Councillor hits out at treatment of town fishermen

Cllr Simon Fyfe said the pursuit of the fishermen by Arun District Council should lead to its chief executive being considered for the sack.

In hard-hitting comments, Cllr Fyfe used Monday's meeting of Bognor Regis Town Council to strongly criticise Arun's approach to the fishermen and their site on the beach immediately east of the pier.

"I would urge the fishermen, through their legal representatives, to contact the government Ombudsman," he stated.

Cllr Fyfe called for a letter to be sent from the town council to Mr Sumnall to demand a meeting before Christmas to resolve the row and make clear the discontent at the way chief executive Ian Sumnall has handled the situation.

Councillors agreed to pass the matter on to their environment and leisure committee to consider at next Monday's meeting.

The dispute between the fishermen and Arun began after an accident on the foreshore 22 months ago.

The rope the fishermen were using to winch a boat ashore snapped.

It hit two members of the public without causing any injuries.

Arun started legal proceedings against the fishermen.

The case was adjourned by a judge at Chichester because of a lack of time for the fishermen to prepare their defence.

A second hearing was held earlier this year and Judge Barratt QC ordered an independent health and safety expert to compile report about the fishermen's practices.

A further court hearing was due to be held last September to consider the report.

This has not taken place.

Cllr Fyfe said the assessment was carried out in the autumn. The report had been issued to the court, Arun and the fishermen.

"With the exception of a few minor points, the report is mainly in favour of the fishermen and is in support of their current practices," stated Cllr Fyfe.

He said a meeting was due to be held between Arun and the fishermen to discuss the report but this had yet to take place.

The likely venue was Arun's offices in Littlehampton.

He accused Arun of delaying the meeting by 'making further inquiries of the independent assessor's report' contrary to an earlier statement by Mr Sumnall that he would abide by the conclusions.

Arun had spent 14,000 on the matter up to June this year. Costs of a further 10,000-plus had been incurred by the fishermen, he added.