of 1 metre of bank from the waters edge around the whole pool. This was so that experienced members and volunteers could maintain the fishing points to suit angling, it left the park rangers more time to do more specialised work.This appears to have given some people the wrong idea about ownership, control and access. Not long after, access trails from Rosie Woods were being blocked off with branches and trees, so unless stepping over or around the obstructions, people were being channeled down from Rosie woods and around towards the visitors centre or a trail leading out to the sports field. It became difficult for the public to access and enjoy this local landmark.Now when approaching, a hefty fence is encountered, with access gates at each end. It is still a public right of way, but at the closest gate to the visitor centre, a club notice board displays various signs and notices, worded in such a way that walkers and park visitors may believe that access is restricted. I often see this working, people approach the fence, have a quick glance over, before turning around and walking away. Installing this fence would have been rather expensive, it was not necessary nor was it justified.In 2023 at the main access gate, the angling club placed their own sign excluding dogs, even on leads, this backs up the club rules that anglers must not bring dogs to the pool when fishing.This wasn't enough! In 2022, The angling club approached Deeside Council, requesting that the public were excluded from walking dogs around Rosie Pool. The local council rightly refused this request on the grounds that it was a public area.They then ran a survey, backed by the local councillor, aimed at excluding all dogs on the grounds of health risks from excessive dog fouling. On my many walks around, I noticed only very occasional fouling, which was significantly less than popular areas of the park and was more likely to be from foxes and other wildlife which would have been attracted by the smell of food or fish bait accidentally spilled by anglers. It is not a health hazard to walk around this local feature. Unfortunately Flintshire Council responded by adding Rosie Pool to a PSPO excluding public access to a public garden in Mold. The public can no longer enter the fenced area of their local countryside whilst walking dogs. This is becoming a one star site for the public who once were able to enjoy it.Earlier attempts to exclude the public included the use of the pandemic, a sign was posted stating that the public were not permitted access due to social distancing (in the woods!).I encourage people to continue to enjoy the pool and wildlife, walk around, but responsibly, so as not to disturb the fish or anyone who is enjoying their pass-time of fishing.If you feel the fencing off is inappropriate and detracts from the rest of the park, contact Flintshire Council Parks & countryside. Beware that some club members are aggressively and inappropriately self enforcing the PSPO. A social media note reports recently that a club bailiff was seen and heard aggressively challenging and threatening to throw a walker into the pool!Before the above incident, Rosie pool was given two stars from the public perspective, it has now essentially been lost to the general public and is downgraded to just one star!

10/10. Great place to chill. Eldest child loves fishing. Bailiffs helpful, members of the club fishing there lovely too

Love it

Qaulity mixed fish venue, crucians to die for in a stunning setting

Fantastycznie

Probably one of the best mixed fisheries in the north west well msintained ,