A day off today as the Landsend League was called off due to the lakes being frozen. Can't remember that happening last year. So I have taken the opportunity to get something of my chest.
I recently spotted the following article in the Bristol Evening Post. The interesting aspect of the article is that Bathampton AA is an angling club open to any angler who wishes to join. The club is managed on a non profit making basis by a Committee elected by the general membership at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Committee members give up their time free of charge (excluding honorarium and out of pocket expenses) in managing the club affairs. Any member can nominate themselves for the committee (I am sure there are always vacancies). Bathampton AA waters are NOT Commercial fisheries
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The article was also covered by the Angling Times which reported that ..."In a meeting Mr Coulson admitted that BAA had made greater provisions for disabled members than any other fishing club he had visited. So it was difficult to understand why he then pursued his demand for compensation of £5,000 for "the effort, stress and injury to feelings".
So why did Mike feel the need to involve outside agencies, could there have been some other motive .... the £2,000 that the club paid to Mike can only come from one source - the pockets of the the club members.
My views are:
- Bathampton AA does far more than any fishery I know in the South West for disabled anglers and it seems grossly unfair that the club members should have been penalised in this manner.
- If Mike was unhappy with the club committee he should have chosen the diplomatic route by nominating himself at an AGM enabling him to voice his opinions and make change. Incidentally his father Tom was a one time committee member.
- Fifteen minutes doesn’t seem an unreasonable amount of time to gain access to a fishery for a full days fishing.
- There will now be two sets of access gates - one electronic for Mike and the other "as is". Lets hope the electronics are reliable!
- BAA Committee should consider adding £1 to the Huntstrete day ticket for those that wish to use the Electronic gates.
Finally: "Mike, having proved your point I suggest you "Do The Right Thing" and donate the £2,000 compensation to BAA towards the new gates."
6 comments:
actually agree with you. I was surprised by the article when I saw it. It takes the p*** when someone says the club has done a lot for the disabled, yet stil finds it necessary to claim compensation.
I would suggest the decision wasnt entirely his.
I will struggle to give my annual subscription across the counter this year, if its likely to be handed out in 'compensation'.
the other side of the story says he made many representations to the club which fell on deaf ears - http://www.bdaa.co.uk/index.php?news=242 I completely agree that the his £2,000 should be spent on the gates though
i wonder if the accident which caused his disabilty was his fault. and when i see his dad i will suggest to him that he donates the money to the club, as everyone i have spoken to have agreed that his reasons for the payout are a bit pathetic as a lot of other disabled anglers fish at huntstrete but none have ever complained about the access
What a farce this is, if this guy had any morals he would donate this back to Bathampton AA for the benefit of Disabled Anglers or the Juniors. This is not a corporate business but a voluntarily run fishing club...how many times does he visit this fishery a year I would love to know
Mark
I understand that Mike fished twice in 2008 and six times in 2009. However, what he might say is that he would have fished more often if he had quicker access. Only time will tell on this one. So Mike wanted £5,000 for being put out for half an hour in 2008 and hour and half in 2009 not a bad hourly rate!!
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