Call to reel in the Ludlow litter-lout anglers
A call has been made for fishing to be banned along a stretch of the River Teme in Ludlow – amid claims anglers have repeatedly left litter strewn across one of the town's beauty spots.
Sections of the Breadwalk which runs alongside the river has been covered with drinks cans, packaging for fishing rods and plastic bags over a number of weekends. And local resident Daniel McDowell has called for fishing to be halted along the river in the town until the issue is sorted out.
Mr McDowell, who lives in Mill Street, said it was down to residents and volunteers to tidy up the mess every Monday and said some waste was also being left in the river.
He said: "It is horrendous. On Monday there were tins in the water and I found 26 beer cans in the space of 40 yards.
"It is clear from the type of rubbish left that it is people fishing there over the weekend, but it is a route that lots of people use for leisure. It is like this every Monday morning and at the moment it is down
to residents and volunteers to clear it up. I think it might an idea if fishing was banned for a while along that stretch until this is sorted out.
"I am a fishing man myself and I know it wouldn't be anyone involved with proper clubs."
Jessica Campbell, spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, said: "The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing fisheries legislation, but we have no powers to stop anti-social behaviour such as littering."
