SC(3) - AIW08

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales

Questions for the access to inland waterways inquiry

What is your interest in the issue of access to inland waterways

Land owner
Recreational user:
Fishing
User for waterborne recreation (e.g. canoeing, rowing etc) Kayaker
Other(please specify) Just enjoy the countryside

Are you a member of an organisation related to your use of water?

If yes, which organisation/s?

Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers

Which stretch/es of water do you own/use/manage?

Paddle on towy, teifi, gwili

Legal rights

Are you happy that your legal rights are clear and well defined?

No

Can you briefly outline your understanding of your legal rights over the stretch of water/s that you own/use/manage.

I am aware that I have access to tidal water, however it is not clear whether we can paddle up to the low tide, mean tide or high tide mark or where exactly these points are on the river itself which could lead to conflict amongst river users. Above these points I understand that there is no legal access outside any access agreements i.e. we cannot paddle on any inland waterways even outside the fishing season.

Would you like to see any changes to your legal rights?

Yes

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

Ideally, there should be open access to all members of the general public onto and around inland waterways, within statutory guidelines. Rivers and streams etc should not be privately owned, no one can own the water that flows through them, it’s a natural resource that should be there for all to enjoy.

Are you aware of any legislation that exists in other countries that could be used in Wales? Yes, rest of the world and more recently Scotland.

Voluntary agreements

Do you have any experience of voluntary agreements for access to the stretch of water/s you own/use/manage

Yes

If yes, please briefly outline the agreements that exist and your experience of how they operate

River Teifi, 500m at Llandysul canoe club, Teifi tour, 1 weekend outside the fishing season organised by Llandysul canoe club (Llanfihangel to Cardigan).

Would you like to see any changes to the voluntary agreements?

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

If open access was granted there would be no need for access agreements. Historically access agreements have not worked and they cause high concentrations of paddlers/users over short periods (hundreds of paddlers over 2 days on the teifi tour) surely it would be more beneficial to all to have smaller concentrations of paddlers/users throughout the year.

Are you aware of any voluntary arrangements in other countries that could be used in Wales?

Unfortunately our rivers in Wales are selfishly dominated by greedy fishing dynasties who not only prevent access for all to enjoy these natural resources but also compete against each other for the best fishing beats, resulting in the extortionate charges that anglers themselves have to pay to fish in those areas. I’m sure that some anglers would like to fish in these areas but cannot afford to do so.

To put their attitude into context, sustrans have proposed a cycle route along the old railway line between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. This would provide an excellent level cycle route clear of public highways through a beautiful valley alongside a fantastic river which would attract thousand of families and individuals to participate in a recreational activity and enjoy the welsh countryside, boosting tourism and bringing money into the local economy. However due to the proposed routes proximity to the river Towy at some points the angling clubs have objected to it, basically showing that they do not want anybody on or near the rivers in case it ruins they’re so called sport. The anglers also don’t want coracles or estuary net fishermen (both part of welsh heritage and peoples livelihood) taking away their prize fish from them and they need to accept that it is pollution that is responsible for reduced fish stocks and not other river users.

Paddlers and other potential users therefore have no chance of access via local agreements or otherwise whilst the law is on the side of the landowners/angling clubs. Rivers such as the gwili and upper towy can only be paddled following periods of heavy rain (for instance, all this week) when the river levels are too high for fishing but due to the existing law we cannot legally paddle down them. Even when we paddle on the tidal water we still get abuse from some fishermen even though we make sure that we courteously paddle as far away from them as we can and keep clear of their lines which is common practice on rivers or the sea.

As it stands the general public have no idea that they do not have access to in land waterways, people do not realise that when they allow their children or dogs to play in local rivers on hot summer days that they are breaking the law.

This law needs to be changed, we have a country that is blessed with natural wealth but unfortunately the only wealth that seems to count is financial.

Cheers, Kevin Davies.

Gwendraeth Valley Paddlers
Carmarthen River Festival Committee
Carmarthen Riverside Improvement Group