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I'm sorry guys but I don't agree with the put the licence fee up argument.

Coarse angling has for a number of years now been one of the most popular sports in the UK. The increase suggested may not seem much however for some, £27 represents a considerable amount of money. If you found yourself in this position and you were given the choice between buying a more expensive rod licence or feeding your family for a week; what would you choose? This might sound a bit extreme but the economic theory being proposed is not quite as simple as is suggested.

The more likely outcome is that those that could not tolerate such a severe increase would be forced to give up their pastime, or simply poach (potentially leading to unaffordable fines, intervention from a different type of bailiff or imprisonment). Fishing should be accessible to all.

The EA and local authorities claim they are unable to police waters effectively due to lack of resources however if some of the figures quoted on the main boards (£20m profit from fishing licences?) are true I really think that the decision makers need to re-evaluate how this money is spent. I know of members that post on this board (myself included) who have offered to act as bailiffs in their spare time (free of charge). My personal experience is that the EA did not even bother to respond. There may be a genuine reason for this however I don't consider resource issues as a valid excuse when the offer of free assistance has been ignored.

Some of the locations mentioned on this thread (particularly places like Broken Scar and Blackwell) serve as public amenities areas as well as natural features. How much money has been thrown at similar amenities over the past few years (for example the regeneration of South Park)? Answer - millions!

I'm not saying ignore the parks however I believe the council have a duty to proportionately fund all facilities that give social benefits, not just those that are situated on council property.

Perhaps if the anti-social behaviour problems we all see and complain of regularly (littering, drunkenness, vandalism, wilful damage, fire making etc.) were tackled more effectively; those that feel it is acceptable to fish without a licence or fish during the close season may be less inclined to do so?

When was the last time a police (or community) constable was seen on their publicly funded mountain bikes in the Broken Scar/Blackwell area ... answers on a post card please!