03/06/2026
Following a meeting of the committee and affiliated clubs, a vote was made regarding the new TAA Chairman following Jon Portman's departure last month.
Before anything, TAA would like to thank Jon Portman for everything he has done for Telford Angling Association during his time as Chairman. From venue improvents, environmental and aquaculture work to the huge task of running a large angling association with multiple venues, all with their specific needs and challenges, Jon has done a huge amount of work to improve the Association for not only it's members, but also that of the wildlife that live in and around the venues.
I hope that all of our members can appreciate the hard work and huge sacrifices made by Jon over his tenure all for the benefit of Telford's anglers. TAA wishes him all the best moving forward and are glad that he has agreed to continue as the lead coach for his Telford and District Juniors events and of course the Regeneration Project he runs with Bryn Lamb to help youngsters get a start in course fishing. A round of applause please!
To continue....
Kenny Partridge will be taking over as Chairman as agreed by all present. Current committee members and affiliated club representatives are given the chance to put themselves forward for the position. Needless to say there were no objections as it is a mostly thankless job and produces more stress than any voluntary position should ever have. Just ask Jon!
Kenny had been working closely with Jon over the past 6 years which has given him a very thorough understanding of how the association is ran, what rules and regulations TAA have to adhere to, and which other interested parties are involved in the waters (there are many, most would like to see fishing stopped, and have the backing from those who pull the strings in local goverment). As much as being Chairman was not a goal for him personally, he knows that the TAA can not run without a working committee and therfore would sooner fishing was still available in Telford waters over it being lost due to the park pools being used as nature reserves over fisheries.
Since Kenny has stepped up, TAA has secured licences for the pools for the next 10 years. These licences took Jon, with Kenny's help nearly 4 years to complete as they were originally not in any shape or form in the interest of TAA and anglers in general. It was a huge "battle" to get to this point where some middle ground was agreed by both TAA and T&W council. Again, this would never have happened if it was not for Jon Portman and his hard stance and determination, something which Kenny hopes to continue with going forward, and which Jon needs full recognition for.
Kenny will do what is needed to keep the pools for fishing knowing full well that his name will be dirt to some but it will be for the benefit of most. He makes sure that all decisions are agreed upon by the committee first unless it is taken out of TAA hands by local authorities.
For the licences to be granted, there had to be some changes. Many may not have liked these changes, but they were necessary. There is more pressure from local authority, including the Police regarding antisocial activities on and around the pools, mostly around the subject of illegal substances, noise pollution and environmental impacts. TAA waters are not closed off behind fences or gates, they are in parkland and may have homes aroumd them, and as such, have public eyes and opinion all over them. This prompted a revision of the rules as the original rules were not only now outdated and didn't reflect new requirements for the renewal of fishing licences on the pools, but made little sense when read.
The new rules are now on the TAA website and supersed any and all previous version including those sent out on the membership letters (which will be updated in due course).
Our Head Bailiff Alan and the Bailiff team are doing a fantastic job of keeping on top of the pools and ensuring that both TAA, council and statutory rules, regulations and the law are kept to by all those fishing on our waters. TAA waters are first an foremost there for the enjoyment of anglers who abide by the rules. It's no different to any other fishery in the country, only folks get a years fishing with a huge choice of where to go for or less than a 24hr ticket at most commercial venues (carp). Why risk losing it? Going fishing isn't an entitlement. A membership grants you access to the fishing rights for 12 months which are held by TAA and TAA only, and of cours, by how TAA wishes to run the association....
Thankfully, at least 90% of our members are upstanding and we are so very thankful for their continued support.
We will leave this post with a note that due to the unexpected changes, there will be teething issues, things may take a little longer than you'd expect or there may be a need for changes that you may not like, but we are volunteering our time to do this, we are subject to higher powers at times, and we are doing our best.
Thank you and tight lines.
