scarborough fishing/digging

M

macky

Well-known member
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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 :D
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
Click to expand...
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]
 
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
 
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
 

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