Licence Increase

The Environment Agency has increased the cost of angling for disabled and elderly people. This will net at least £600,000 in additional revenue. The EA has repeatedly stated its commitment to spending £300,000 improving access to fisheries, but has not confirmed that this is new money. In various statements and correspondence, the EA seems to suggest that it has already been spending £300,000 on access (though the definition of access is unclear). BDAA is unable to identify where this has significantly benefited disabled accessibility and is not aware of any strategic plan to address the future development of improved disabled and family access.

The BDAA and Dreamstore made a formal objection to the increase in Licence Fee, and the EA has done nothing to justify that objection being taken off the table. At the time of rising prices, and with limited opportunity for positive recreation on an equal basis, the rise in Rod Licence cost for disabled and elderly can only be described as mean.

To date there is only one Platinum (BDAA Approved Fishery Award Scheme) Fishery in the UK, Teglan Fisheries in Wales. For more information on the BDAA AFAS go to www.dreamstore.org/afas/ A fishery best suited for family access will be a managed facility, with the following characteristics:

• Accessibility to the fishery / Surfaces
• Car parking
• Toilets
• Café
• Shop
• Fish-ability
• Large percentage of accessible pegs (not single token peg)
• Cleanliness
• Personal service
• Attention to Environment
• Transport logistics / Location
• Coaching and inclusion programmes.

BDAA