SC(3) - AIW136

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)

Other(please specify)

I am a user for waterbourne recreation

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

If yes, which organisation/s?

I am a member of Canw Cymru / Canoe Wales.

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

I use or have used the rivers Wye, Teifi, Tawe, Ystwyth, Upper and Lower Towi, Dee, Tryweryn and Nevern.

I have also used the following lakes - Tegid, Padarn, Dinas and Brianne.

Also, I paddle or have paddled on the following canals - Tennent, Swansea, Brecon & Monmouth, Montgomery and Llangollen.

Legal rights

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

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

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

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

Are you aware of any legislation that existis in other countries that could be used in Wales?

No, I can't say I'm happy about my legal rights. From what I can understand I would be trespassing crossing the land to get to a river or lake. Then I would be trespassing by passing over the river or lake bed. Followed by another act of trespass when I get off the river or lake.

Further to this, every person, small child, etc. you see dipping their feet into a stream on a warm sunny day is also trespassing. From recent estimates there could be as many as 2 million people trespassing in this way each sunny weekend.

On some of the rivers I paddle there are 'agreements' which allow paddling to take place. On others we just take a chance. We are mindful not to be a nuisance nor to create damage, but it's always a risk. On some of the lakes we pay a launching fee. This is ok, but I would expect facilities in place to make the fee worth paying.

I would like to see better acess to all our rivers and lakes. I would like to be able to go onto a lake or river and not worry about getting grief, penalised or my vehicle damaged.

The Land Reform Act in Scotland seems to be a good model for us to adopt. Scotland have not seen a massive increase in paddlers since the act was introduced, it just makers all users aware of their rights and makes people more repectful of each other.

Voluntary agreements

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

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

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

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

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

I have experience of voluntary agreements, and I have to say I'm not a fan. Most agreements are too restrictive. They are almost always drafted to favour the angling fraternity. There is very rarely any 'sharing' of the resource. We tend to be allowed on after the anglers have finished for the season. They'll have had the best weather, if nothing else. The only limitations that should exist for paddling a river should be environmental ones, like when the river is low and spawning beds could be damaged. But in recent years there has been significant rainfall during summer months, but because of the fishing season we can't paddle the rivers for fear of recrimination.

I would like to see voluntary agreements superceeded with a proper Land Reform Act. Voluntary agreements don't work.

I'm not aware of any voluntary agreements elswhere that work.

Please can you briefly outline what you think are the key issues for recreational access to inland water in Wales and how you would like to see them addressed.

There needs to be an act passed, made law, to allow everyone the same rights of access to inland waters. How can the participation levels increase when the resources for water users are so restrictive. The government want people to be more active, well canoeing is an ideal sport for many people,but it's growth is hampered. The physical benefits of paddling are undeniable, but have you considered the psychological and emotional benefits that people can experience from paddling? In these modern time, when so many people lead stressful lives, it's impossible to put a price on the relaxation aspect of paddling on a quiet lake.

Canoeing gives young people direction. When young preople are actively involved in sport they get a sense of self-worth, etc. The benefits to the community are immense. Llandysul paddlers is a good example of this.

I would be content with paying £10 a year to access all the rivers and lakes of this country. I know anglers are unhappy with having to pay while we get on for free, but anglers are allowed to take food from the river, we just float past, take nothig and leave nothing. Angling has an environmental impact on some of the wiildlife on rivers. There are many cases of swans being injured or killed by fishing tackle. A few years ago a seal had swam upstream from Cardigan to Cenarth Falls on The Teifi. The fishermen were furious because the seal was eatig the fish they were trying to catch. I even heard a rumour that someone turned up with a shotgun to try and kill the seal. Such is the blinkered, single minded attitude of so many anglers.

Make inland waters accessible to all, but also insist on a code of conduct that all users must adhere to.

People should be allowed to make use of our wonderful, natural resource.

Andy Walters