Councillors have agreed to defer action on a series of controversial proposals affecting fishing on the River Tay, including the suggestion to remove one of its beats.
It had also been recommended that the council could stop VisitScotland selling fishing permits, and consideration was also given to complaints from some anglers about blocked access.
Following a meeting earlier this week, members of Perth and Kinross Council’s common good fund committee will now revisit planned changes to the Perth Town Waters Fishing Beats at a future date.
At the meeting, councillors considered a report focusing on the Perth Town Waters, which runs from Quarrymill to an area downriver of Kinfauns. The right to fish within this area was granted to the people of Perth by Robert II in 1375 and was subsequently embodied in royal charters.
This was alluded to by Councillor Bob Band, who told the committee he was “somewhat concerned” at the potential loss of beat five known as Incherrit and located near Kinfauns Castle. Access was gained via a layby on the Dundee Road and the “informal” crossing of the railway line there.
However, Network Rail closed the access in 2010 by building a 2.5 metre fence and there is no other access by foot to the beat. As a result, the council was proposing to remove the beat from the fishing permit.
Mr Band told members that beat five had been there “for centuries”.
“I see no reason why beat five can’t be accessed by boat,” he said.
“There is the possibility of not necessarily fishing there by boat, but access could be gained by boat.”
Andy Clegg, the council’s community green space team leader, told councillors that if boats were allowed on the river this would “create problems” for anglers.
“If you allow boats in one part of the river, you would have to do so on all of them,” he said.
Councillor John Flynn asked what sanctions were available and also who would “police” the river.
“It seems silly if we can’t enforce matters,” he said.
Mr Clegg said ghillies were responsible but agreed it would be a “conflict of use” to allow that to happen.
Councillor Archie MacLellan suggested that, by allowing access by boat, the council may be in danger of “infringing” health and safety rules.
Councillor Dave Doogan said a compromise should be found on the matter.
“Removal of boats seems to be pretty heavy-handed,” he commented.
“This could be a very severe action from a couple of complaints. I’m not happy about what we are being asked here.”
Mr Clegg proposed to solve the problem by making the permit bank fishing and by wading only.
His report stated: “This would also ensure that bailiffs can ensure anglers have permits and avoid the problem of boats fishing outwith the designated beats.”
Meanwhile, committee convener Jack Coburn told members that he felt the council should hand out fishing permits themselves, rather than it also being done by VisitScotland, who receive a commission of 8.33%.
The committee agreed to defer action on all the issues until a later date.