scarborough fishing/digging

[Gwyn]

MikeR
I have been into the council offices and asked for clarification finally getting a phone call today, the person I talked to stated that he did not know anything about the ASBO regarding fishing or bait collecting and also stated that none of his colleagues knew anything about it. Stated that paper had got it wrong.

I gave him the name of the reporter from the scarborough evening news and also the dates of the articles he is going to find out what it is all about and call me back next week.
Will let everybody know when he gets in touch

Allan will email them to you as I am going to type it out as some of us do not have word may post it on site.

Gwyn

[MikeR]

Cheers Gwyn. I tried calling the bloke at SBC who\'s number I was given 3 times today and he wasn\'t in.

[alan]

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.

Does in right to fish/collect bait from the shore also apply to harbours,i understand if you go onto someones land to fish ie business or government restricted area you would be deemed to be tresspassing but what if i was collecting bait from the foreshore ? At Blyth harbour there is signs placed along the foreshore saying \"you are prohibeted from digging bait from this foreshore\" with the heading Blyth Harbour Commision.So who actually owns the foreshore ? Alot of the area is accessible to the public and in fact is a public right of way.I have never tresspassed on someones property to dig bait or collect but i have been politely asked to \"stop digging or collecting bait as i\'am disturbing the foreshore\" i asked who owns the foreshore and was told it belongs to the harbour commission

[Edited on 14/5/2004 by alan.f]

[Gwyn]

Article as appeared in Scarborough Evening news 29/04/04

29th April 2004
All set for beaches action

ANTI SOCIAL behaviour on the beach will be acted on when new bylaws are introduced for Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
The laws will apply to the borough beaches and will allow council employees to stop people doing activities that could annoy others.
These include having fires and barbecues, interfering with life-saving equipment, camping on the beach, selling goods, riding or driving and fishing or digging for bait.
There will also be a designated inshore zone for bathers and a marked zone with speed restrictions to give jet skiers safe routes from their launch points.
Playing games is also included in the list but Scarborough Council Stressed this was not aimed at children playing games with their families but gangs of youths playing football while drunk.
Cllr David Jeffels, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for tourism and leisure said ”We are just bringing our beaches into line with other resorts like Bournemouth and Eastbourne.
There is no way that the bylaws are going to affect families going on there and youngsters playing football or cricket.
The new rules will apply from May 1 to September 30 and would probably be policed by council employees in much the same way as the dog fouling laws are policed.
Mr Jeffels said organisers of special events on the beach such as motorbike racing could apply for a licence.
The council will now submit an application to the home office to be allowed to adopt the bylaws.That decision is expected in September and if successful the bylaws will be in force next year.

Gwyn

[Gwyn]

Article as appeared in Scarborough evening news 01/05/04

May 1st 2004
New beach games bylaws win backing
Anti-Social behaviour on the beach will be clamped down on when new bylaws are introduced for the coastline from Filey to Whitby.
The formal application to the Home Office was agreed by Scarborough Council’s cabinet and will affect the area from Filey Brigg to Martin’s Ravine as predicted in last week’s Mercury.
The laws will allow council employees to stop people taking part in activities on the beach that could annoy others and will apply between May 1 and September 30.
These include;
· Having fires and barbecues
· Interfering with life-saving equipment
· Camping on the beach with the use of tents (but wind breaks will not be affected)
· Selling goods or touting
· Riding or breaking in a horse between 9am and 6pm or driving
· Performances – such as giving lectures or sermons
· Fishing, using sandlines or digging for bait if it obstructs or annoys others using the seashore
· Noisy instruments
The rules would allow the council to countermand any elements of the bylaws to retain traditional activities such as donkey rides, events, ball games and other activities.
The bylaws would allow the council to set up a designated inshore zone for bathers and a marked zone with speed restrictions to give jet skiers safe routes to the sea from their launch points.
But at the annual parish meeting in Filey there was strong opposition to any attempt to allow jet skis into Filey bay.
Notices are currently on view banning jet skis from being launched from the landing.
But the fear is that to adopting bylaws for seaside pleasure boats would introduce a launch corridor.
“We spent years trying to stop jet skis coming to this area and we do not want them,” said Cllr John Haxby.
The cost of the scheme for the whole of Scarborough area is likely to be more than £24,000 which would be spent on public notices, buoys for zoning activity areas and other signs plus ongoing repairs.
Playing games is also included in the list but Scarborough Council Stressed this was not aimed at children playing games with their families but gangs of youths playing football while drunk and annoying a large section of people. Donkey rides will still be allowed.
Cllr David Jeffels, the council’s cabinet portfolio holder for tourism and leisure said ”We are just bringing our beaches into line with other resorts like Bournemouth and Eastbourne.
There is no way that the bylaws are going to affect families going on there and youngsters playing football or cricket – activities that have gone on for years.”
The new rules would probably be policed by council employees in much the same way as the dog fouling laws are policed. Offenders could face prosecution or a fine.
The home office’s decision is expected in September and if successful the bylaws will be in force next year.

