FIRSTLY before we all get into a slanging match between dog walkers and anglers let me compliment the endeavours of the beach wardens for removing litter from the beach.

In recent times while angling on the beach at the Lavernock end I've noticed there’s a lot less litter. Also, like many other anglers who fish down there, I take my litter home and at the same time, as I've seen others do, collect litter washed up by the tide and left by a “small minority of irresponsible dog walkers”.

Tackle does get washed up on the beach in a variety of ways, but never purposefully left.

Sometimes it can be snagged on rocks but most anglers go to the beach at low tide to retrieve tackle, terminal tackle may have been lost on a beach miles away and washed here by the tide, some of it is commercial and could have drifted from miles away.

As the tackle is expensive no anglers will purposefully discard it as they've had to pay for it in the first place.

On many occasions I’ve had rods knocked over by dogs that are out of control and on one occasion was bitten, during the summer months there’s always dogs mess and toys strewn around.

When it comes to environmental concerns, no group is more concerned about the environment than angling bodies, that's because we all spend a lot of time and money to be there and if we didn't raise issues about the environments there wouldn't be any fish.

No other group does this to the extent that anglers do; we are all extremely environmentally aware and friendly.

In recent times we've all been made more aware of the environmental pollution and damage dogs’ cause by excrement and I’m glad many owners are becoming more responsible and clearing up their mess - but not all do so.

It’s right this incident on the front of last week's Penarth Times should have been highlighted when a dog picked up discarded fish hooks as it shows the good work done by the wardens.

It also highlights that any anglers or dog walkers who are using any beaches should keep an eye out for any discarded rubbish, angling or otherwise, and follow the wardens example and pick it up and take it home.

Let’s keep the beach in pristine condition rather than get involved in a slanging match.

This incident also illustrates the need to allow the pier to be used in July and August for angling. It prevents social isolation in an ageing population and allows a more controlled angling zone where there is little chance of losing equipment.

When it comes to environmental pollution, there’s more to it than a couple of hooks or dogs mess, there’s untreated sewage, heavy metal pollution and if you can be bothered to look on a more minute scale plastic fragments that are ingested by invertebrates, then by fish and birds.

If we’re looking for evidence of who’s the greater menace here, ask the NHS how much they spend each year on dog bites or angling injuries, but let’s not go there.

As far as litter collection is concerned we all need to pull together. If not there’s plenty of legislation to enforce dog fouling and litter discarding, this could be undertaken by the council or PCSOs and target all concerned.

Tim Hodgson

Westbourne Road

Penarth