Jack Pike 3
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This is one of these e-petitions, and one that is close to my heart! Please atleast read it, even sign it, and hopefully post it on some more angling forums. Its already on AnglersNet and Angling Times.
BROADS ANGLING UNDER THREAT
At this very moment a private Bill is going through Parliament. Called the Broads Authority Bill it contains some welcome and long overdue safety requirements for the boating fraternity. But, as ever, angling gets a poor deal. The Chief Executive of the Broads Authority has stated that the Bill is of ?no interest to anglers?. Angling most certainly is interested, and concerned.
The Broads is a tidal waterway, plain and simple. Anglers have, for centuries, had the right to cast a line pretty much where and when they wish. But these common law rights and practices are under serious threat under the terms of the proposed Broads Bill. Quite clearly the Bill would give the Broads Authority the ability to control where and when anglers go fishing. The majority of successful Broads anglers do so from a boat, and ?special directions? would allow a Navigation Ranger the power to move an angler on from their chosen location, and to do so without specific reason.
During the summer many of us go angling at the crack of dawn, partly to avoid the holiday boat traffic, but also because it a good time to cast a line. Most of us do so with consideration to those who slumber on, but the Authority is asking for the ability to control boat traffic, either by closing a stretch of river or by quite simply telling us that we may not navigate at that time. They wish to be able to tell us when and where we can go.
The bank angler is also subject to the Nanny State?s desire to control everything that we do. Who would have thought that an angler?s rod could be seen as an obstruction to navigation? Well, there are folk on the Broads that do, and Broads Rangers who have made it clear that they would like the power to be able to restrict the length of anglers? rods and poles. The proposed Broads Bill will allow them that power.
The details of the Bill are in the public domain for all those who wish to read them. Many of the clauses are wide open to interpretation, and there lies the problem. How might the Bill be used against angling, not only now, but also in the future?
This is one time when anglers need to support each other. The Broads is an angler?s paradise, one that attracts tens of thousands each year. The present administration may not have a stated anti-angling agenda, but there is a strong conservation lobby within the Broads Authority. The wording of the Bill is loose, too loose. In a nutshell it could be used against angling with devastating effect.
The Broads Bill has already been opposed in Parliament, it must be opposed again. Whilst no one expects the Prime Minister to oppose the Bill, we all have the ability to ask him to do so via an ?E-Petition?, and to see that relevant M.P.s made aware of it. Details of the E-Petition are here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BroadsBill/
Please sign, please register your opposition to these draconian controls that can be used against angling. The details of the petition will then be made available to M.P.?s in both Norfolk and Suffolk, hopefully encouraging them to oppose further progress of the Bill through parliament.
If you are willing then please copy this to any other forums that you visit, thank you.
BROADS ANGLING UNDER THREAT
At this very moment a private Bill is going through Parliament. Called the Broads Authority Bill it contains some welcome and long overdue safety requirements for the boating fraternity. But, as ever, angling gets a poor deal. The Chief Executive of the Broads Authority has stated that the Bill is of ?no interest to anglers?. Angling most certainly is interested, and concerned.
The Broads is a tidal waterway, plain and simple. Anglers have, for centuries, had the right to cast a line pretty much where and when they wish. But these common law rights and practices are under serious threat under the terms of the proposed Broads Bill. Quite clearly the Bill would give the Broads Authority the ability to control where and when anglers go fishing. The majority of successful Broads anglers do so from a boat, and ?special directions? would allow a Navigation Ranger the power to move an angler on from their chosen location, and to do so without specific reason.
During the summer many of us go angling at the crack of dawn, partly to avoid the holiday boat traffic, but also because it a good time to cast a line. Most of us do so with consideration to those who slumber on, but the Authority is asking for the ability to control boat traffic, either by closing a stretch of river or by quite simply telling us that we may not navigate at that time. They wish to be able to tell us when and where we can go.
The bank angler is also subject to the Nanny State?s desire to control everything that we do. Who would have thought that an angler?s rod could be seen as an obstruction to navigation? Well, there are folk on the Broads that do, and Broads Rangers who have made it clear that they would like the power to be able to restrict the length of anglers? rods and poles. The proposed Broads Bill will allow them that power.
The details of the Bill are in the public domain for all those who wish to read them. Many of the clauses are wide open to interpretation, and there lies the problem. How might the Bill be used against angling, not only now, but also in the future?
This is one time when anglers need to support each other. The Broads is an angler?s paradise, one that attracts tens of thousands each year. The present administration may not have a stated anti-angling agenda, but there is a strong conservation lobby within the Broads Authority. The wording of the Bill is loose, too loose. In a nutshell it could be used against angling with devastating effect.
The Broads Bill has already been opposed in Parliament, it must be opposed again. Whilst no one expects the Prime Minister to oppose the Bill, we all have the ability to ask him to do so via an ?E-Petition?, and to see that relevant M.P.s made aware of it. Details of the E-Petition are here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BroadsBill/
Please sign, please register your opposition to these draconian controls that can be used against angling. The details of the petition will then be made available to M.P.?s in both Norfolk and Suffolk, hopefully encouraging them to oppose further progress of the Bill through parliament.
If you are willing then please copy this to any other forums that you visit, thank you.