*** UPDATE ***
The council have made a decision and after much opposition have decided NOT to go ahead with their proposed plans.
Thank you to everyone who has shown their support, and to all those that signed this petition and shared their concerns.
***PETITION IS NOW CLOSED***
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you are aware West Somerset Council have proposed to enforce a charge to fish either Minehead or Watchet harbour walls.
Fishing at both these marks has been FREE for many years and charging people to use the harbour wall for fishing will have a notable knock on affect on tourism and local businesses.
Both harbours are "working" harbours and are not "pleasure" piers so please do not treat them as such.
Sign this petition to have your voice heard and express your concerns.
*** Please keep your comments clean and constructive, abusive or unacceptable comments will be removed. ***
//UPDATE 12/12/17
We are currently at 158 signatures which is great, thank you to all those that have signed and shared this petition, hopefully tomorrow we can reach our target of 250.
//UPDATE 13/12/17 @ 19:00
The council have made a decision and after much opposition have decided NOT to go ahead with their proposed plans.
Thank you to everyone who has shown their support, and to all those that signed this petition and shared their concerns.
***PETITION IS NOW CLOSED***
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 13, 2017
December 12, 2017
The level of engagement this petition has received highlights how deeply this community values our local harbours. This collective response demonstrates that our concerns carry significant weight with those in positions of authority.
Reached 100 supporters
December 12, 2017
December 10, 2017
We are approaching the milestone of one hundred signatures for this campaign. Please circulate this petition within your local networks to help us reach that figure quickly.
161 Comments
I often fish Watchet and surrounding areas and while there I buy bait and kit from the tackle shop, teas and breakfast from the cafes and have pub meals and my family and I visit many shops but if a fishing tax is put on me I will find other places to visit and spend my money!
Please don't do this, these are free local things to do and at best only for a few hours each high water. This would need policing and paying someone anti social rates of pay to collect a couple of £5 would not cover the wage and as such cost the council money
The wording of the proposal is "to provide a safe position to fish from". The number of recorded incidents is minimal and cannot therefore justify such a draconian measure. What are they intending to provide with the fees?
My father and his brother use this venue regularly as they are elderly and find it the easiest place for them to enjoy their favourite hobby. Please don’t make them pay for a privilege that has been free for all of their lives!
The harbour is a perfect place to introduce people to angling promote safety and responsibility charging will drive them onto beaches which can be more dangerous and will have a noticeable impact on tourism which will impact businesses in the harbour area
Minehead harbour has encouraged many generations of fishermen who started as children dangling their rods advised by others as to what to do.. Charging will discourage the tradition of centuries!! A nice day go to harbour because you haven't paid a charge you can't fish or crab!! Not fair!!!
The council will gain more revenue from tourists visiting minehead with the plan of fishing the pier while they are on holiday which is part of many families booking plan when on their annual holiday
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*** UPDATE ***
The council have made a decision and after much opposition have decided NOT to go ahead with their proposed plans.
Thank you to everyone who has shown their support, and to all those that signed this petition and shared their concerns.
***PETITION IS NOW CLOSED***
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you are aware West Somerset Council have proposed to enforce a charge to fish either Minehead or Watchet harbour walls.
Fishing at both these marks has been FREE for many years and charging people to use the harbour wall for fishing will have a notable knock on affect on tourism and local businesses.
Both harbours are "working" harbours and are not "pleasure" piers so please do not treat them as such.
Sign this petition to have your voice heard and express your concerns.
*** Please keep your comments clean and constructive, abusive or unacceptable comments will be removed. ***
//UPDATE 12/12/17
We are currently at 158 signatures which is great, thank you to all those that have signed and shared this petition, hopefully tomorrow we can reach our target of 250.
//UPDATE 13/12/17 @ 19:00
The council have made a decision and after much opposition have decided NOT to go ahead with their proposed plans.
Thank you to everyone who has shown their support, and to all those that signed this petition and shared their concerns.
***PETITION IS NOW CLOSED***
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
December 13, 2017
December 12, 2017
The level of engagement this petition has received highlights how deeply this community values our local harbours. This collective response demonstrates that our concerns carry significant weight with those in positions of authority.
Reached 100 supporters
December 12, 2017
December 10, 2017
We are approaching the milestone of one hundred signatures for this campaign. Please circulate this petition within your local networks to help us reach that figure quickly.
161 Comments
The pier at watchet was such a great place for us as kids my brothers and I would spend days fishing and prawning from the pier during the summer holidays and in the winter when their is less to do in the area having a great place to fish from gave us something to occupy our time.
I often fish Watchet and surrounding areas and while there I buy bait and kit from the tackle shop, teas and breakfast from the cafes and have pub meals and my family and I visit many shops but if a fishing tax is put on me I will find other places to visit and spend my money!
Please don't do this, these are free local things to do and at best only for a few hours each high water. This would need policing and paying someone anti social rates of pay to collect a couple of £5 would not cover the wage and as such cost the council money
The wording of the proposal is "to provide a safe position to fish from". The number of recorded incidents is minimal and cannot therefore justify such a draconian measure. What are they intending to provide with the fees?
My father and his brother use this venue regularly as they are elderly and find it the easiest place for them to enjoy their favourite hobby. Please don’t make them pay for a privilege that has been free for all of their lives!
The harbour is a perfect place to introduce people to angling promote safety and responsibility charging will drive them onto beaches which can be more dangerous and will have a noticeable impact on tourism which will impact businesses in the harbour area
Minehead harbour has encouraged many generations of fishermen who started as children dangling their rods advised by others as to what to do.. Charging will discourage the tradition of centuries!! A nice day go to harbour because you haven't paid a charge you can't fish or crab!! Not fair!!!
The council will gain more revenue from tourists visiting minehead with the plan of fishing the pier while they are on holiday which is part of many families booking plan when on their annual holiday
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The pier at watchet was such a great place for us as kids my brothers and I would spend days fishing and prawning from the pier during the summer holidays and in the winter when their is less to do in the area having a great place to fish from gave us something to occupy our time.