Language barrier to fishing regulations
THE number of fish in Maid- stone’s rivers is decreasing be- cause Eastern Europeans are unable to read “no fishing” signs written in English. That is the view
of chairman of the River Len Nature Reserve manage- ment committee Cllr Tony Har- wood (pictured), who said he has had numerous complaints from residents, an- glers and councillors about men fishing without licences and during the close season when fish are breeding. Cllr Harwood said: “At the
River Len Nature Reserve I move on Eastern European (unauthorised) anglers regu- larly, and it is clear from our conversations that both cultur- ally and in administrative terms the individuals involved have no concept of licensing, nature conservation or welfare issues. “Our watercourses, particu-
larly small ones such as the Loose Stream and River Len, cannot support such attrition.” Live baiting for pike is taking
place within the River Len Na- ture Reserve, young fish are being captured from the Arch- bishop’s Palace grounds to pro- vide live-bait for pike fishing, and eel and pike are being taken from the Robins and Day millpond near Mill Street, Cllr
TENSIONS between residents and those in charge of the YMCA sports ground in Mel- rose Close, Loose, appear to have eased after meeting to dis- cuss floodlighting. In January the planning com- mittee voted to defer an appli- cation to discharge conditions regarding floodlighting and perimeter fencing, after neigh- bours said the lighting was ex- cessive. In 2007, planning permission was granted for 83 dwellings, a replacement com- munity centre and junior foot- ball pitch, provided certain conditions were met. Asite meeting involving local councillors appeared to address the issue of lighting, and it was established that the levels were within guidance provided by the Institute of Light Engineers.
Musicians compete EIGHT talented teenagers will battle to become Maidstone and Mid Kent’s Young Musician of the Year at the Hazlitt Arts Cen- tre on Wednesday, May 1. The competition is organised by the Rotary clubs of Maidstone and Maidstone Dawn Patrol. Tickets are £10 for adults £10 and £4 for students. Call 01622 758611.
Harwood said. Brown trout are being fished
from Loose Stream at Cave Hill, and pike and eel are being taken from the River Medway, in the town centre, Tovil and Ringle- stone, and private land such as Langley Loch. Cllr Harwood said the fishing
issue combined with “home smokeries” appearing in peo- ple’s gardens was leading to “problematic” relationships be- tween Eastern Europeans and indigenous anglers, residents and nature lovers. He added: “The key issue is
the education of fisherman from migrant communities with a tra- dition of eating freshwater fish.” The Angling Trust Voluntary Bailiff Service, working with the Environment Agency, has produced a poster spelling out the “no fishing” rules in Eng- lish, Lithuanian, Slovenian, Polish and Romanian. The max- imum penalty for fishing with- out a licence is £2,500 but fishing out of season could cost fishermen up to £50,000. Anyone who spots anglers fishing during the close season (March 15 to June 15) can report them to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. Multi- lingual posters can be down- loaded at
www.anglingtrust.net by clicking on Campaigns and selecting Building Bridges Proj- ect: Eastern European Anglers.
Sports club lighting row eases
Galamast, the applicant, also agreed to plant a hedge of west- ern red cedar along the south- ern boundaries of the sports pitch to screen homes in West- wood Road, Anglesey Avenue and Sky Close. Cllr Ian Chittenden, who had
been involved in negotiations, said: “We have reached the end of the road on this one. Neigh- bours are still not happy, but we really have no choice but to ac- cept what he have. “The lighting has been con- firmed as meeting regulations and there is much better com- munication now between neighbours and the YMCA.” Eleven committee members
voted in favour of discharging the conditions, with Cllr Mike Hogg and Cllr Chittenden ab- staining.
Yes to taxi and salon BOB Veitch of Apollo Taxis has been given planning permis- sion for the mixed use of a building in Week Street for a hairdressers and taxi booking office. His application said 4 Brenchley House could be used “solely for one of the purposes, therefore permission is needed for both purposes”.
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330 Town 13
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