Access to inland waters: legislation update

Here’s an update from our Places to Paddle Manager, Phil Stone, on putting in place legislation allowing access to inland waters in Wales. The update includes:

• Outcomes of the recent National Access Forum for Wales meeting
• Links to key documents including an outline of policy intent for inland waterways
• Details of an Access Reform Advisory Group set up to consider the proposed access reforms

"At the National Access Forum for Wales (NAFW) meeting on 5 November 2019, Welsh government revealed its plans for dealing with the proposed access reforms following their sustainable management of natural resources consultation in 2017.

Earlier this year, Deputy Minister Hannah Blythyn announced that access to water would be considered separately to the main access reform process, and strongly encouraged stakeholders to find a practical joint solution. However, the Deputy Minister has not ruled out future legislation on access if she is not satisfied of reasonable progress within 18 months.

Deputy Minister Blythyn wishes to see concerted, collaborative action taken by stakeholders to increase recreational access to inland waters, including the following outcomes:

• Increased and more frequent participation across a range of recreation types
• More inland water accessible, more of the time

Download the Access to Inland Waterways Outline of Policy Intent (PDF)

A subgroup of NAFW has been set up consisting of the relevant stakeholders representing water sports, angling, land managers and public bodies, and is tasked with assessing different options to increase access.

Although Canoe Wales expressed our disappointment that there would be no legislation for the time being, we will fully engage in dialogue to seek the best options for greatly improving access opportunities in and around water.

For the less controversial proposed access reforms, an Access Reform Advisory Group (ARAG) has been set up. ARAG is setting up three expert groups that will each consider one of the following:

1. Changes to Open Access/CRoW land (amend the restrictions on vessels, sailboards & bathing on non-tidal waters; cycling, horse riding, hang-gliding and para-gliding; to extend CRoW access land to coast and coastal cliffs)
2. Flexibility on public paths (allow cycling and horse riding on footpaths, allow temporary diversions and restrictions, stock control measures on public rights of way)
3. Communicating access rights (consider mapping, rights of way, national trails, integrated access plans)

Download the ARAG Programme Initiation Document (PDF)

ARAG is inviting expressions of interest for membership onto the expert groups by 29 November 2019."