Post by Hoppy on Mar 21, 2008 22:21:19 GMT -1
Welsh Canoeing Association speaks out on right of access to our inland waters
The Welsh Canoeing Association today called for an access solution to Wales’s inland waters that was fair to all users - not just the anglers.
In the last thirty years, recreational enjoyment of the countryside has changed dramatically. Swimmers, rowers, rafters, canoeists as well as anglers have been wanting more and more to take advantage of the wonderful Welsh countryside. There is an increasing interest in walking, bird-watching and picnicking in and around water in Wales.
Government has been encouraging voluntary access agreements as a way forward but these are not working for the canoeists. There are over 350 canoe-able rivers and lakes in private ownership in Wales and, over the past 50 years, negotiation produced around 20 formal access agreements.
The Welsh Canoeing Association has decided it is time to speak out, not just for its own sake but for the sake of all individuals interested in enjoying the waters in a responsible fashion.
The Welsh Canoeing Association believes there are three important steps towards reaching a fair solution. Firstly, the establishment of the principle that there is general right of access to inland waters; secondly, a nationally enforceable code of conduct to protect the environment and, finally, a national information system to show when waters are environmentally safe to navigate. The precedent recently established in Scotland shows that this can work very well indeed.
Existing voluntary access agreements – much favoured by the Welsh anglers, private owners and the Welsh Assembly Government – place enormous restrictions on canoeists. They need to paddle a long stretch of water – as opposed to anglers, who tend to stay in a fixed territory – but are usually only allowed to use small sections of rivers and for short periods of the year.
The quality of canoeing depends on how much water there is in a river and enough water can be there at any time of the year. Yet there is no national provision of information about when it is suitable to go canoeing. Ironically, therefore, the local access agreements could well be encouraging environmentally unsafe paddling.
“Canoeists are being highlighted as the issue but the health benefit of being in and around inland water is well documented.
“Countries such as Norway and Scotland – both of which have a strong angling tradition – have shown that it is possible to reach a solution wherein users can co-exist without an adverse effect on the environment,” said Richard Harvey, Chief Executive of the Welsh Canoeing Association.
“If we are to reach a solution that works for everybody – users, owners and the environment – perhaps we might explore more deeply the reasons why these problems of access hardly exist in Norway, Scotland or France. We would greatly welcome some proper benchmarking which starts from a level base rather than from the presumption that the anglers already have an established right around which every other user has to work.
“Increased rights and responsibilities do not necessarily mean increased use; but they do mean more harmony for those already undertaking the activity”.
For further information please contact:
Ashley Charlwood
Access Development Officer
Welsh Canoeing Association
Tel: 01341 422692
Ø The Welsh Canoeing Association is the national governing body for all paddle sports in Wales. It has 7,000 members. Between 10,000 and 20,000 people participate in canoeing each weekend.
Ø Over 1.6 million people participate in canoeing in the UK.
The Welsh Canoeing Association today called for an access solution to Wales’s inland waters that was fair to all users - not just the anglers.
In the last thirty years, recreational enjoyment of the countryside has changed dramatically. Swimmers, rowers, rafters, canoeists as well as anglers have been wanting more and more to take advantage of the wonderful Welsh countryside. There is an increasing interest in walking, bird-watching and picnicking in and around water in Wales.
Government has been encouraging voluntary access agreements as a way forward but these are not working for the canoeists. There are over 350 canoe-able rivers and lakes in private ownership in Wales and, over the past 50 years, negotiation produced around 20 formal access agreements.
The Welsh Canoeing Association has decided it is time to speak out, not just for its own sake but for the sake of all individuals interested in enjoying the waters in a responsible fashion.
The Welsh Canoeing Association believes there are three important steps towards reaching a fair solution. Firstly, the establishment of the principle that there is general right of access to inland waters; secondly, a nationally enforceable code of conduct to protect the environment and, finally, a national information system to show when waters are environmentally safe to navigate. The precedent recently established in Scotland shows that this can work very well indeed.
Existing voluntary access agreements – much favoured by the Welsh anglers, private owners and the Welsh Assembly Government – place enormous restrictions on canoeists. They need to paddle a long stretch of water – as opposed to anglers, who tend to stay in a fixed territory – but are usually only allowed to use small sections of rivers and for short periods of the year.
The quality of canoeing depends on how much water there is in a river and enough water can be there at any time of the year. Yet there is no national provision of information about when it is suitable to go canoeing. Ironically, therefore, the local access agreements could well be encouraging environmentally unsafe paddling.
“Canoeists are being highlighted as the issue but the health benefit of being in and around inland water is well documented.
“Countries such as Norway and Scotland – both of which have a strong angling tradition – have shown that it is possible to reach a solution wherein users can co-exist without an adverse effect on the environment,” said Richard Harvey, Chief Executive of the Welsh Canoeing Association.
“If we are to reach a solution that works for everybody – users, owners and the environment – perhaps we might explore more deeply the reasons why these problems of access hardly exist in Norway, Scotland or France. We would greatly welcome some proper benchmarking which starts from a level base rather than from the presumption that the anglers already have an established right around which every other user has to work.
“Increased rights and responsibilities do not necessarily mean increased use; but they do mean more harmony for those already undertaking the activity”.
For further information please contact:
Ashley Charlwood
Access Development Officer
Welsh Canoeing Association
Tel: 01341 422692
Ø The Welsh Canoeing Association is the national governing body for all paddle sports in Wales. It has 7,000 members. Between 10,000 and 20,000 people participate in canoeing each weekend.
Ø Over 1.6 million people participate in canoeing in the UK.
