Bag of dead fish dumped in park

The new pastime of fishing in the park lake has caused an outcry from residents concerned that birds may be caught up in line or swallow hooks.

But Rother council is powerless to stop the practice as there are no by-laws restricting fishing.

Last month parks officer Richard Griffiths said park rangers had been asked to try and discourage anglers and suggest somewhere more suitable.

Fishing in the park is a modern phenomenon and has arisen since the lakes are now fed by sea water. Small amounts of fish are believed to have entered the water system when it is "changed" at high tide.

Rother council leader Graham Gubby said it cost a great deal of money to bring in by-laws and he hoped they could solve the problem by education and co-operation.

Park rangers was a new innovation and by patrolling Egerton Park more he believed they would be able to dissuade people from fishing there.

He urged the public to report to the council or the police if they came across anyone fishing in the park lake.

Cllr Gubby felt they should not over-react by being heavy handed but approach the problem by advising and educating on the risks of losing their fishing tackle.

"It is much more of a worry to me the effects this can have on the swans and geese and other wild life," he said.