SC(3) - AIW12

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales

27 July

Dear Mr Bates

Sustainability Committee’s inquiry into access to inland water in Wales.

I write to express by opinion in the debate regarding access to Inland waters.

I am a member of the Seiont, Gwyrfai and Llyfni Angling Society and as such fish the aforementioned rivers and lakes where the Society owns the rights to fish.

In order for me to fish I must have a licence from the EA, the riparian owners’ consent and pay an annual club membership or buy a day ticket. If I do not do so I am guilty of both criminal and civil offences. I am also only permitted to fish during certain times of the year (the open season). As a member of the Society I also help to maintain the rivers, river banks and lakes I am permitted to fish on.

It seems reasonable to me that, as the waters do not look after themselves, other users of the rivers and lakes I am able to use also pay for the privilege, assist in their upkeep and only use them at permitted times.

The inland spate rivers of North Wales cannot be put into the same category as the major Scottish rivers. Ours are shallower and more susceptible to environmental damage to spawning fish, their eggs and the invertebrate life the fish depend upon. They are also far more accessible, being close to major conurbations. The salmon and sea trout runs and the wild brown trout population on my local rivers have seen a dramatic decline in recent years. I believe this is mainly do to pollution but paddle sports do nothing to assist this.

I accept there are one or two significant rivers in North Wales where the tidal reaches may support free access but the inland and upper reaches of these rivers are environmentally delicate and cannot sustain this.

I have no objection in principle to paddle sports or others wanting access to the rivers. However, with rights come responsibilities and if other users want to use the rivers of North Wales they need to do so responsibly and consider the environment and other users of this asset. They need to pay for the right to use the rivers, assist in the management of them, respect the rights of others and only use the rivers when permitted to do so by the riparian owners.

Finally, our waterways are vital environmentally and, commercially to the prosperity of this region. Fishing tourism needs to be encouraged and can be very lucrative. A policy wanting to implement laws giving free access to this resource will do little to encourage money into the region.

Yours sincerely,

John Walker