Where are we with Access?

Rights for shared transparent and fair access to inland waterways is a key strategic objective for Canoe Wales. On behalf of our membership and the broader paddling community in Wales, we have been making the case for increased access wherever possible. Our increasing membership has helped to develop our influence and enables us to advocate on behalf of a larger community. Unfortunately, COVID-19 and other Governmental priorities has slowed progress lately and we are very aware that little progress in this area means paddlers still face similar levels of conflict and challenge on our riverbanks. We therefore thought it was an opportune time for us to explain where we are up to and some of the overriding challenges.

The case for increased access in Wales

The access debate in Wales has been going on for decades. We have seen the Countryside Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000, petitions, enquiries, protests and we still face difficulties in getting on to water. Sadly, improving access to inland water has not been a priority with Welsh Government (WG). Most people live close to a river, canal or open water but are denied the right of accessing them without the fear of a confrontation.

According to a 2001 report produced for the Countryside Council for Wales, British Waterways, Environment Agency and others, Wales has about 10,800km of rivers and canals. Unfortunately, less than 3.5% has an undisputed right of navigation. WG have always favoured negotiated local agreements as the way forward to secure greater access, but evidence would suggest this strategy has not worked on the long-term.

A Welsh Government (WG) consultation in 2017 ‘Taking Forward Wales sustainable management of natural resources’ identified that a different approach is required to the access challenges both on land and water. Benefits of accessing green and blue spaces for our health and wellbeing are irrefutable. In 2019 Welsh Government Deputy Minister Hannah Bleddyn stated that:

                              “Our Natural Resources Policy illustrates that nature-based solutions can support physical and mental health. That is why we are committed, as a government, to increasing both access to and enjoyment of our countryside for people – to take advantage of the many health and wellbeing benefits that getting outside can bring. An accessible countryside supports our efforts to boost Wales as a tourism destination and an attraction for walkers, cyclists and thrill-seekers.”

Deputy Minister Bleddyn was also in support of greater dialogue on inland water issues saying:

                               "I strongly encourage stakeholders to find a practical joint solution. I have not ruled out future legislation on access, particularly should I not be satisfied of reasonable progression within 18 months."

The Deputy Minister wants to see increased participation, across a range of recreation types with more inland waters accessible, more of the time.

Being true to the Deputy Ministers request in 2019 for stakeholders to work together, a working group was created as a subgroup of the National Access Forum for Wales (NAFW). This group made up of recreational interest groups including paddling, angling, landowners, farming unions, environmental groups, Natural Resources Wales and WG. Canoe Wales are a key partner of this group. We believe that this working group was influential in the 2021 Welsh Labour manifesto which included a pledge that they will begin to designate Welsh inland water for recreation and strengthen water quality monitoring.

Since the statement by Hannah Bleddyn in 2019, there has been a change in the minister responsible for access twice. The current minister is Lesley Griffiths. Lesley is the Minister for Rural Affairs. We are working to ensure government officials bring the new Minister up to speed with the issues surrounding access to water.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed people’s attitude towards work, health and recreation. There is an increase of people wanting to get outside and close to nature. There are more people than ever wanting to take part in water related recreation, close to home.

The 2021 Water Sports Participation Survey suggested that 7.6 million people in the UK go paddling each year, up from 4.7 million in 2020. This increase coincided with the relaxation of lockdowns and there is nothing so far that indicates that this number is going to reduce.

The latest Sport Wales School Sports Survey (2022) shows 26% of all school children took part in a canoeing or kayaking activity, up from 8.6% in 2013 The same survey also identified that a similar number of school children had also taken part in paddleboarding.

What are we doing about it?

We are conscious that an increase in participation raises the risk of disturbance to wildlife, landowners and local communities. To mitigate against this, we are keen to raise our education resource for new and existing paddlers and have started putting out regular articles on our website and social media.

You will have seen the new paddlers code promoted across our social media. We assisted our colleagues in British Canoeing in the production of this and believe it to be a big step in promoting sustainable paddling.

Through our membership and representation on behalf of our members on various groups and forums, we strive to raise the issues that we face getting on to the water. The groups specific to raising the profile of access:

• National Access Forum for Wales - a membership of nearly 40 member organisations representing landowners and manger, countryside access groups, public bodies and voluntary sector organisations. The forum does not have a legal status but the level and range of representation of its members means that it can influence policy development.
• Outdoor Alliance - a single coalition representing the shared values for the whole of the outdoor recreation, learning and adventure activity sector in Wales. Calls on government to improve the access provision in Wales including that to inland water.
• Outdoor Activity Sector - Cross Party Group made of members of the Outdoor Alliance group. Chaired by a Member of the Senedd (MS) with other MS’s as members. The group connects directly with WG through the MS’s that form part of the membership.
• Canoe Wales is committed to advocating for improved access to inland water. We will continue to liaise with the relevant government departments and push awareness of the challenges surrounding access to the Ministers in positions of influence.  This is all with the objective of resolving this question once and for all. We also work with the National Parks and local authorities to seek local based access opportunities where possible.

How can you help?

You can help by reminding the Welsh Government that they have made a pledge designating inland waters for recreation (and this requires open access). Remind them that recreation includes paddling as well as other activities. Ask your local MS to question the Welsh Governments commitments to improving access.

Sign the Clear Access Clear Waters petition. You will also be able to send your local MS a message asking for their support. https://clearaccessclearwaters.org.uk/petition/

You too can be guardians of our rivers, if you have carried out any river clean ups, shout it out. Invite your local MS and MP if you are going out or let them know if you have been out. Fill out the paddle clean-ups map – this is really important so we can remind Welsh Government of our efforts to manage and improve the environment in which we participate. https://clearaccessclearwaters.org.uk/paddle-cleanups-map/

In the meantime, get out and enjoy a safe paddle wherever you are able to do so and please do let us know of any access challenges so we can help resolve them https://www.canoewales.com/report-an-incident.

Phil Stone,

Places to Paddle Manager