Martin Salter MP, Labour’s Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling has issued the following press statement regarding Bewdley Town Council:

“As the government’s angling spokesman I find it very disappointing that a handful of town councillors are seeking to ban anglers from pursuing Britain’s most popular participant sport along a public stretch of the river Severn. They appear to have taken against angling in response to objections based on hearsay rather than scientific or factual evidence. I have worked well with the RSPB and other conservation charities in the interests of both bird-lovers and fishermen – there is no need for conflict as both depend upon the existence of a healthy aquatic environment. I fully support the campaign to retain anglers as the eyes and ears of the waterside in Bewdley and elsewhere and would be happy to help in any way I can.”