Sea angling club could be evicted from Penarth Pier
Vale Council demanding that they vacate the hut this weekend.
MEMBERS OF Penarth Sea Angling Club have expressed disappointment after a modest pier hut they have been using for more than 40 years became subject to an eviction notice from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
The club was founded in October 1933 and for the last 41 years, the small hut on Penarth Pier has been used as a base for storing equipment, organising competitions, dealing with administrative matters, taking shelter from storms and providing information to visitors.
On 19th May, the club received an official eviction notice from the Vale Council demanding that they vacate the hut by Sunday, 15th June.
Club secretary Robert Galley, 77, said that theirs is the biggest sea angling club in Wales, and that while many of the 95 members were shocked at the news, he was not entirely surprised: “The council have looked to take back the hut for the last couple of years, but we presented them with our licence from 1984, signed by the then-Mayor, Mrs Ruby Parsons, stating that either side must give 28 days’ notice, and now, sadly, the council have done that,” he said.
The eviction was temporarily halted following discussions with the council, and they have agreed to allow the club to continue to use the hut on a month-by-month basis, but Mr Galley is not optimistic that they will be permitted to remain for the long term: “I haven’t had anything in writing yet, but it looks as though we’re not being evicted by this Sunday, as they originally intended.
“We’re a sea angling club so we’ve got to fish from the pier or the beach, and to run a competition, we need some sort of premises.
“I’m not over-optimistic that we’ll be allowed to stay long-term. Two years ago, the council expressed an interest in running a coffee shop from the hut, I don’t know why because there are already three coffee shops on the pier.
“They lost interest when they found that the cost of installing the necessary equipment for running water to there and drainage was too high, but that idea, or something like it has resurrected itself now,” he said.
Mr Galley says the council has touted possible alternatives for the sea angling club to use as a base. He said: “There’s a pump house at the north end of the promenade, and the council have suggested giving us something in there.
“I haven’t been in to take a look for myself because it’s normally locked up. It’d be alright for storage but it would be difficult to run a competition from there because we’re fishing from the end of a pier around 200 yards away.”
Mr Galley said the prospect of having to vacate the hut has caused considerable upset among the club’s members, whose ages range from eight to 80: “We would be devastated. The hut is so convenient, it’s right where the action is.
“The hut is only small but it’s ideal for running competitions. We have two stewards and when they’re ripping up raffle tickets and taking money, they’re out of the wind and rain.
“Last winter, we had about eight named storms, so we do need shelter. We have members who use mobility scooters, we have elderly people, and the hut is very important to them,” he said.
Vale Council Chief Executive Rob Thomas said: “The small hut at the seaward end of the pier could potentially be used for commercial purposes, adding to the visitor attraction of the pier.
“Advertising it as an opportunity for a concession will allow us to find out if there is an interest from potential operators.
“We are, alongside this process, in discussion with the sea angling club and colleagues will continue to engage with them about potential alternative provision.
“It is only right that we review all sites such as this to ensure they are used effectively, especially when there is an opportunity to enhance the visitor experience.”
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