Rules & Constitution
Tonbridge & District Angling & Fish Preservation Society
PO Box 131 Tonbridge TN11 8WB
Members should note the following general points:
Please check the Match Calendar before visiting waters as they are closed for pegged-down matches. They may also be closed at weekends for booking. We ask that you do not use keepnets during warm summer months, as the fish may suffer.
If you have any queries or comments you should write to the Secretary in the first instance.
RULES THE SOCIETY & IT’S MANAGEMENT
3 The Management of the Society shall be conducted by the Chairman, Officers and Committee. The Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer shall serve for three years, retiring annually in rotation and be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Any vacancy occurring on the committee may be filled by those nominated but not elected at the last AGM and the member filling the vacancy shall serve for the remaining period of the retiring Committee Member. All nominations for Officer and Committee to be submitted to the Secretary not later than seven days prior to AGM with the signatures of the proposer and seconder, and all nominees must be present at the meeting. In the event of insufficient nominations, the matter will be dealt with by the AGM. The President, Vice-President and Hon. Solicitor will be elected at each AGM. The Vice-Chairman will be elected by the incoming committee from amongst its members.
4 The rights of the Society to fish are liable to be limited, extended, or terminated, and these Rules and privileges of Members of the Society are subject to such rights. The Society shall not be liable to return to any Member or persons having privileges any money which may have been paid to the Society for such privileges.
5 The Society shall be affiliated to The Kent Fisheries Consultative Association. (The KFCA)
MEETINGS
6 The AGM shall be held between 1st May and 15th June, at least 21 days notice will be given in writing to Members.
7 A Special General Meeting may be called by a requisition to the Secretary signed by 10 Members and such requisition must be in writing and must state the business required to be transacted at such meeting, no business shall be transacted except that for which it has been called. 21 days notice in writing of the agenda must be sent to all Members.
8 At all General Meetings, members must show proof of membership before admission to the meeting.
9 The monthly Committee Meeting will be held on the first Wednesday in each month (five members of the Committee, including officers to form a quorum). The Officers shall have a vote each at all Committee meetings.
AUDITORS & TRUSTEES
10 The Committee shall appoint auditors (Not being members of the Committee) who shall examine the accounts of the Society and shall see all receipts and payments are duly stated and generally vouch for the correctness of the financial statement to be presented at the AGM. The financial year shall end on the 31st March.
11 Trustees shall be appointed by the Committee to acquire fishing rights and hold them in trust on behalf of the Society. They shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by resolution of the Committee and shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Society against any risk or expense incurred by them in pursuance of their office.
11a The assets of the Society including any fishing right and landholdings shall be vested in the Trustees who shall hold them in trust on behalf of the Society. The Trustees shall have the power to borrow on behalf of the Society and to offer the assets of the Society as security for such borrowing.
12 A Member will pay an annual subscription to be decided at a General Meeting.
13 A new Member will be admitted only if a vacancy occurs within the numbers constituting total membership, and will pay any admission fee, plus the subscription to membership, to be decided by a General Meeting, and upload a passport photograph.
14 The Committee may issue complimentary memberships.
15 All members must be in possession of the relevant Environment Agency Licence/Licences.
GUEST PERMITS
16 Guest permits may be issued for a period not exceeding one week to friends or relative of Members upon application to the Secretary. Such permits shall only be issued to those guests who reside at such a distance from the Society water that they would not normally be expected to become members. Guests must be accompanied at all times by the Member obtaining the permit and may fish all waters throughout the season other than Ballast Pit, Barden Lake, Haysden Lake and Longfield Lake during the hours of darkness. A charge will be made at the normal day membership rate for each permit.
JUNIORS
17 The Rules relating to juniors are as follows:
(a) A Junior is a person who at the 1st June in the relevant year is under 16 years of age, they must be accompanied by an adult member over the age of 18 at all times on all waters.
(b) A Junior permit may be issued at such rate as may be decided by a General Meeting. On issue of such a permit the person concerned will become a Junior Member but will be entitled to only such privileges as may be given them by a General Meeting or Committee.
(c) A Junior Member reaching the age of 16 years on or before the 1st June in the relevant year shall be entitled to become a Student/Adult Member by applying via Clubmate.
(d) Junior Members may not fish Barden Lake, Haysden Lake and Longfield Lake during the hours of darkness or the Old Ballast Pit at any time. Please refer to the waters guide in relation to other waters they may fish provided they are accompanied at all times by an adult member over the age of 18 years strictly on a ‘one-to one’ basis except for Society competitions.
