A MONMOUTH fishery owner is hoping to increase security as his business expands.

Colin Miles, who runs Redhill Fishery, in Wonastow Road, is seeking planning permission from Monmouthshire Council to retain a mobile home at the site for occasional overnight stays.

That is because the business owner, who bought the land in 1996, has had plans for a fifth lake approved which will stock larger and more valuable types of fish.

In a letter to the council Mr Miles said there is also a need to turn aerators on in the water between midnight and 5am.

“The lakes are stocked with expensive fish now, and with the specimen lake stocked with larger fish occasionally staying on site at night would deter any poachers,” he wrote.

Mr Miles told the Argus the fishery, which hosted the National Federation of Anglers’ championships in 2011, is going from strength to strength, with visitors from across Wales.

But the fisherman said he has heard fish are being taken from lakes in other parts of theUKbecause some are quite valuable in the current economic climate.

“I think poaching is on the increase,” he said.

Although Mr Miles has not had fish taken, he said equipment from a shed at the site was stolen several years ago.

Monmouthshire Council will decide on the application in the next few months.