PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Advice to Wimborne and District Angling Club Members on Angling related to the Covid-19 pandemic updated effective from the 16 May 2022.
Member behaviour departing from the following guidance may amount to a breach of rule 10a in the Club’s Constitution and may lead to the conduct being considered improper for disciplinary purposes. However, the key message remains that every member will need to consider others with sensitivity and in the way we have all had to become accustomed. The Government advice urges the public to be cautious as we learn to live with the virus. As fishing is essentially an outdoor activity, the risks of transmission are known to be lower compared with being in an enclosed space. However, as the Club’s membership is skewed towards men of retirement age compared with the population at large, it is appropriate to continue with social distancing where appropriate and take care with hand hygiene.
Wimborne and District Angling Guidelines [applicable to Club waters only and not the fisheries where the Club is not responsible for the management but does have ticket arrangements].
1. Anyone displaying symptoms of COVID-19, or who shares a household with any individual displaying symptoms, must not go fishing on Club waters and should follow best practice on isolation.
2. Social distancing will be undertaken at all times and be observed between all people on Club waters (except for people in the same household, parents of juniors/minors, who are not from the same isolation household and carers for the less able as a ‘bubble’). Please be sensitive to, and avoid conflicts with, non-fishing members of the public where there is public access (do not spread tackle out as you might do in normal times).
3. When opening and closing gates and locks use best hygiene practice and carry appropriate equipment and materials [examples are anti-viral hand foam and hand gel - use these after touching hard surfaces in common use].
4. In car parking areas ensure social distancing can be practised. Do not park in locations that may jeopardise the behaviour of others and be patient, so adjacent cars are not in active use being loaded and unloaded at the same time. If there is not an obvious place to park safely leave the site.
5. Portable WC’s are available for use and are being regularly cleaned. However, their use must be entirely at the risk of the user. Please ensure and practice best hygiene using your own materials.
6. Take all litter home. [This existing Club rule is repeated, as it is totally inappropriate to leave any litter that then may involve others in having to remove it. Such behaviour is likely to result in a lifetime ban from the Club].
7. No portable charcoal fired BBQ’s or disposable BBQs of any description are to be used [This is also a part of Club rule 9 of the General Rules of Fishing] and is also inappropriate in the context of Coronavirus.
8. No swimming in Club waters [A repetition of General Rules of Fishing 14]
9. All members carrying out routine maintenance or other work will apply the same rules in so far as hygiene and social distancing is concerned and in addition to any issues arising from any risk assessment for the relevant work. Ensure the briefing at the start of a working party includes an item on Coronavirus. Follow advice for opening and locking containers and the buildings at trout waters that is expressed at 3 above: use best hygiene practice and carry appropriate equipment and materials [examples are anti-viral hand foam, hand gel, –use these after touching hard surfaces in common use] and maintain ventilation where possible. Wipe down hand tools etc. with an anti-bacterial spray as needed. When working on a particular activity, avoid crowding together.
10. Bailiffs will continue to operate but maintain social distancing requirements; all anglers must hold up their Club membership books for inspection and provide their membership number upon request. [At Rawlsbury also be prepared to offer any individual acting for the landowner the same inspection].
11. There is now access to the fishing lodge at Rawlsbury and the Hut at Winterborne Zelston, but please ventilate by leaving the doors open when in use. Please sign in at the Farmyard for Rawlsbury. However, all trout ticket returns are to be made by email to the Game Secretary. Do not use paper returns in the boxes.
12. Coarse fishing matches will follow the social distancing protocols that have been developed by Match Secretary the regular match fisherman. Members fishing Matches against other Clubs will need to agree appropriate behaviours.
All the existing Club rules and national related regulations continue to apply and in particular attention is drawn to the national requirement for a valid Environment Agency rod licence, hours of opening and closing of fisheries and that the normal close season rules for fishing continue to apply on the River Stour and at Alder Hills Pond.
NB: If requested by relevant authorities to do so, the Club will use the personal information it holds on members and guests to assist track and trace for attendees at Club waters.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
COPYRIGHT WDAC 2019
ANGLING TRUST - SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN ANGLING