Sundry regulations

1. THE OPPOSITE BANK OF THE MAIN RIVER

Members and their guests must not exercise the right to fish in a manner which conflicts with the preservation of the River Test as a trout fishery of the highest repute and, in particular, must not deliberately interfere with the exercise of the corresponding fishing rights vested in the riparian owners of the opposite bank of the main river throughout the length of the Timsbury fishery. On the carriers, the Timsbury fishery has both banks to itself.

2. FIREARMS

Members must not carry firearms on or about the fishery. The sporting rights on the land within the fishery belong to the landowner. In the autumn and winter shooting takes place infrequently at the fishery. If shooting is in progress, please would members make their presence known to those taking part.

3. WADING

Members must not wade, bathe or use any form of boat on the main river or its carriers.

4. CHILDREN AND DOGS

Members who take dogs or young children to the river must ensure that they are kept under control at all times.

5. ACCESS, PARKING AND SPEED LIMIT

The roadway to the fishery from the church car park onwards does not belong to the fishery, but, as the main user of the route, the fishery is responsible for its maintenance. The section from the church car park to the main carrier belongs to the owner of Herons Mead and the section from the main carrier to the car park at the main fishing hut belongs to the owner of the adjacent land, as does the car park itself.

Please drive from the main road with consideration; the road through the houses is used by local people, their children and horses. The speed limit is 10 mph. Apart from danger to others, excess speed causes damage to the surface of the track, which tends to become rutted as the season progresses. The track is repaired each winter. The higher the speed at which members drive their vehicles, the more repairs are needed, with obvious consequences for the fishery’s annual budget.

Car parking is provided at the main fishing hut. Please do not park anywhere else at the fishery. The fishery manager is permitted by the landowner to drive his vehicle on the tracks around the fishery. Members, however, are not permitted to take their vehicles beyond the car park at the main fishing hut. Special exceptions for members who are unable to walk around the fishery will gladly be made by prior arrangement with the fishery manager.

Members must not block a right of way in any circumstances, even temporarily. Members and their guests must only use the signposted tracks, paths and parking places. Members and their guests are requested to walk only on mown foot paths; the fields are cut for hay or silage and walking across them damages the crop.

There is a gate at the top of the lane by the church car park. Please close this behind you at all times. There is also a gate at the top of the avenue of poplars. This gate is kept locked outside the fishing season and at night. During the season, the first person to arrive at the fishery in the morning is asked to unlock and leave this gate open and the last person to leave the fishery should please close and lock it. If you are on the fishery during the close season, please shut the gate behind you.

There are combination locks on the gate at the top of the avenue of poplars and the main fishing hut, usually with the same number. Combination and other lock numbers are notified in the annual information provided to members and should be kept confidential.

6. PUBLIC ACCESS

There is no right of way or public footpath anywhere on the fishery or surrounding land. If members find someone they do not recognise walking on the fishery, please enquire politely who they are. If they have nothing to do with the fishery or the land, then please ask them to leave by the same route they came in. The fact that someone lives in the village of Timsbury or near the fishery does not automatically give them a right of access to any part of the fishery. However, a number of local people (including the owners of Mayfly Cottage and Herons Mead) have legal rights to access the carrier. The goodwill of local people is most important to the successful management of the fishery.