The doors of a popular Perth fishery have reopened two years after it was forced to cease trading.
Following a lengthy legal wrangle with planning officers, the Willowgate Fishery is once again open for business.
The relaunch of the ponds has helped create three new jobs, as well as providing a welcome haven for anglers and walkers.
Site operator, the Tay Salmon Fisheries Company, has also used the extended break as an opportunity to branch out into water sports, with young canoeists learning new skills in a safe environment.
Chairman David Clarke told The Courier that he would not have fought for the survival of Willowgate had it not been for the support shown by the public.
“We’re just amazed by how many people have got behind us,” he said.
“The support we’ve had over the last two years has been very much appreciated and has kept me going. It is also a very important local resource and I felt it was too good to just give up on.”
Willowgate, which is based at Kinfauns, was made the subject of an enforcement order by Perth and Kinross Council in January 2011.
The business was found to have breached planning controls, in that it did not have permission to change the original use of the land from agricultural grazing to fishing ponds. A linked, but separate, enforcement order related to the former fishing lodge on the site, which was converted into a caf, used by people walking alongside the river Tay from Perth.
Although he was “hurt and frustrated” at the time, Mr Clarke has since formed a close working relationship with the council.
He added: “I hope we have resolved all the issues and we are making sure we haven’t slipped up anywhere.
“We are in constant contact with the council and are now working together with their outdoor education team to develop an activity centre on the river.”
More than a dozen anglers descended on Willowgate on its opening day and found several improvements, including a new walkway and access road.
Around 80 fruit trees have also been planted by Tay Salmon Fisheries Company, alongside re-established footpaths.
Meanwhile, further talks are to be held with Mr Clarke over access to the beat at Incherrit, near Kinfauns, which has been removed from the fishing permit after Network rail closed off the previous access route.
The only way to reach it on foot is via land owned by Mr Clarke.
Councillor Jack Coburn, chairman of Perth Common Good Fund Committee, said: “I had a meeting with Mr Clarke to explain the situation and he will meet with officers to see what he can do.”
At its meeting this week, the common good fund committee also agreed to retain fishing from boats on its permit, despite complaints from riverbank anglers, but the situation will remain under review.