SC(3) - AIW99

Sustainability Committee

Inquiry into access to inland water in Wales

Regarding the Petitions Committee's short inquiry into Access
Along Inland Water, and their recommendation that the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 provides a suitable model from which Welsh legislation coud be developed, I would like to add my fullest approval. Having attempted to canoe and kayak on Welsh rivers since 1972 initially as a school pupil, then both recreationally as a teacher of Outdoor Education working in North Wales, it would be wonderful to be able to pursue these activities in a responsible and environmentally sustainable manner without worrying that every person that I see on the bank may be about to tell me to get off the water, which has been the case in the past. I know that many people have and currently do not make use of Welsh (and English) rivers because of the current access situation, and would offer the example that for the October Half Term for most of the last twenty years I have led trips canoeing in Scotland at lest in part because of the much better access situation there, which in itself has been much improved by the recent legislation.

Yours sincerely

Richard Townshend
WCA level 4 coach,
Inspector Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge etc.