SC(3) - AIW23

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales

I am a recreational Kayaker, I regularly travel to Wales in order to run the white water rivers. I have been visiting and travelling along Welsh rivers for in excess of 15 years.

I am a member of an active, Coventry based canoe and kayak club with about 30 members. I would estimate that on average at least one of our members paddles in Wales each month. I am also a member of the BCU (British canoe Union).

I have on occasion been challenged by third parties either on the river or whilst attempting to access the river. On one occasion my party were followed by car for several miles by an aggressive and confrontational man, who claimed to be a land owner, whilst trying to access the River Winion. I am aware of other members of the club that have been threatened whilst trying to access the River Dee.

As such I believe that there are no clearly defined rights of access to Welsh waterways. There are conflicting wishes of water users. (Although I believe most if not all users of water ways can harmoniously co-exist). I also feel that the laws of trespass and the ownerships of the waterways of Wales are not clearly defined. I believe that the rights of navigation along waterways have not been suitably established to enable any interested party to have an informed position on there rights of travel.

I would like to see clear legislation for rights of access for all Welsh waterways. I believe that this should consist of unrestricted access for canoeists, kayakers, swimmers and other recreational users where access can be gained from public land.

I am aware of unrestricted access (or close to it) in Scotland, Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland and have kayaked and canoed in all these countries without the issues I have experienced in Wales. Slovenia for instance publically promotes access to their waterways.

I am yet to see a voluntary access agreement that I consider workable or not overly biased to one party. For example I have seen agreements that require pre-booking several weeks in advance, this does not practically work as water levels and weather conditions are unknown. I have also seen dated access agreements that do not take into account water level and river conditions.

I would like to see agreement to access all rivers in Wales subject to any reasonable steps to protect the environment of the waterway.

I am not aware of any working voluntary agreement outside of Wales that I would believe to be acceptable.

I believe the key requirements to successful unrestricted recreational access are:

1. Clear legislative guidance

2. Publication of suitable routes and access to all rivers from publicly accessible land

3. A clear understanding that water users can harmoniously enjoy waterways together

I would like to see legislation to preserve waterways for all reasonable recreational uses and hope that this study is the catalyst for creating a suitable law.

Yours faithfully

David Walton