(e) Junior Members may attend the AGM if accompanied but shall not be entitled to vote.
(f) A student membership is available for 16-18 year old members and they will be classed as a adult member.
GENERAL
18 The close season shall, on rivers, be from 15th March to 15th June inclusive.
19 Members and permit holders shall be liable to be turned away from Society’s waters unless they can show proof of membership on demand to any of the water bailiff, official or other Member of the Society.
20 All Members shall be entitled to act as water bailiffs.
21 Members, whilst angling on Society waters, shall not:
(a) Damage mowing grass or crops, any fences or river bank, or any person’s property
(b) Take a dog with them
(c) Light any fire, barbecue nor leave litter on the bank
(d) Carry or use guns, firearms or catapults
(e) Camp
(f) Use radios, televisions or music players unless fitted with a personal headphones which must be used.
(g) Fish from boats or similar vessels or any bridge
(h) Cause any annoyance to riparian owners
(i) Retain Carp or Pike except while fishing a match approved by the Society or to be weighed and witnessed for the purpose of claiming a specimen trophy
22 The number of Platinum permits issued may be limited at the discretion of the Committee. There will be no Close Season on any of the Society stillwaters unless the Committee decide to impose a temporary ban on fishing for the benefit of the fishery. Maximum stay in a swim is limited to 72 hours.
23 No club or association shall visit the Society’s waters for the purpose of holding a competition, without first having obtained permission in writing. Applications for permission must be received by the Hon. Secretary at least one month before the date required, and a deposit paid.
24 Any Members fishing shall be responsible for removing all litter in the pitch that they are fishing.
METHODS, TACKLE & BAIT
25 Fishing shall not be permitted in any manner other than by angling with rod and line. Lay lines are prohibited. A landing net may be used for securing fish when hooked, the use of a gaff is prohibited.
26 Only Platinum and Gold Permit holders can use a third rod all year round, they must be in possession of a valid EA 3rd rod licence, except on the Ballast pit, where only 2 rods can be used at anytime by anyone.
27 No baited rods to be left unattended at any time.
28 The use of live baits is prohibited between 15th March and 30th September inclusive each year. Minnow, Gudgeon and Bleak may be used for live bait the rest of the year, provided they are used in the water from which they are caught.
29 The use of Baitpults/Magapults for the purposes of ground baiting or loose feeding only is permitted on Society waters with the exception of all waters above the Haysden Flood Barrier.
30 The use of particle baits, that is, nuts, beans and pulses that require soaking or boiling prior to their proper use, are banned except for hemp, tares and corn which are permissible.
31 The taking of baits to Society waters in metal tins or cans is banned. All baits taken to the water, must be in purpose made containers.
32 The taking of glass bottles to Society waters is banned.
33 All nets and unhooking mats/cradles brought to the Society waters must be dry on arrival.
34 Bait boats are banned on all Society waters.
35 The use of lead core line is banned on all Society waters.
RULES, INTERPRETATION & ENFORCEMENT
36 A Bivvy acceptable to the Society has been defined as a lone man free standing structure.
37 The Committee shall have the full power to make, alter or rescind, Rules and Competition Rules, and the same, after being displayed for seven days at all places authorised by the Committee, shall be binding on all Members until the same or other such Rules and Competition Rules have been altered or annulled at a General Meeting.
38 These Rules are subject to the interpretation of the Committee or members at the AGM to decide. Anything arising not provided for in these Rules shall be dealt with by the Committee.
39 The Rules, including Competition Rules, may be amended or added to at a General Meeting. Any members wishing to propose any alteration to the Rules at General Meeting must leave particulars of such proposals, in writing, with the Hon. Secretary at least 14 days before the date of such meeting.
40 The Committee shall have full power to commence any prosecution for any offence committed which they may consider detrimental to the objects of the Society.
41 In the event of any Member breaking any of the Rules the Hon. Secretary may suspend that Member immediately and refer the case to the next Committee meeting. The Committee shall have the power to expel such Member and he/she shall have no claim on the Society for any subscription or admission fee paid, provided, however no member shall be expelled under this Rule except at a Committee meeting specially convened for the purpose at which he may appear, or be represented, if he so wishes, and of which he has been given at least 14 day’s notice in writing.
42 Members shall have the right of appeal to the Annual General Meeting if dissatisfied with any decision of the Committee.
