by Hayley Robinson

It's a case of hook line and stinker for one village business.

The name of Horsham Lakes in Upchurch was smeared at a recent parish council meeting after a resident raised concerns about human excrement being found along a public footpath.

The waste and rolled-up tissue was reportedly found on the pathway which runs from the facility up to and along the rear of homes in The Poles.

part in night fishing are the culprits but owners Frank and Julia Macklin, who opened the lakes to the public 21 years ago, have denied the suggestion.
It has been an ongoing problem for the last couple of years and it is claimed that people taking

Mr Macklin, 76, who lives in a house at the entrance to the site in Horsham Lane, said: "We have two flushable toilets, one for men and one for women, and every fisherman is told where they are when they arrive.

"My understanding is it’s been found at the top of the footpath which is 120 yards away from the lake.

Why would a fisherman walk all that way when there are toilets nearby? If they are that desperate to go there’s other wooded areas nearby."

Mrs Macklin added: "It is a public footpath and a lot of walkers use it. Who’s to say it’s people using the lakes?"

The couple claim they donate up to 85% of the profits to fund trips and equipment for two educational establishments which their disabled son James, 27, has used over the years.

They are Five Acre Wood School in Maidstone and The John Graham Centre in Blean, Canterbury.

Children are also allowed to fish for free on a regular basis.

However, if the finger pointing continues they say they’ll have no choice but to fill in the lake which is 325 yards long.

Mr Macklin said: "That’s the last resort. It won’t hurt me, it’ll be the disabled children that miss out most.

"I’m miffed by it all and getting fed up with it. I’m too old for it and I don’t need the aggravation."