Fishermen still await health and safety report

They were due to face Arun District Council at a court hearing late last month after the findings of an independent health and safety audit into the way they brought their boats on to the beach.

It came after a dispute between the fishermen and the council following a non-injury accident involving two members of the public 18 months ago, which led to the fishermen spending 3,000 on new equipment and changing the way they brought their boats in.

But a statement this week from Arun said the council was still engaged in legal proceedings with the fishermen and waiting to receive the independent health and safety expert's report.

The commissioning of the report was ordered by Judge Barratt QC at a hearing at Chichester county court in June and agreed by both parties.

It has been funded by ADC.

"It is anticipated that the case will return to court in November where the findings of the report will be reviewed by the judge," said the ADC spokesman.

Tim Ide, whose family have fished off Bognor since the 1700s said this week: "The report has been delayed because of holidays, but we are disappointed that it had to go to that in the first place.

"We have done everything in our power to make things safer and we can't see there being a problem," added an optimistic Mr Ide.