Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#1
As a follow on from the recent articles in the DE I thought I would let you all know that we have one of the finest chalk streams in Kent, so I'm told by the EA.
Soon to be overgrown just like the old B&Q section.
and this one.
weed so thick.
This is what it does.
You can walk along any section of OUR river and this is what you will find, not just along Barton Path.
We have one of the finest chalk streams in Kent.
Ian...
I could have posted more pics but I did'nt see any point.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#2
OH I forgot to say.
The EA are so excited about the trout we have left, they would like to take some of them and stock other rivers.
Somewhere they probably have fisheries officers to protect them and keep them nice and clean.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#3
That's if the local kids don't get to them first
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
and an employee of a cafe locally that dips in and catches from the bridge next to the stagecoach office.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#5
I think there must have been a typo there Ian, it should have read "we COULD" have one of the finest chalk rivers".
Let's hope that when we meet with them in the near future, there'll be something positive come out of it.
Regular proper maintenance and/or a river-warden paid for jointly (under a proper contract) by the three relevant bodies - DTC, DDC and the EA.
Roger
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
#6
I was down by the the back of Barton Road a few weeks ago and it really is quite sad to see the state of the river. I find it (visually) more a concern that the rubbish is caught up, as shown above. On the up side there is a huge amount of watercress growing, one lady filling a whole bag.
As for the trout, it is almost young Dovorian rite of passage to eat one or two!
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#7
I like to see the kids fishing along the Dour but as always after carrying a trout or two around in a plastic bag for a couple of hours they end up back in the river, plastic bas also.
when they get bored they start messing around, causing damage and getting up to alsorts, the language from some of them is terrible.
Three youngsters yesterday I presume coming back from the pier had sea fishing rods, attatched to the end was a large 4 ounce fishing weight, they walked up and down the path casting and trying to hit the wild life.
Oh what fun.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#8
I see this thread grabbed every ones heart.....again.
I and Roger have a meeting with the E.A on Friday for them to explain themselves.
Or should I say for us to hear a load of B******T biodiversity and management.
I'll keep you posted if I'm not baffled with science and crap.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
your last line said it all ian.
these people are professionals who know how to keep the rest of us at bay.
don't forget to take a dictionary with you, they will utter words and catchphrases that most of us have never heard of.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#10
Don't worry Howard Ive been ready for this for a long time, the questions involve the DDC also.
I have a 30 minute window to fit this in on my dinner break so I hope they are not late. I'm also going to have a pen and paper to keep a count on the number of times they mention, BIODIVERSITY and MANAGEMENT.
The questions will be VERY direct and I would like an answer at the time and not sometime in the next ten years.
Are these people by any chance anything to do with DTIZ.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
#11
Best of luck Ian. Not sure about the biodiversity, more like rubbish diversity - more classes of rubbish in our river than you can wave a pair of wellies at!
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#12
I hope they aren't late as well Ian.
It will be an opportunity for us to hear what they have to say and for them to hear our concerns.
See you tomorrow.
Roger
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
15 August 2009
01:3127250#13
Two persons observed wading up the Dour at 01:00 net fishing along Barton Path - they claimed they were looking for eels and trout. One had a torch, the other a substantial net on a pole, quite a professional job. Duly reported to the EA illegal fishing hotline - net fishing is a big no no.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
15 August 2009
07:3127256#14
One O'clock in the morning !!
Obviously knew they were not allowed to do it, otherwise they'd have been doing it during the day.
Were they grown-ups Phil, or kids ?
How can you stop night-time fishing along the river ? surely the Police wouldn't turn up, not important or urgent enough; EA certainly wouldn't.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 August 2009
09:0827264#15
that is not the first i have heard of illegal late night fishing.
seems to be a very lucrative pastime.
15 August 2009
09:4127268#16
That poor river is being raped and degraded and it seems like all we get is words and spin. We should be proud of it, not abuse it. There aren't many people like Ian and Roger who defend her honour so well. Shame on the local responsible authorities.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
15 August 2009
09:4327269#17
Lucrative? Don't encourage them Howard!
I've just had a chat to a very helpful EA officer. Net fishing in the Dour is tantamount to poaching and is therefore an illegal and criminal activity. All incidents should be reported both to the EA Illegal Fishing Helpline and to the Police. For future reference the EA number is:
0800 807060
A great deal of time and money has been spent creating a good breeding habitat for both eels and trout so such activity should be reported. European eels have suffered a 95% decline in the last 25 years so are a conservation priority as they are in serious trouble. The last thing they need is persons poaching the breeding populations out of the river to stick in the pot.
To be fair Roger the EA have very few on-call staff at night at Kent so it is unlikely they could have attended at the time to affect an arrest. The two persons last night were adults, and unlike last time I observed this, were not local Oriental takeaway staff. They were armed with a torch and a two foot triangular net on a pole. My mistake last night was not alerting the Police, I won't make that mistake again.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 August 2009
11:5427276#18
phil
we both know that a selction of local eateries have been stocking their freezers from our chalk stream.
some do it themselves, others employ local "herberts" to do the dirty work.
i hasten to add this does not apply to the vast majority of our restaurants and cafes.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
15 August 2009
12:0327277#19
You have to laugh don't you, I think we never will get the river we deserve.
Years of complaining telephone numbers being tossed around and an official body now in charge and we still have a skip at the end of the day.
Oh well, you can't say we did'nt try.
Come on Howard name and shame.
Thank you Bern. I still love you.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 August 2009
17:5427294#20
if i had photographs to prove it, i would ian.
without that any naming and shaming would end up with all of us in trouble.
