I WRITE with reference to the call by Jan Harrigan for a ban on angling at Bewdley.

This will be the same Jan Harrigan who has been trying for years to get a ban on angling in the centre of Stratford.

She expresses concerns about anglers putting lead into the environment, even though she provided evidence for the survey by C M Perrins, G Cousquer and J Waine on lead poisoning in mute swans and will be aware that the conclusions were that the local swan population is picking up old lead from the environment and is unaffected by the lead substitutes now used by anglers.

The lead affecting the swans of Stratford and Bewdley is historic lead and no angling ban will make that problem go away.

Much better Jan to have anglers on the water who can alert you to the needs of individual swans and continue to keep a watchful eye for pollutions and other problems of the river.

In other areas of the country anglers and their local swan rescue groups work together to protect this beautiful bird.

Why does Jan have so much difficulty with this positive and community based approach to the problem?

MICHAEL HEYLIN Secretary Specialist Anglers' Alliance Crofts Path, Hemel Hempstead