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Shoebury lake's 20-year ban on fishing ends

11:40am Wednesday 2nd November 2011 in Southend By Stephen Hackwell

ANGLERS will be allowed to return to a Shoebury lake after a 20-year ban on fishing was lifted yesterday.

Southend Council’s Tory leadership agreed to remove the restrictions on the back lake in Friars Park.

The move followed a campaign by anglers and police, who said the presence of a permanent fishing club would help to prevent antisocial behaviour around the water.

Derek Jarvis, the Tory councillor responsible for tourism and culture, said: “I fully support this approach. It is something the police themselves have supported.”

Council chiefs imposed a ban on fishing the lake in 1991 after a swan was killed when it swallowed an angling hook.

Bosses agreed to reconsider after being approached by Jason York, a Shoebury resident, earlier this year.

But 120 residents had signed a petition calling for the ban to stay in place.

Comments(19)

S6girly says...
12:10pm Wed 2 Nov 11

I've lived facing on to Friar's Park for the last ten years and there has always been the odd bloke fishing there overnight. No-one asked me to sign any petition. Come to think of it, I wasn't aware of any ban in the first place either.

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Bonneville Bert says...
12:55pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Some nice tench in there!

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teyeagle says...
1:04pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Interesting that 120 members of the local community who opposed this decision have had their concerns over ruled!

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Blind Haze says...
1:28pm Wed 2 Nov 11

You must allow fishing in Friars Park. This will keep the fish population down. I can imagine that with each spawning, the lake becomes more and more over populated, and, although i can't be bothered to research this or do the maths, within 2-3 years, the lake would be overflowing with fish. With no room for fish and a rapidly increasing population growth rate, the only manner of survival would be evolution in ways we cannot determine. Hopefully these fish will simply grow wings or legs and learn to either fly or walk and integrate with every day society, however there is a more sinister possibility - the next generation of 'superfish' will grow to heights of 300ft and be born with rocket propelled nuclear missiles and attempt to overthrow us all. We will become a slave to the fish and our tenor at the top of the food chart and evolutionary scale will be at an end. We will be forced to do all sort of unimaginable things to appease our new rulers and their diet will include 'human and chips' for a Friday dinner. All hail the new fish Gods.

Or was that swans?

Either way, you have been warned.

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saddo99 says...
1:37pm Wed 2 Nov 11

A desperate shame. This is one of the nicest spots in Essex and the idiots who fish there ignore the no fishing signs anyway. Now we will have hoards of morons just like in Shoebury Park. Over several years many swans have been killed in Friars Park, not all by anglers, but it doesn't help that more people will leave their rubbish. Remember there is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot!

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alongtheway says...
2:34pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Does that mean that The Envoronment Agency will be checking for valid licences. No keep nets should be used and all hooks should be barbless. And to those who do fish- Take home your empty beer cans and other rubbish.

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pussycats says...
2:48pm Wed 2 Nov 11

WRONG decision. I frequent Friars Park on a regular basis. It "was" a beautiful, quiet and tranquill place with the odd Ignorant Angler fishing there, regardless of the ban. The ban should have stayed in place and those fishing, "caught". Jason York and your fishing friends, stick to Shoebury Park and leave Friars alone. More Anglers mean... more rubbish and more Swan and Duck deaths by fishing hooks and lines.

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toptech1911 says...
2:55pm Wed 2 Nov 11

I was the person that originally approached the council with the plan for these lakes. There is a lot more than what is in this article with regards to the improvements I have envisioned on these lakes and also, may i add, the surrounding area. It's not just about fishing, it is also about environmental issues that at present are rife with problems in this park and especially around these lakes. This is due mainly to the fact that it is not managed in any way shape or form. This will obviously be something that will need to be addressed immediately. The people that fish there currently are doing so illegally so therefore do you think they would be bothered to take their rubbish with them? Of course not. true anglers would not want to see debris strewn all over the place and it is those type of anglers which should be welcomed with open arms! I'm sorry that some of you think it is a bad idea, however, give it time and I am sure you will see the vast difference that the plans have in store. And to alongtheway, EA licenses should be checked at every water regardless of where they are. Also barbless hooks are a total must! Anyone fishing without those today are quite honestly morons in themselves! Keep nets shold never be used on any water that holds large fish, which this one does as the temptation to keep a large fish in a net until someone brings their camera over is way too high. With more litter bins and stricter guidelines surrounding the lakes i am sure the improvements will be just that, improvements.

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S6girly says...
3:05pm Wed 2 Nov 11

We live by the sea. Why the need to fish in a little pond anyway?

