Environment Agency Licence price increases

It is expected that the cost of fishing licences set by the Environment
Agency would rise yet again this season. What has appalled me is the
obscene increase in the price of the Trout & Coarse fishing licence for
Disabled, O.A.P and Concessionary licences.

It has risen from 12.25 ukp to 16.75 ukp. This is an increase of
aro8und 37%. The cost of other licences have risen but nothing like the
concessionary ones. The concessionary licence usually costs about half
the cost of a full .licence but this year it is more like 2/3 the cost.

The elderly and infirm - those with the least earning potential have
been targeted by the E.A. to increase funds by a 37% increase in licence
cost to "improve "fisheries" (some hope) Of course we all know the
licence is not only for trout but for coarse fish also - a group of
anglers which out number game fishermen by many times. It was a very BAD
but contrived move by the E.A. when they combined trout and coarse
fishing on the same licence.

We who buy concessionary licences will be subsidising the building of
platforms and other fishery improvements for the coarse fishermen -
there will be little or no benefit for us game fishers in this
disgusting price increase.

I would urge any concessionary licence purchasers to lobby their local
newspapers and authorities to highlight this discriminatory move by the
E.A. to the general public,
--
Bill Grey