FISHING trip boat operator George Pill Snr has handed back his conditional licence to work from Falmouth’s Prince of Wales Pier in disgust, claiming the conditions attached made it unworkable At a February meeting of the Cornwall Council’s Harbours Board, Mr Pill, owner of Falmouth Fishing Trips, was granted a probationary licence to operate his boat, Girl Jenny, from the pier .

However, he has now returned his permit, as he feels the board, which operates the pier on behalf of Cornwall Council, has unfairly refused to provide him with a booking office.

He said: “We were told we have got to go on Number Four Steps, and to just stand by our boat. You might as well stand on Mars.”

He has said he will take the issue to the Local Ombudsman and the Office of Fair Trading, as other operators on the pier, including Falmouth Pleasure Cruises, Falmouth Scenic Cruises, the St Mawes Ferry, and Fal River, have dedicated booking offices. He feels he is being unfairly excluded.

Andy Brigden, maritime manager at Cornwall Council, said of Mr Pill handing back his licence, which was due for review at a meeting on May 24: “It’s entirely up to him.” He said that Mr Pill was not the only operator without an office on the pier. “It’s a shame grown men can’t sort things out and make it work properly,” he added.

Mr Brigden explained that a working party from the harbours board had looked at the issue of huts on the pier. “For reasons of safety, and clutter, and general appearance, we don’t want any more.”

He added that Sam Pill had now been given permission to leaflet from a site at the front of the pier, as long as he did not tout, and that arrangement “seems to be accepted by the other parties.”

Other permits to operate from the pier include: One boat for pleasure and fishing trips for Michael Pill and Leeann Jenkins; two pleasure boats owned by Fiona Pill; two boats belonging to Sam Pill; one Flushing ferry owned by G Hudson and a substitute owned by Ross Newman; a pleasure boat operated by Simon Michael, and seven boats owned by Tim Light of Fal River.