Not sure if a thread has already been started regarding this issue. This month's FF&FT along with Saturdays telegraph mentions recent developments with Severn Trent Waters new rules regarding bank anglers. Sadly they are banning them from fishing 2/3 of the bank as they are concerned their back-casts may hit walkers; and this is despite the fact there has never been a case in 40 years! In addition they are banning fishing on the dam wall as it is dangerous on account of tripping over the stones! Sadly it is yet another feather in the cap for our Health & Safety mob and it's a matter of time before we fish with only a piece of wool on the end of our leaders!!
On the other hand it may be a sneaky and devious way to force bank anglers to cough up and pay for the use of a boat.
Whatever, it all feels as though fishing continues to get a raw deal and our wings continue to be clipped.

its getting beyond belief ,soon we will be needing a firearms certificate for launching a projectile (lure etc) above the stated legal feet per second by generating extra line speed through double hauling !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Have a look at the following link, may bring you up to date

Foremark Lease Up for Grabs!!

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Included in our day ticket fishing are the waters through Bakewell. 150 yards or so, along a promenade, are so busy at times people have to shuffle to get past each other. There are always numbers of people up and down through the day. We have never had a case where a member of the public has been hooked despite it being regularly fished. Under no circumstances will I give up the rights here, although I have been asked on many occasions. Much good comes from the interaction between anglers and the public, especially the young children. In any case once it is given up, it is unlikely to ever be resurrected.

I worked at a paper mill near Sheffield that had three small reservoirs stocked with fish. Local anglers had fished them for donkey's years, without any problems, until one female jobsworth in the HR department, out to score a few Brownie Points, pointed out that "some-one could fall in and drown".

Despite having lifebuoys around the reservoirs and the fact that there only needed to be signs put up disclaiming liability the 'elf and safety committee convened, assessed the potential hazards, and duly decided that the risk was too great.

Fishing was banned! The same outcome could apply to any stretch of water, once these lunatics get involved.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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I'll post any updates that I get on this to the foremark thread.
However there is light at the end of the tunnel as I have had a response from the HSE and as directed by the HSE - yesterday I formally requested STW's Risk assesments that define the risks associated to foremark - I am awaiting their response
As a point of advice.
If any company tries to produce Angling bans on H&S grounds, that are not statistically founded, then get in touch with the HSE, via their website. They will explore the issue and offered us sound advice on this matter as 'in most cases it is companies acting on H&S myth's rather than sensibly applying proceedure' - (Their words not mine)

Nice one!

Buzzerman,
I've commented on the Foremark thread - I wasn't aware of the Foremark lease issue, having not fished there - but I recently read the idiotic STW H&S story regarding Foremark and it bugs me that the same idiotic approach to H&S is why wading is banned at Carsiongton Only a matter of time before they probably try and kill off more bank space at Carsington too, on footpath H&S grounds. Since I'm still a shareholder thanks to a previous job, I'll also e-mail them via their investor centre and make the same request for a copy of their risk assessment, plus express my feelings. If there are other ST shareholders on here, perhaps they would do likewise? Saying that, don't expect any ST Risk Assessments to bear much relation to the real world or you might be dissapointed! Next thing they will be enforcing reverse parking on their car parks too, like they do at their sites.....meaning you can't get your gear out of the boot. The sad thing is they take a serious issue like H&S and turn it into a joke. If they put as much effort into other business areas perhaps the shares would be worth a bit more and the service would be a bit better

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many thanks JeffR. I agree if there are more shareholders then please get you complaints in. If we can add shareholder pressure to the campaign then they have to start to listen..
Also radio derby are covering it at 7:30 tomorrow morning. STW invited to turn up as being the BBC they do want a balanced approach.. We will have to wait and see if they send someone.

Publicity hotting up. If anyone can please send a fresh round of complaints regarding the bank fishing. Send to

customer.relations@severntrent.co.uk

Here's the Beeb link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/d...re/7896540.stm