'Hot weather' thought to killed fish in Wirral boating lake

Photographs taken by a Globe reader, during a visit to the beauty spot on Gautby Road in Bidston at the weekend, show dead fish floating in the water and on the bank. 

Expressing shock at the discovery of the weekend, the reader said: "The pond is used by the model boating society but is also full of carp that the locals use to fish. A lot of kids and people with mental health fish it.

"Hundreds of fish have been destroyed. This is a very serious matter that has devastated the local community."
Picture sent in by Globe reader shows one of the fish from Gautby Road in Bidston that are believed to have perished in the recent hot weather (Image: Anonymous) A Wirral Council spokesperson told the Globe: "Gautby Road is a purpose-built model boating lake, it was never intended, nor should it be being used, for fishing or any other unauthorised activity.

"The indications are that fish have died due to a lack of oxygen in the lake caused by the hot weather experienced last week.

"As there is no plant life in the lake and it is a relatively shallow area of water, oxygen levels can drop quickly in hot temperatures and put any fish in that environment in danger.

“Occasionally the lake is treated with a DEFRA-approved commercial dye in order to control the levels of algae, however this is not toxic to fish, plants or other wildlife.

"That, plus the fact that no dye has been applied to the lake since May, means it is very unlikely for it to have contributed to the tragic death of these fish."