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Posted by David Kemper (davidkemper@midlanddryerservices.freeserve.co.uk) (from 62.255.26.172) on 13 September, 2001 at 19:37
Copied below is a message from a waterways newsgroup. Are we as paddlers going to be affected and if so should we put our veiws forward?
Comments please
David kemper
"Paul E. Bennett" <peb@amleth.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:<1000152757snz@amleth.demon.co.uk>...
> On Sunday I was in the Barge Inn at Honeystreet on the K&A and saw the
> following letter floating around the pub's clientelle (mostly boaters).
> I am, without BW's permission, posting the text of that missive here for
> comment and to give it broader scope than seems to have been allowed
> given the admitted low number of snail-mail postings. I am also posting
> a response by Paul Morris <mrmorris19@hotmail.com> (with his consent)
> to fuel the debate. Paul's response gets a bit ranty but you will get
> the gist of his message I am sure.
>
> My own views on this proposal is that the it seems disproportionate
> treatment of boaters and anglers in comparision to respective
> fees and the mandatory costs incurred. When there are many anglers who
> are breaking the rules that exist (fishing in locks and at lock entrances
> and within bridge holes or winding holes - seemingly with impunity) then
> proposals like this should be resisted, especially as it seems to be
> circulated to such a limited audience and at such short notice - note
> the dates please.
>
> ********************************[%X]********************************
>
> BW "Angling Only Lengths" The Kennet & Avon Canal. A consultation
> paper issued 30th August 2001.
>
> Background,
> On completion of the Kennet & Avon Canal's Heritage Lottery funded project
> December 2002 in excess of 5,500m of formal visitor moorings will have been
> created.
>
> These comprise a piled edge, finished with Eki timber fendering, 900mm depth
> of water, mooring rings, turfed edge and posts indicating duration.
>
> We also plan to install notice boards indicating where the nearest
> facilities and next adjoining visitor moorings and other services exist and
> most locations will include rubbish disposal facilities.
>
> The very nature of this facility suggests an accommodation for moored boats
> and experience is showing that these locations are for the majority of the
> time occupied by visiting boats.
>
> Most locations have been identified due to access, local facilities or
> attractions and by their very nature are adjacent to local communities and
> road access.
>
> The majority of the length of the K&A on the towpath side is either let to
> angling clubs for fishing rights or in some locations owned outright by
> angling clubs or land owners where historically fisshing rights exist. Many
> of the locations where visitor moorings have been constructed previously
> offered easy access for anglers, offering particularly easy and safe
> positions for children and disabled anglers.
>
> The presence of boats or expectation of boaters to be able to moor up at
> these locations often presents a conflict.
>
> Proposal.
> It is proposed to install "angling only" lengths of a similar length and
> immediately adjacent to visitor moorings.
>
> These locations will be maintained in a way to provide safe access and use
> by anglers of all abilities. This will include bank protection of various
> types, including hazel faggoting, permanently identified peg locations and
> sympathetic posts/signage indicating "Angling Only" position.
>
> Remaining lengths will be available for all purposes on a first come first
> served basis although there are times when local a angling club arranges an
> angling match that they locally sign and request boaters not to moor. This
> appears to have worked satisfactorily in the past and is not proposed to be
> changed.
>
> Consultation Period.
> This consultation paper has been widely distributed to over 200
> individuals/organisations representing wide interests on the Kennet & Avon
> Canal and will be debated at the Kennet & Avon Canal User Forum on 12th
> September.
>
> Views and comments are requested to be returned to M. Goodenough, Waterway
> Manager - British Waterways, The Locks, Bath Road, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10
> 1HB by Tuesday 30th October.
>
> A paper reflecting the summary of views received will be published by 31st
> December with a proposal to move this forward.
>
> ********************************[%X]********************************
> The reponse to BW by Paul Morris <mrmorris19@hotmail.com>
> ********************************[%X]********************************
> Dear Sir,
>
> In response to the British Waterways latest proposal for "angling only
> lengths" it seems to me that boaters rights or lack of them account for
> nothing....! This latest proposal seems to me to indicate that boaters
> in general are a nuisance to the canal. Are British Waterways aware that
> in the later part of the 18th century this is in fact the reason the canal
> exists at all? I don't fancy you would have found such a proposal on the
> agenda then..! the fact is that in any one year I myself am expected to
> pay my licence UKP502, boat safety certificate UKP90.00, insurance for
> the boat UKP98.00 a total of UKP690.
>
> I would guess that anglers pay only a fraction of this perhaps as little
> as UKP20.00 so how is it that they have any say in the matter at all..???
> Also in your letter/memo you mention the word conflict, in my experience
> the only conflict is from anglers themselves, I myself have witnessed rude
> and abusive behaviour from anglers and this is coming from somebody
> who used to fish the canal. I always slow down for anglers and indeed
> pass the time of day but I could not say the same about them, what about
> all the litter empty tins and general rubbish after fishing matches....?
> not to mention all the dead fish..! Also there is the wildlife to think
> about only the other day I myself had to help a Moorhen out of a tree
> bound by fishing line and this is not the first time this has happened.
>
> There is also the issue of cyclists I myself have been unable to cycle
> to my own boat due to the amount of poles bags etc. all over the towpath
> or should we now call it the anglers path...! as horses are no longer
> allowed to use it..! Don't you think that British Waterways and perhaps
> Kennet District Council should pay some more attention to the issues of
> dogs mess "the amount of dogs mess along the canal these days is
> absolutely disgusting you try walking along the towpath at night and
> get into your boat only to find you have walked it right through the
> whole boat a most unpleasant experience I can tell you.
>
> Its about time somebody did something about that, these silly little
> signs along the canal nobody takes any notice of them and a so called
> UKP1000 finehas anybody ever been fined ..? I will close on the fact
> that in your letter it says and I quote "This consultation paper has
> been widely distributed to over 200 individuals/organisations representing
> wide interests on the Kennet & Avon canal. Who are these people..? because
> most of the people I have spoken to know nothing about it. So dont you
> think it would be better to write to all boaters in response to this
> matter...?
>
>
> --
> ********************************************************************
> Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@amleth.demon.co.uk>
> Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/>
> Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 .........NOW AVAILABLE:- HIDECS COURSE......
> Tel: +44 (0)1235-814586 .... see http://www.feabhas.com for details.
> Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk..
> ********************************************************************
>
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