scarborough fishing/digging

[macky]

i have been informed by gwyn
that Scarborough council are going to try and get a bylaw passed under the anti social behavior banner to stop all bait collections and fishing on its beaches

so anyone planning a trip up there shortly it may be a good idea to check with the local authoritys before traveling

macky

[Patrick_Pending]

Removing or restricting the \'public right to fish\' isn\'t easy; they may find they are biting off more than they can chew

http://www.nfsa.org.uk/conservation/Cons_Collection_of_bait.htm

http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/bait-collection/bc5_8.htm

[MikeR]

I sent the following email to Scarborough Borough Council on Sunday. Lets see what response I get:

Hello.

I have just read that Scarborough council is trying to ban anglers from fishing from the areas beaches on the ground that is anti-social behaviour. Could you please confirm this.

As an angler who spends a substantial amount of money in the areas covered by Scarborough Borough Council every year (particularly during the autumn, winter and spring when local traders and hotels are glad of any custom they can get) I find this disgusting. Does the council realise just how many sea anglers there are in this country and how badly this decission will affect the area? The government estimate that there are 1.2 million sea anglers in the UK. Last year, an independent report commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature put the value of commercial landings in England and Wales at £35 million, while recreational angling generated £140 million for the coastal economy.

Can you please tell me what is anti-social about beach fishing?
I require around 15 x 3ft of space while casting and about 3 square feet when not (i.e. most of the time). I do not litter, swear at people, cause a nuisance or fish next to crowds. This is true of most anglers. I am very careful and in the highly unlikely event of an accident 1. I am a trained and qualified first aider who ALWAYS carries a first aid kit and 2. I pay for around 2 million pounds worth of third party insurance. People always come up to me asking questions and often just standing for 15 minutes watching, which I have no objection to. Do I sound like an anti-social person?

Also, I believe that the Magna Carta, the basis of English law, clearly states that the shoreline is not owned by anyone and that everyone has the legal right to fish from it. Does SBC have the right to over rule this?

Anti-social - unfriendly. It really does seem to describe SBC\'s attempted actions doesn\'t it. I along with many other anglers will be boycotting any area covered by SBC if this ruling goes through.

Regards

Mike Richards
Sea Angler

[Charlton]

Mike
plain and simple they can not do it

[macky]

brilliant mike
is there an email address for SBC we can all
send them an email with our concerns

[MikeR]

Macky, I just went to their website:

http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/content/misc/contacts.html

and sent it to their tourism and leisure dept. If it\'s the wrong department I\'m sure they\'ll forward it on. I also read that it will include Whitby West Cliff Beach. Can\'t remember where I read it though.

[Iain]

The way I understood it from reading the Mercury (local paper) was that they were not going to stop anyone fishing but they would have the right to stop individuals fishing if they were causing a nuisance of themselves.

Ninety odd percent of us should not be affected but there are one or two who tend to give all of us a bad name. I’ve seen the odd angler beach casting into a sea full of young kids on a hot summers day.

If I’ve understood it correctly, I would not have any objection to the council stopping the odd idiot.

Iain

[Topecatcher]

There is also posters along spurn road proposing banning bait digging and making spurn a SSi site

[Gwyn]

I have got two of the articles that appeared in the Scarborough evening news, I have also been to Scarborough Council to ask what it is all about and am still awaiting their reply, I have emailed the chief executive over this matter no reply as yet.

I have also sent copies to David Rowe of the NSFA and talked to him about it, he is also going to contact the SBC.

If anybody would like a copy of the articles contact me and I will email them

Gwyn

[macky]

i heared spurn was going to be segmented into zones

each zone would have agiven amount of time for anglers to dig
then when the time is up they must move to the next zone.....?

also heared that spurn is being bought by a private buyer

would you spend millions on a landmark that may not be there in 10 years

[Charlton]

After being involved with many attempts at bait banning in the north east, a bye law can not take your right to dig bait away. An SSI does not give anyone any powers it just states an area is a site of special scientific value. Would love a copy of the articles regarding the proposed bait bans. As for spurn being bought by a private buyer if it is crowns estate (which most of the shoreline is) can not be done.

[Gwyn]

Allan
If you send me your email address I will send the articles to you

Gwyn

[Charlton]

Hi Gwyn
e mail address alancharltonsea@blueyonder.co.uk

[MikeR]

I\'ve just had a response from SBC and their head of tourism and leisure has said that the report is incorrect (wherever it came from) regarding the banning of fishing. Didn\'t say anything about bait digging though.

They have given me a name and number to call for clarification. Will let you know what that person says. Does anyone have any questions in particular? If so put them down and I\'ll ask tomorrow (Friday).

Cheers

[Charlton]

Q/ are you aware that a byelaw can not take away the right of fisheries (bait collecting and fishing) as enshrined in the Magna Carta, this has been proven in the High Court. Anderson V Alnwick District Council.