SC(3) - AIW11

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales

Hi
I am a keen canoeist of over 20 years, having paddling extensively throughout Wales, England, Scotland, Europe and further afield. I am a current member of the Welsh Canoe Association, previously a member of the British Canoe Union before moving to Wales.

Over the past 20 years, I have pursued my activity on hundreds of rivers including the following in Wales among others:
Usk, Wye, Twyi, Tawe, Taff, Irfon, Teifi, Twrch, Rhondda, Dee, Doethie, Conwy, Ogwen, Tryweryn, Glaslyn, Llugwy, Mawddach.

I have during this time pursued this activity with every consideration for the enviroment and for other water users. As I understand my rights, I am not commiting trespass in passing through private land on a river. I am aware I require permission to cross land to access rivers at access and egress points.

I have on occasion been confronted by individuals claiming to represent landowners, fisheries etc that have informed me that my pressence is breaking a law, to which non have been able to pursuede me that I am. I believe there is a dire need to clarify the situation of access to inland waterways in Wales to avoid what can on occasions become heating debates.

I would like to see responsible access made available to all waterways in Wales, not only the model now present in Scotland. I recognise that passage of all rivers at all levels in irresponse and that with any change or clarification in the law a code of conduct is required to protect the environments, but any restrictions on access should be driven by this need, rather than the whim of a landowner or other water user.

I have paddled extensively in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Canada, US and New Zealand as well as the home nations and found that the legal and practical situation means that all water users have good access without undue restriction to a national heritage. Canoeists from these countries are astounded by the current situation here and certainly not enticed to visit. Wales has conciously modelled itself as a Mountain Biking haven that attracts visitors from around the world, with acceptance from all parties that our natural resources are for all to enjoy. Wales some some of the worlds best rivers for canoeing and could pursue the same avenue should legal clarity be reached.

My experience of voluntary agreements is that they are overly restrictive. The previous agreement on the river Dee for example made allowance for access for around 3 to 6 weekends per year, up to just 3% of a given time, when infact, the river is navigible for large portions of the year without risk to spawning beds or other aquatic life. Access agreements are particularly fragile where as a canoeist we have little bargaining power. An average river trip may be some 10 to 15km in distance and pass dozens if not hundreds of landowners property.

There is a drive from the angling fraternity that canoeist should pay to access the rivers they use, however I would question why this is necessary. An angler with obtain a fishing license, the fee of which helps contribute to the Enviroment Agency's costs in managing fish stocks and providing fishing opportunities. This as I understand it is also funded directly from the tax payer. The passage of a canoe does not incur any cost, damage nor action for it to occur, hence what would an access fee be used for? An angler may also pay a landowner or club for the right to fish a particular swim, but this paymnet is either further used to provide services for the participant or taken as profit by the landowner. I am more than happy to pay for facilities that are provided for my use, for example car parking, changing facilities etc, but I am not willing to pay a landowner for the right to float past his land, where I incur him no cost or inconvenience.

I am pleased that the Sustainability Committee are considering this issue and look forward to a sensible progression to bring Wales in line other nations.

Steve Wilford
Penarth