The issues surrounding the Fische have produced some strong feelings in the Adur district, many of which have been expressed via The Argus.

This council has always been positive about the houseboats and the diversity they bring to the river scene in Adur.

In fact, the next issue of Adur Outlook, the council's magazine, includes an article which celebrates the contribution to local arts made by one of the houseboat owners.

However, this needs to be balanced with the need to regulate the way in which the houseboats act as neighbours within the community as a whole.

The approach the council is operating could be summarised as regulated diversity - in other words we enjoy diversity within the community but we need to make sure the houseboats don't encroach on other residents' enjoyment of living in Adur.

This means issues like the Fische, the amount of debris on the land alongside the houseboats and the discharge of raw sewage into the Adur all need to be dealt with by the powers vested in local agencies, including the council.

This is also the case with respect to the planning application for the mooring of the Fische.

-Ian Lowrie, chief executive, Adur District Council