Sustainability Committee
Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales
My response to the inland waterways inquiry
Dear Members of the Sustainability Committee,I write in response to the request for comments on the Inquiry into access to inland waters in Wales. I am a member of the Midland Flyfishers and I note that you have had a response from the editor of our monthly Bulletin, Richard Garland (SC(3)-AIW237). I have looked at a number of the responses so far both from anglers and canoeists and I feel that he has articulated my views better than I could myself. Therefore, I have reproduced his response below as my response as well but want to acknowledge my plagiarism.
I would like to add further emphasis on one particular point. We would all like our pleasures to be free. However, no pleasure should be taken at someone else’s expense. Our rivers cost time and money to look after. The riparian owner is the person responsible for the river. Anglers help pay for this with rents, licence fees, etc. It does not seem just that others wanting to use the rivers should not contribute. Therefore, the riparian owner should be at liberty to make voluntary commercial arrangements to help pay without any particular group having a right of access without such an agreement.
If such an approach is seen as unworkable, other users should pay a licence fee for access to the rivers and be subject to conditions that balance the interests of all users in the same way as anglers are now.
To answer the questions posed in the consultation document:
What is your interest in the issue of access to inland waterways?
Fisherman.
Are you a member of an organisation related to your use of water?
Midland Flyfishers.
Which stretch/es of water do you own/use/manage?
River Dee at Glyndyfrdwy.
River Wye at Three Cocks.
Legal rights
·We have clear legal rights to the fishing and the freehold of the river in the case of the Dee.
·We have exclusive use of the water for fishing and the owner of the freehold has the right to permit or grant access to the river as he/she wishes.
·I would not like to see any changes to these legal rights.
·I am not aware of any legislation that exists in other countries that could be used in Wales?
Voluntary agreements
·We have in the past had voluntary agreements with local canoeing clubs for access to the Dee.
·The agreements provided access outside the salmon and trout fishing season on named days which would not interfere with spawning.
·I would not object to future voluntary agreements on this basis.
·I am not aware of any voluntary arrangements in other countries that could be used in Wales.
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.
Firstly the Freeholder owns the rights to the river which he may have purchased at some considerable expense.
Secondly the Club or individual who enjoys the fishing will also have paid a considerable amount of money to rent or obtain access to the fishing.
Thirdly all fishermen pay the EA for a licence to fish.
And finally most Clubs and individuals spend a considerable amount of time and money on river maintenance, stocking and upkeep and looking after both the river and the fish.
So why should we allow unrestricted access by a leisure group who contribute nothing financially to support our rivers and environment.
If canoe access is to be allowed onto all rivers in Wales it should be by voluntary agreement and the access dates should be restricted to certain days of the year so that other river users activities are not spoilt and spawning is not interfered with. I also think that canoeing should not be allowed on smaller rivers where the impact will be unacceptable to the environment.
The right of access should be paid for and the money used to look after the rivers and their environment and to compensate the many fishing related interests whose existing rights will be adversely affected.
Yours faithfully,
Nat Hone
