Post by highplains on Aug 7, 2006 16:59:09 GMT -1
What a morning I had on Sunday! I met, for the first time, Alan our Environment Agency Bailiff, or should I say Enforcement Officer for the river Clwyd.
In view of the issues being raised on the forum and the comments being made about EAW bailiffs, including my own contributions, I have to say I was a bit wary! There was no need. Although I was a bit shocked at first sight of Alan as he got out of his car! He had arrived wearing an anti-stab vest in army green to match the rest of the new EA uniform. Now I have to say I was more than a little surprised to see the stab protection gear. I mean I know I write the odd threatening note on the forum but “hang on” I thought, this is going a bit far! It turns out that this is now standard issue following the sever beating of a couple of enforcement officers “down South”. Apparently threats and abuse are just part of the job! Given the heat that morning I don’t know how he managed, the poor chap was boiling.
We chatted for a while before heading for the river only to discover that some idiot had been out shooting the previous night and shot a fox, which was left hanging from the top wire of the fence. The fox had then been gutted. I’m no anti anything, but to leave this gutted fox hanging from a fence not 30 yards from where the local kids go and splash about in the river, and on a local main road was nothing short of barbaric. And we wonder why people are anti country sports! The fox was removed a hidden in the grass as best we could and we wondered off. Blow me another fox hanging from the gate by which we access the river. I hope the *.* that did this gets what I really believe he deserves. This is not the way to go on, especially where children are about. And the stink!!
Anyway, we walked the river, spotted a kingfisher, and pointed out potential lies in the river and as well as spots where I know poachers have been and those that I suspect they have active. It was a very pleasant couple of hours. Conscious of the current ‘debate’ we are having about EAW management I was extremely reluctant to mention any of the issues we all discuss at great length and Alan never brought up the subject so I was quite relieved. Alan, it turns out is a very keen fisherman himself and as enthusiastic about the sport as he is about his job. Altogether a nice chap.
We were chatting by our cars after our walk when we were approached by a local lady who demanded to know if we had killed the fox still hanging on the disabled access gate. I’m glad to say we could explain who we were. She delighted in telling us about the last person she cursed and how they had suffered some horrible fate!! We eventually bagged the fox which the lady carried away to bury.
I’m sorry to go on at such length, but I wanted to explain the background to my conclusion that Alan was clearly another EAW enforcement officer who is dedicated to his job and to protecting the fish in our rivers and around our coast. If he had been “putting it on” I hope I should have been able to detect it! I think he was genuine and keen to do his job and establish a working relationship with local anglers. He had some good ideas that I shall be putting to our committee. I will keep you informed.
I left our meeting with one thought in my mind. Alan and his colleagues deserve our support. There are not enough of them and they have far too much water to protect. We must continue our campaign and get enforcement levels up to acceptable standards. I repeat Alan said nothing about the comments on the forums and in the papers. He is clearly loyal to his employer and his managers. I can not help but ask myself, “Do they deserve that loyalty?”