£70,000 bill as Marsden fish pass takes shape at River Colne

Nov 9 2009 By Neil Atkinson

THE course of true love will soon be smoother for the trout of Marsden – at a cost of £70,000.

Work is well under way on a “fish pass” to enable them to spawn above a weir on the River Colne.

The big construction project is being undertaken by Kirklees Council and the Environment Agency.

But it will cost £70,000 to get the work done.

The pass, which would be the first in Kirklees, will enable the trout to bypass a fast-flowing weir and reach calmer waters where they can spawn.

Trout are now returning to the River Colne in greater numbers and it is hoped the pass scheme will see the numbers grow even more.

The fish pass works by slowing the flow of water through a special concrete channel to a speed which brown trout can swim upstream against.