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toptech1911 says...
3:07pm Wed 2 Nov 11

pussycats wrote:
WRONG decision. I frequent Friars Park on a regular basis. It "was" a beautiful, quiet and tranquill place with the odd Ignorant Angler fishing there, regardless of the ban. The ban should have stayed in place and those fishing, "caught". Jason York and your fishing friends, stick to Shoebury Park and leave Friars alone. More Anglers mean... more rubbish and more Swan and Duck deaths by fishing hooks and lines.
I frequent Friars Park everyday and the amount of debris, fires and ASB is quite shocking!! It *could* be a beautiful park but not how it's being left to fend for itself at present. This issue has gone through a year of consultation after my partner and I got fed up picking everyone else's rubbish up from in the lakes, which may i add harm the wildlife as well. Sorry, but of the 4 swans that were at the park, one went missing and the other was shot by a yob! Where is that connected with fishing? There are plans to protect the wildlife from fishing lines etc etc. You don't know the full story as it's not been printed here but i assure you, as an animal lover with 4 dogs and six cats the last thing i would want to see is the wildlife hurt. Both me and my partner feed these wildlife everyday, but always on the front lake! That's where the ban will still remain and that's where the wildlife predominately reside.

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Madcatwoman says...
3:47pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Friars Park may have once been a beautiful place, but if you look hard enough it is in dire need of a clean up. Last year my dog cut her paw on rubbish that was found in the lake. We cannot blame all anglers for this. ABS is writh in this park. If you go into the wooded area you will see all the rubbish that has accumulated at the end of the back lake - that is not all due to anglers. People seem to have a habit of dropping litter when there is a bin only a few feet away. The idea of turning the back lake into a fishery is an excellent idea. Serious anglers are not likely to want to pollute the area with rubbish. At the moment people are fishing there illegally which is the reason that the problems have occurred as there is no deterrent or control. I am a fanatical animal lover and would oppose anything that I felt would impact on the wildlife in the park. With support of councils, environmental agencies, police, etc the park will be cleaned and improved and will make it a much more pleasant place for all people to frequent and hopefully drive out the nasty element of ASB as seen in previous months such as setting light to trees and bins.

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pussycats says...
4:07pm Wed 2 Nov 11

I agree that Friars Park, needs sorting, but allowing legal fishing, is not going to help. Anglers do not, police the area or in any way are concerned with the surrounding area. Hide away in their little "tents" oblivious to what's going on around them. If you want to feed the Swans and Ducks , like me, one is frowned upon for disturbing the water and for standing by the bank.
They do not catch the fish for food. They throw a line, catch fish and throw it back. Sad!
Would love to see the ASB and the Rubbish irradicated.
I would willingly be on a rota scheme, to help in this way.

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Madcatwoman says...
4:21pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Responsible anglers are concerned about their surroundings. In recent months I have witnessed anti social behaviour that is not related to anglers. Being on the Neighbhourhood Action panel, I speak with Shoebury Police and councillors who have all taken the matter seriously regarding the amount of ASB which takes place at Friars Park. You cannot blame the anglers for this. Just recently a rubbish bin by the front lake was set alight and thrown in the lake - no site of anglers there! The anglers will not be allowed on the front lake and therefore the swans and other wildlife will be protected and people will still be able to feed them when they wish to. A much more positive view needs to be taken on this by all. I am all for making Shoebury a pleasant place to live and enhance the valuable open spaces we have, let's face it we simply do not have enough and we need to take action to take responsibility to ensure these are a lovely place to visit. Investment will be made to make this a better place and I am sure that there will be bailiffs, all no doubt volunteers, policing the fishing. They will also be able to report ASB and get police response to the scene. I understand people have concerns about the issue but believe me having frequented this park since last September when I got my first dog and now have 4 I have noticed a rapid decline in the state of the park. All volunteers wishing to join in the clean up will no doubt be welcome.

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toptech1911 says...
4:34pm Wed 2 Nov 11

pussycats wrote:
I agree that Friars Park, needs sorting, but allowing legal fishing, is not going to help. Anglers do not, police the area or in any way are concerned with the surrounding area. Hide away in their little "tents" oblivious to what's going on around them. If you want to feed the Swans and Ducks , like me, one is frowned upon for disturbing the water and for standing by the bank.
They do not catch the fish for food. They throw a line, catch fish and throw it back. Sad!
Would love to see the ASB and the Rubbish irradicated.
I would willingly be on a rota scheme, to help in this way.
Who said anything about the anglers policing the area? I think you have got messed up lines there. The area will be policed by the police but Bailiffs will come round the lakes and surrounding areas at all times of the day. If there is any problems they will notify the police! I kinda think you are a little blinkered when it comes to fisherman. Fishing is the worlds most popular sport in which people of all ages, sex and nationality participate in. I for one enjoy fishing and i certainly would not frown at anyone standing on the banks feeding ducks or swans! I think your opinion of anglers is a little too stereotyped and based solely on your experience, or even just one experience.

