|
Newsletter November 2003
No point in telling you the website is up and running. The principal aim is
to attract new members. (We have already had a couple) It may also be developed
for other reasons including to give details of new waters, unplanned water
closures and working party arrangements.
The website needs photographs of outstanding catches, specimen and record
fish with details of who what and where caught etc. These can be e-mailed to the
webmaster. Or sent by post with a stamped, addressed envelope, if you want them
returned.
AGM
Advanced notice is given to members that the AGM is likely to be on Wednesday
14th January 2004. The date and venue will be confirmed early in the New Year.
Members are further reminded that any proposals for amendment of the rules or
nominations for officers or committee members should be received by the
Secretary before 1st December 2003.
Incident at Ironbridge Downstream on 21st August 2003
We received notification from one of our landowners that a Red Vauxhall
Astra Estate, R715 MDY, had been driven onto his land down to the end
of our water. It just so happened that the landowner had left the gate open
because they were holding some function in the field. The police were
called and they managed to ascertain it was an angler but would not disclose who
it was.
The landowner was not amused by this incident and we came very close to
losing the water as a result of this.
Please be aware, it is not permitted for anyone to drive their car onto the
land adjacent to our waters (except for disabled members with prior authority at
Ripe and in suitable weather conditions at Batbrook).
If anyone is caught doing this, they will be expelled from SAA with immediate
effect. If anyone knows who owns the above vehicle, please contact any officer
or committee member.
Starting next year, we will be asking members to advise us of the number
plates of their vehicles. This is primarily to be able to demonstrate in
instances such as these, that it was not one of our members. Our water share
partners will be contacted in this regard as well.
Hastings Model Flying Club Ltd.
You probably know that this club (HMFC) flies model planes from the first
field upstream from Middle Bridge on the east bank. They do in fact own the
land. There have been a number of instances already this year when the models
have crashed, both into the water and on the bank, whilst our members have been
fishing there.
Because of the recent instances, and because we believe the risk to our
members is currently unacceptable, we have been in correspondence with HMFC
since May of this year. There is no intention on our part to try and stop them
flying, but we do hope that our efforts will ensure that they act more
responsibly than to date. We are about to meet face to face with HMFC to discuss
this matter further.
In the meantime, we have suggested a number of measures that we have
undertaken to help mitigate the risk of a serious accident. They are as follows.
(a) We will not fish near the take off/landing zone currently marked, if we
can fish elsewhere,
(b) We will advise HMFC in advance when competitions are planned to be held,
as on these occasions it is not always practicable for us to avoid using the
current take off/Landing zone.
In return we have asked that HMFC check to see if anyone is fishing in the
direct line of their take off zone and, if there is, to suggest that they move.
(HMFC have advised that they have done this in the past and have in return been
verbally abused by our members - this is not acceptable behaviour)
All members are required to cooperate in applying these
measures
Failure to do so, you will undermine the efforts to date of
both clubs and the Committee may need to consider disciplinary action against
offenders.
Finally on this issue, if you are present whilst HMFC are flying
and there is or are incidents of the models crashing either on our bank or in
the water, the Committee needs to know about it. Please pass on the details to
the Treasurer.
Specimen Forms and Record Fish
With immediate effect, Tom Wood has relinquished his role as
Trophy Steward and the post will now be assumed by Steve Izzard. Both returned
Trophies and Specimen Forms should forthwith be given to Steve directly or via
Tony at Polegate Angling Centre.
We thank Tom and his father Eric for all the work have
carried out managing the trophies and determining award winners.
Please remember that all trophies must be returned to Steve by
1st February 2004, in fair condition. Trophies should be cleaned and polished
before they are returned.
The address for specimen forms is:-
Mr S Izzard, 5 Harebeating Drive, Hailsham,
East Sussex, BN27 1HP - Tel.01323 848722
Fishing during the Close Season
There have been a number of instances during this year's close
season of anglers fishing on non-enclosed waters between 15th March and 15th
June. It is not suspected that these anglers are SAA members. Particular targets
appear to be Middle Bridge during school half terms.
As you should be aware, only enclosed waters such as ponds can
be legally fished during this period of closure and only then subject to the
wishes of the landowner. Anyone caught can be heavily fined.
If you see anyone fishing SAA waters during the 'rivers'
close season you should phone the
Environment Agency on 01323 762691 (Pevensey District
Offices).
Incident at Batbrook Pond
There is no pleasant way to address this. We have had an
incident where a member has been seen by our landowner defecating on or near
our water. You may or may not know that this in itself is a criminal
offence. It goes without saying however, that this behaviour is totally
unacceptable and that anyone identified as having done this will be expelled
from the club.
Pevensey Haven
We have had one or two unfortunate and avoidable incidents on
this water over the past couple of years. As many of you will know, the
landowner now runs a boot fair in the first field nearest the by-pass. These
usually occur on a Saturday. As entrance and egress from this field is
effectively via the lay-by near to our entrance, there is concern that firstly,
our members may block or impede access and secondly, that our members cars could
inadvertently be damaged by cars entering and leaving. As the lay-by is often
the target for fly-tippers, the space for parking can be limited. This often
leads to members parking near the entrance gate.
The advice to members fishing here, particularly on a Saturday,
is:-
1. Consider parking on the grass verges
nearby, instead of in the lay-by,
2. If you must park in the lay-by, position
your car considerately as far from the first field as practicable. Also park as
near to the wooden fence as you can (rather than out further towards the road.)
3. DO NOT Block or impede access through the
gate,
4. For those of you who would not like the
noise and disturbance associated with a busy boot fair, fish somewhere else!
5. If you happen to be approached by the landowner (at any time
on any water), be polite and helpful. If you are not we will be faced with
either having to give up this water or cancelling your membership.
The Water at Golden Cross
| 
