New law will stop park fishing

New measures agreed unanimously by Rother cabinet on Monday are aimed at protecting all wildlife.

Council leader Cllr Graham Gubby told the Observer three weeks ago that he was proposing to take action following reports of dead and mutilated fish being found beside the park lakes. Since then, staff have struggled to free one of the park's five cygnets which was being strangled by fishing line.

Monday's cabinet meeting at Battle voted to recommend the full council to introduce an additional byelaw.

A ban on fishing was not included when the existing byelaws were drawn up in 1996.

But since then drainage improvements have improved the water quality and fish have returned to the lakes.

Cllr Gubby told colleagues: "There have been some fairly disturbing incidents over recent weeks.

"Because of the way the park is now drained and refilled, it means we have got a healthy water source. But it has meant that it has caught the attention of people who hadn't been treating the fish kindly and putting them back.

"There is also the problem where fishing equipment has been left discarded. But without some form of jurisdiction the park officers can't act.

"We want to protect not just the fish but the other wildlife as well."

Director of resources Joy Cooper said that, if agreed, the new byelaw could be introduced for less than 500, principally the cost of the necessary Public Notices.