So hiding away in their tent, not causing anyone any harm, not causing anyone nuisance is bad is it? As long as they abide by the rules and regulations I really am struggling to find an issue here. There is one thing to point out here too. All monies raised from the fishing will go straight back into the environment in the Park. It is to be run as a non-profit making scheme and personally i think that's something everyone should think is a good idea!

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Madcatwoman says...
4:46pm Wed 2 Nov 11

I totally agree with Toptech. Anything that improves this space is welcome. Everyone can enjoy the park. If you do not make fishing legal you will still have the element of illegal fishing. You cannot tar everyone with the same brush.

I am not a lover of fishing, but I can understand the attraction when you want peace and tranquility. I want to be able to go to the park with my dogs and enjoy the walks instead of worrying about groups of youths looking to cause trouble or drinking whilst underage and yes that does go on at the moment. I also get angry when I see the amount of rubbish that is strewn over the place.

I think that blaming the anglers for this is very shortsighted and the bigger picture has to be looked at here. Anything that enhances our open spaces should be welcomed with with open arms and the fact that the monies raised will help to maintain the park can only be a positive thing in my book.

At least anglers do not smash up bins and throw in the lake which incidentally could harm the wildlife. Look at the rubbish that has accumulated in the front lake where the swans reside - you can't tell me that is due to anglers.

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soul man says...
6:21pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Bonneville Bert wrote:
Some nice tench in there!
i bet the eastern europeans poached most of them, and yes, there were some nice tench in there, hopefully they are even bigger assuming their still in the lake

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soul man says...
6:21pm Wed 2 Nov 11

Bonneville Bert wrote:
Some nice tench in there!
i bet the eastern europeans poached most of them, and yes, there were some nice tench in there, hopefully they are even bigger assuming their still in the lake

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the man from del monte says...
6:30pm Wed 2 Nov 11

all the big tench are in prioer park after the lake at friars was drained some time ago now . as for anglers causing all the problems and mess you shouldnt stereotype a certain group over the behaviour of a few individuals , the park is full of rats which is due to the duckfeedrs getting over zealous and piling in loaves of bread and leftover sunday roasts , whilst their dogs **** on the grass and urinate over anything that doesnt move , clean up your own mess all you duck feeders , and btw i like to fish over there and have pulled out the bin from the lake over 5 times this year already . you might be interested to know that 99.9% of fisherman like to catch fish and destroying the fishes habitat isnt productive to catching fish , clean up your act dog walkers and duck/rat feeders . if it wasnt for the fishermen then the lake would be full of shopping trolleys , mopeds and a few silver fish n tench , where ya think the carp come from eh , the council????

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toptech1911 says...
8:01pm Wed 2 Nov 11

the man from del monte wrote:
all the big tench are in prioer park after the lake at friars was drained some time ago now . as for anglers causing all the problems and mess you shouldnt stereotype a certain group over the behaviour of a few individuals , the park is full of rats which is due to the duckfeedrs getting over zealous and piling in loaves of bread and leftover sunday roasts , whilst their dogs **** on the grass and urinate over anything that doesnt move , clean up your own mess all you duck feeders , and btw i like to fish over there and have pulled out the bin from the lake over 5 times this year already . you might be interested to know that 99.9% of fisherman like to catch fish and destroying the fishes habitat isnt productive to catching fish , clean up your act dog walkers and duck/rat feeders . if it wasnt for the fishermen then the lake would be full of shopping trolleys , mopeds and a few silver fish n tench , where ya think the carp come from eh , the council????
Very well said and I totally echo, if you pardon the pun. your comments. It is without doubt the "Couldn't care less brigade" that has made this park what it is today, a rotting crap ridden rats nest! What we aim to do is change that for the good of both wildlife and visitors. I have just returned from walking my dogs around there, and yes i did pick up the mess my dogs made and deposited it in the bins provided, but i also picked up various discarded bottles, packets, carrier bags and food wrappers and also managed to put those in the bins provided too!! It didn't seem that difficult if i am honest. I mean, i just bent down, picked up the litter, walked to the bin and put it in the hole in the top! Amazing inventions these bin things are i must say! I always thought this park had the rule of "Throw your litter on the floor till it is full up and then use the bins provided after that"!!!

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