Newsletter Sep 2018 Distributed to all Subscribers,Members & Directors
A lot has been happening since the last newsletter, as we grow our team of volunteers and develop our strategy following your input to the Survey. We currently have 58 volunteers engaged with the Group, and this newsletter now reaches over 580 people.
Our Structure
The driving force in taking forward our strategy will be the sub-committees we have agreed – Sustainability, Access, Environment and Education, Wensum supported by a Financial Committee and a Governance Board. See below for their officers, priorities, and progress to date.
Vision and Aims
We presented our Aims and Vision at the launch event back in May, together with the revised Broads Angling Strategy, and these are available to view here link.
We want to ensure that we have a set of achievable aims, for the short, medium and long term that people can relate to.
Engaging with local clubs
One of the key outcomes from the launch event was an approach from many of the Broads angling clubs. The clubs feel that their own future – and the future of Broads angling – now rests with the BASG. What this means and how we respond to this will be the subject of further consultation.
Tony Gibbons has arranged a meeting with local Broads angling clubs on the 2 October at the Canary Social Club at 104 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RT from 7pm, anyone with an interest in the future of Broads angling is welcome to come along and take part in the discussion. Please email Tony Gibbons if you wish to attend so we can gauge numbers. Tony Email [email protected]
Angling Trust Regional Forum comes to Norwich
Oaklands Hotel, 89 Yarmouth Rd, Norwich NR7 0HH is the venue for this year’s annual forum on 26 September, starting at 7pm. To register click here
Items on the agenda include the following:
- Coarse Fish Closed Season
Since the responses have come in from the 20,000 rod licence holders surveyed on the matter, The Environment Agency have planned a full consultation into the future of the closed season. We will be debating this issue and want to hear your opinions!
- BASG
An update from Kelvin Allen on progress since its formation on Dec 2017.
- Environment Agency Fisheries Team to report on the following:
Northern Broads fish tracking/tagging project, see how far bream can move in a day!
Enforcement
Fishery Improvement Programme Projects
NEWS FROM OUR SUB-GROUPS
-Access sub-group
Chair Duncan Holmes
V Chair Steve Roberts
Secretary Mark Symonds
Trinity Broads (Lead Duncan Holmes and John Kiernan)
We were notified via NWT that the Broads Authority intended to remove the angling platforms from Rollesby Broad in mid-August, having failed to establish ownership with Rollesby PC and NWT.
We have managed to suspend the planned removal of these assets, which appear to be in good condition and well used. BASG is planning to take ownership of these assets. This may be the first , of many more across the Broads since BA and others wish to remove themselves of these liabilities.
This is a major step for BASG in resolving sustainability of assets providing access for anglers. However, we need to think carefully about how we fund these going forward.
Slipways (Lead Duncan Holmes and Terry Kett)
The Group has initiated a project to define and scope the current and future provision of slipways for small boats. This was a major issue highlighted within the Angling Survey, and we would like to have at least two proposals defined and costed as ‘on the shelf’ project proposals ready for potential grant applications.
Whitlingham (Lead Kelvin Allen and Nick Cheeseman)
Our Chairman Kelvin has been appointed as a Trustee and Director of Whitlingham Charitable Trust.
This brings the ‘angler’s voice’ to the table for what has the potential to become Norwich’s premium outdoor centre and Country Park.
Speeding of large craft endangering small craft users (Lead Duncan Holmes)
BASG is to formally raise the issue with BA of the risk to small craft users on (mainly) the River Yare from excessive speeding and wash from large craft within the unrestricted speeding areas around Brundall and downstream on the River Yare.
We recommend that all users of small craft are aware of this potential risk from wash and should wear life jackets at all times.
Broads Bank Access (Lead Duncan Holmes and Tony Gibbons)
Tony has defined 13 bank access points where angling has previously been available, but has subsequently been lost. These locations have been input into the Broads Authority Local Access Forum as part of their current consultation on access to the Broads. A typical example being access to the River Ant downstream of the Irstead Car Park.
Broads Open Access (Lead Duncan Holmes and TBC)
The Group is to scope a project to define the current 788ha of open water across 45 Broads in terms of access to angling and the public.
–Wensum Working Group
Chair Kelvin Allen
V Chair Roger Gibbons
Secretary Kelvin Allen
The Wensum working group met on the 23 July and mapped out several projects for the future.
These range from Silt Traps and Off Channel Refuges to gaining an understanding from the Avon Roach Project team on how to manage roach stocks in an SAC.
Cormorant management (Lead Roger Gibbons)
Roger is working with Angling Trust FMA Jake Davoile to scope current licencing and to identify gaps for introducing additional potential licences would provide benefit.
Water Quality Monitoring (Lead Roger Gibbons and Colin Howett)
This project aims to close gaps in our understanding of the effects of chemical pollutants with the deployment of two sondes funded by NRT.
Two areas of the river have been identified for potential projects:
Elsing Mill to Lyng Mill for habitat works and the Roach Project (Lead Tim Ellis)
Hellesden Mill to Sweet Briar Road for improvement and provision of access for angling (Lead Nick Cheeseman and Lloyd Collier)
Lenwade RDF planning application
After months of deliberation and lobbying, the Planning Inspectorate granted the applicant permission on appeal on the 22 Aug. This is subject to the additional conditions on surface water drainage. There remain some major concerns over the likely pollution from any fire event, which remains subject to an environment permit and the 2nd planning application being heard on the 14th Sep.
–Environment Group
Chair John Currie
V Chair TBC
Secretary David Todd
Fisheries Task Force (Lead David Todd)
The formation of a fisheries task group to undertake on-the-ground actions associated with Prymnesium, Salinity and Tagging programs is a key priority for the Group. A number of people have undertaken this over recent years. We want to structure this with user groups, using social media alerts when problems arise.
Salinity Modelling (Lead Simon Slater)
Simon has gathered a rather large dataset from the EA and others in an attempt to model the effects of low flow and tidal surges causing high levels of salinity in the river Yare. It’s evident that when freshwater flows are under 2CMecs the river is more prone to high salinity levels.
-Sustainability Group
Chair Kelvin Allen
V Chair TBC
Secretary TBC
Donation Scheme (Lead Kelvin Allen)
A number of items are coming together to enable the Group to launch a donation scheme using the localgiven.org portal. We hope to have this running by October.
Broads Fishery Passport (Lead Kelvin Allen Tim Coleman)
We continue to scope the requirements for piloting this, potentially on the Wensum, working with Norwich City Council and gaining new access alongside Hellesdon Road.
Safety Management System (Lead Kelvin Allen David Miller)
A new Safety Management System covering risk assessment and activities undertaken by the Group is currently under review. The Rollesby platforms issue has made this a key structure to have in place prior to taking ownership of these assets.
Membership Management (Lead Allan Kirby)
We are pleased that Allan has offered to become our membership lead with the vital role of keeping volunteers informed and engaged. The Group believes that the formation of a specific media focus group to help define and develop a media and communications strategy is a key component of today’s business.
Education Group
We have been unable to find a suitable date for all the folks wanting to focus on this area. This is something we will pick up in the next few months.
-Rivers Yare, Bure and Waveney Groups
We still have a vision to gain some momentum on these upstream rivers, but currently our resources haven’t enabled us to reach out to these locations.
Faithfully – Members of the Broads Angling Services Group, A Community Interest Company.
