Angling platforms approved for river Waveney near Geldeston

The Broads Authority has approved plans for 18 new wooden stages to be installed on the banks of the river, to the south of Dunburgh Road between Geldeston and Beccles. 

The platforms will be installed by the Cherry Tree Angling Club along 660 metres of the river. They can only be used for 39 weeks a year. 

But locals objected to the scheme, arguing the scale of the development is too big for a “beautiful unspoilt area”. 

A fishing lake in the area also run by the Cherry Tree Angling Club (Image: David Lilley)

Jane Black, a member of the public, disputed the fishing club's assertion they would not be cutting down trees to access the river, saying she did not believe that was possible. 

“There’d be so much damage for the benefit of so few people and at a time when we should be conserving wildlife habitat rather than destroying it,” she said.

“Having these unnecessary platforms when the ones further up the river aren’t fully used, I think, is a mistake."

The platforms are close to the Geldeston Locks (Image: Archant)

But a Broad Authority officer said there were no plans to cut down trees and the presence of anglers “would not be unexpected” or “be detrimental to the character of the landscape or the river.” 

“The number of anglers would be limited in the most part by the size of the car park, which has a maximum capacity of 20 spaces," he said.

“Considering the cumulative impact of the 16 existing platforms upstream and the 18 platforms there would not be an unacceptable concentration of platforms.” 

He said the river is well used by boaters and paddleboarders but angling was “well established in the area” and the gaps between platforms would help reduce issues. 

The authority's planning committee unanimously approved the scheme.