ANGLERS fishing from Blue Anchor were this week accused of ‘treating the pavement as their private domain’ and blocking the popular seafront with rods and other equipment, forcing pedestrians to walk in the road.
Claims that the problem had worsened in the past few months were backed by posts on social media.
One said: “Locals are understandably upset and are noting car numbers at high tide and taking pictures of anglers who are making it also impossible to walk freely along the seafront.”
And local resident Graham Beeson told the Free Press: “Disabled people, along with pram users, the elderly, and families with young children find it a challenge to walk along the seafront.
“This is a regular problem and should be tackled on behalf of taxpayers.”
Local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said anglers were congregating in ‘unacceptably large numbers’ and obstructing hundreds of yards of pavement.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “People should be able to walk along Blue Anchor sea front without encountering obstructions which are not merely irritating but illegal - the pavement is technically part of the highway.
“Nobody is disputing the anglers’ right to fish but I would just ask them to have a little more thought for others.”
The problem will be discussed at the next meeting of Carhampton Parish Council, which is responsible for the western half of the seafront.
Council chairman Cllr Brenda Maitland-Walker said: “There have been a number of issues involving obstructing the pavement.
“But it is very hard to enforce rules unless you have someone constantly there to supervise what is going on and the police have not the time to do that.
“Most anglers behave responsibly but there are always some who do not, and we will do our best to find a solution to that.”
Cllr Maitland-Walker said there had also been complaints about anglers leaving litter on the seafront and putting discarded lines and hooks in waste bins.
But Cllr Ian Duncan, chairman of Old Cleeve Parish Council, which is responsible for the eastern half of the seafront, said this week his council had not received any complaints from residents or visitors.
Cllr Duncan said: “If we did I am sure we would be suggesting a friendly approach with a word in the right ear rather than anything more draconian.
“We recently had the yellow lines repainted because they had become so faded that there were problems with the fishermen’s vehicles, but since then I am not aware of any further problems.”
A spokesman for a local sea angling club - who asked not to be named - said: “We always clean up after fishing and try to keep the pavement as clear as possible for pedestrians.
“But you always get a few, usually strangers, who can give us a bad name.
“We have been coming to Blue Anchor for decades and like to think we are part of the local scene.”
He was backed by a long-term resident of Blue Anchor, who said: “I have been walking along the seafront since childhood and the fishermen have never been a problem for me.
“I hope there will be compromise as it would be very sad if they were stopped from coming.”