Sustainability Committee
Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales
I am a kayaker, on rivers/lakes, a member of Aberkayakers based in Aberystwyth. I am responding as an individual who has been informed of the legal issues/rights but does not remember the detail!I go kayaking with a group, on local rivers (Ystwyth, Rheidol), on the Teifi around Llandysul, and, occasionally, on trips a little further afield eg the Wye from Rhayader to Beulah, the Clywedog.
I believe we have always accessed a river via public land, that the club has been engaged in negotiation with landowners, but I do not know whether anything came from this.
I am aware that kayakers are frequently not welcomed by the fishing community, that some landowners do not permit access to water.
My understanding is that we can only access water where the landowner has given us permission to cross land.
I am not entirely clear who 'owns' the water.
I would like to have the right to access to water (without of course causing any damage).
I would like it to be accepted that kayakers have as much right to be on the water as other water users.
I see no reason kayakers and the fishing community cannot both enjoy the water, giving consideration to each other.
I would be happy to pay a (reasonable) licence fee for the right to use the rivers/lakes.
Key issues for me: that we all have a right to the water; that we should have a right to access across land without causing damage; that we are all responsible for maintaining the health of water/banks etc.
Moya Neale
