SC(3) - AIW21

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

Recreational user:
User for waterborne recreation (e.g. canoeing, rowing etc)

Are you a member of an organisation related to your use of water? If yes, which organisation/s?

Welsh Canoeing Association Access Supporter

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

Wye (Kayaking with wife and daughter during paid instruction course during our summer holiday stay in Wales in August 2008, kayaking course during weekend stay in Wales at Christmas 2008 (and also the Usk), kayaking course during weekend stay in Wales in April 2009.
Mellte visited the valley specifically to walk along the riverside in weekend break to Wales in February 2009.
Teifi (Kayaking during paid instruction course next weekend after which we will stay in Wales on holiday for 7 additional days).

Legal rights

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

No.

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

Some of the above noted rivers have rights of public navigation but on most 'ownership' is claimed on the principle of riparian 'laws'.  Access to the rivers is restricted by land ownership.

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

Yes.

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

Clarification to confirm or creation of a common right of access to and navigation of rivers in Wales (with a concomitant code of responsibilities).

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

The Scottish right of public access to and use of rivers.

Voluntary agreements

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

Knowledge of many, experience of few as I believe that most rivers are now often paddled without regard to the preference of restrictive elites.

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

Agreements, in the minority of locations where they even exist, serve to restrict public access.

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

Yes.

If yes, what changes would you like to see?

I would like to see the justification for access agreements removed by confirmation/creation of a common right of access to and navigation of rivers in Wales.

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

I do not believe that access agreements serve the interests of the wider population, and that they are created to uphold the control of the few.

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.

Establishment of a legally defined right of access to and use of inland water in Wales for recreational purposes.

Joh Saunders