Gwyn

[MikeR]

I really don\'t believe that the paper could have got it that wrong on their own, could they? Either the person who the reporter spoke to didn\'t know their arse from their elbow or the council are trying to hide a bloody big mistake i.e. they tried to ban fishing and then realised that they couldn\'t.

[Patrick_Pending]

· Fishing, using sandlines or digging for bait if it obstructs or annoys others using the seashore

I presume they mean handlines and not sandlines, or is this a technique I am not aware of?

It isn\'t explicitly specified but \'reading between the sandlines\' it seems to me that they are trying to ban the small minority that fish in a manner that I believe most NESA members would consider as anti-social (e.g., digging bait and not backfilling, casting dangerously on a crowded beach, leaving rubbish, lines, bait, fish guts etc.) - I am not sure why handlines/sandlines are a problem, but it doesn\'t mention banning fishing or bait collection outright. - isn\'t it a well discussed issue that most of us would like all anglers to behave responsibly and leave the place as they found it.
If you fish responsibly then you have nothing to fear from an anti-social behaviour law. As mentioned in a number of earlier posts they do not have the powers to pass a byelaw that removes the \'public right to fish\'.

[willywetegg]

\"The new rules will apply from may 1 to Sept 30 and would probably be policed bycouncil employees in much the same way as the dog fouling laws are policed\". LMFAO. Don\"t worry about it guy\"s it MUST be a hoax

[Charlton]

I would think that a sandline is a line of hooks stretched between two poles stuck in the sand. Used to be quite common at one time, have seen a few up here now and again.

[Stores]

Al,
Was fishing the Barge Bottom not too many years ago with low water about 5 am. Didn\'t expect to bump into anyone and was somewhat surprised to see two blokes sat above the high tide mark with no fishing gear at about 3.30. As I was in the runs (no stand again) they did not approach me but at low water they came and checked their sand line and walked along to me with a couple of fish but one that must have been 15 lb. All there was was a small depression created as the sand moves up the beach. Makes you wonder about fishing high water..............

[Gwyn]

I have just been talking to Scarborough council regarding the asbo on fishing, bait collecting, he basically said that the paper got the info wrong. He also stated that the council is only updating it bylaws as every other council has done.That they are standard bylaws produced by the home office with just the councils name put in front.
He is also sending me a copy of the bylaws proposed and a copy of the press release that was sent to the paper when I get it I will let you know.

Gwyn

[Charlton]

Any news yet Gwyn

[willywetegg]

My mate tells me there was an article in the Sunday Sun about Filey boro doing the same. Is this true anyone.

[Charlton]

It was me that wrote it Willy, from the info supplied to me from the articles written in the local press see previous posts.

[Gwyn]

I have received the press release and it does not mention anything about fishing and bait collecting but states that they have consulted jetskiers and surfers regarding the bylaws they have not consulted fishermen about the bylaws.
The bylaws state the key features are taken from the Home office bylaws and do mention Fishing , sand lines and bait collecting, there is nothing else mentioned in the bylaws regarding fishing/bait collection until the appendices where fishing is mentioned and states \"No person shall fish from the seashore to the danger obstruction or annoyance of any person using the seashore\". On sand lines it states \" No sandlines shall be laid in such a position as to be likely to cause injury to any person using the seashore, and all sandlines shall be visibly marked\".
That it is all there is regarding fishing nothing about bait collection.

Scarborough borough council cover the coastal area from just north of Whitby and to below Filey all though Whitby and Filey have town councils they are like parish councils to scarborough borough council.
SBC control the purse strings

Gwyn