Eviction broadside in river bank battle

Plans have been submitted to Arun District Council to build 68 houses and 15 units and open up the Arun river bank to pedestrians as well as building a

five-storey visitor centre with views across Littlehampton.

Angry fishermen claim if plans went ahead dozens of jobs would be lost and the area would cease to have a working port.

Fishermen found a 200-year-old law ruling that any piece of land used by them for casting nets could be claimed as their own if it became derelict.

But now council chiefs believe most of the White Herring Fisheries Act of 1771, which was renamed the Sea Fisheries Act in 1868, has been repealed and have issued a notice for the fishermen to pack up their boats and leave the land.

Concrete blocks have been put down to stop the fishermen getting access to the harbour. But fishermen say the law still stands and are prepared to take their case to the European courts to stop the redevelopment going ahead.

They claim the law also says every person employed in the sea fishing industry is entitled to free use of ports, harbours and shores in Great Britain. Fisherman Clive Mills said: "The council is using bully-boy

tactics but we are not going to be moved.

"Because the land is derelict the law states that it has become the property of fishermen. We are prepared to fight this all the way. We will go to the European courts if we have to. At the end of the day it is for the courts to decide this matter, not the council."

Mr Mills said: "The notice is absolute

rubbish. "They have blocked off the access to the harbour but we believe the land is ours and will not be pushed off by the council. We are not against the town being

developed but putting houses along a river bank will not bring in tourism.

"We will lose our trade and jobs will be lost if they insist on going ahead with the plans."

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