BRITISH CANOE UNION PRESS RELEASE23rd January, 2007(for press release of 24th January 2007 see further below)
The Rivers Access Campaign highlights the need for new legislation with a ten minute rule bill – A Ten Minute Rule Bill - Public Access to Inland Waters Bill 2007 – is being presented today, Wednesday 24th January, by Des Turner, MP for Brighton on behalf of the Rivers Access Campaign and general public. The Bill outlines the need for legislation, similar to the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003. The legislation would identify canoeists and other water user’s right to access the waters as well as codify their responsibilities. Over the past year, the Rivers Access Campaign has received increased publicity (see ref 1.0) in national and international media, today’s Ten Minute Rule Bill will show that legislation is the only way forward for access to inland waters. It will help keep the rivers access issue firmly on the Government’s agenda. Chief Executive, Paul Owen comments, “Opening up rivers would help the BCU achieve its sporting and recreational aims. Greater access would also enable us to assist in reaching the Government’s aims for outdoor educational, participation in physical activity and the health agenda.” The Countryside Right of Way legislation (CRoW), which gives some people the right to roam, has not included everyone. Canoeists, swimmers, non-powered watersports have not been given the right to roam right to go to, on, traverse or in waters which have no access agreement or public right of navigation. Even if you want to watch wildlife from a boat/canoe, put your hot feet in the water after a walk, or allow you children to wade in a river on a hot summer’s day you could be committing trespass if there is no access to or along that waterway. Despite lobbying, water was taken out of the CRoW Act at the eleventh hour and still there is no access to and along 98% of the rivers in England and Wales. In essence England and Wales have a natural heritage which provides great opportunities for open-air recreation and education. Open-air recreation provides people with great benefits for their health and well-being and contributes to the good of society in many other ways. Why Legislation and why voluntary rivers access agreements do not work A legal right of access to rivers would provide more recreational opportunities for a group of people who want to use the water for recreational and educational purposes including canoeists, swimmers, and boaters and members of the general public with knock-on benefits for public health. The recreational aspects of canoeing could coincide effectively with government’s “everyday sport” and Welsh Assembly Government’s “Climbing Higher Strategy” if only river users had more access. Our sport and recreation, which is currently the most popular watersport in the UK, contributes to the Government’s targets on; health - it is a healthy outdoor activity which encourages a respect and passion for nature and the environment. It also contributes to the local and national economy. With the London 2012 Olympics on the not too distant horizon, England and Wales should have the same access to our waters as the rest of the World. The Campaign is supported by; the Inland Waterways Association, the canoeing community, many sporting and non sporting bodies, uniformed youth organisations and the thousands who think the law is archaic and needs to be clarified though new legislation. For more information on the campaign visit www.riversaccess.org
Ref 1.0 EDM 957 RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT That this House urges the Government to extend legislation on access to the countryside to allow canoeists and users of other non-powered craft the same access rights as those provided for walkers; acknowledges that the most successful Olympic canoeing nation, Germany, requires land owners to tolerate the use of non-powered craft on their waterways; and believes that with increased access to waterways, there will be greater participation in canoeing leading both to obvious health benefits for the nation and to increased chances of future Olympic success. For further information please contact: Notes to the editors: The BCU is responsible for leading and setting the overall framework for the National Associations; including representing canoeing interests through coaching, competition and campaigning for increased access to Britain’s waterways for paddlers. In the Athens Olympics, Canoeing was one of Team GB’s most successful sports with medals for Ian Wynne (Bronze), Helen Reeves (Bronze) and Campbell Walsh (Silver). Today the BCU has a membership of over 60,000, including over 500 affiliated clubs and 145 approved centres. According to the Paddlesport Review there are an estimated 2 million people take to the water in a canoe each year. The vast majority do so under a watchful eye of one of the 9,000 BCU Qualified coaches or as part of an affiliated organisation. For more information visit: www.bcu.org.uk
BCU Press ReleaseUPDATE 24th January, 2007Private Member’s ‘Public Access to Inland Waters’ Bill is a big hit and progresses to a second reading. The Private Member’s Bill – ‘Public Access to Inland Waters 2007’ – presented today by Dr Des Turner MP on behalf of the Rivers Access Campaign and general public, has successfully made it through to a second reading stage.
The MP for Brighton presented the Bill which outlines the need for a new legislation, similar to the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003, identifying canoeists and other water user’s right to access the waters, as well as codify their responsibilities.
The presentation for new legislation was powerfully convincing and the majority of MPs in Parliament voted for the Bill to go onto the second stage of reading. Chief Executive, Paul Owen comments, "Reaching a second reading stage clearly signifies to Ministers that the current situation seriously needs to be reviewed and that voluntary access agreements are simply not sustainable, viable or acceptable. The case for new legislation is strong and supported not only by the 1.5 million who paddle regularly, but also by all river users and members of the public who think the law is archaic and should be brought up to date."
Opening up rivers would help the BCU achieve its sporting and recreational aims. Greater access would also enable us to assist in reaching the Government’s aims for outdoor educational, participation in physical activity and the health agenda.
The outline of the Bill presentation by Des Turner, MP for Brighton: Why Legislation and why voluntary rivers access agreements do not work Dr Tuner emphasised that voluntary access agreements do not work and that legislation is the only way forward for access to inland waters. Voluntary access agreements have had negligible impact on access to inland waters. From over 41,000 miles (66,000kms) of rivers in England and Wales without a public right of navigation, only 510 miles (812 kilometres) of mostly highly restricted access has been negotiated. Some agreements are for just a few days each year adding very little to the 2% of inland waterways with a public right of navigation. Ultimately, access is in the hands of riparian owners and if they refuse to engage in negotiation, there is no way a canoeist or others can make progress. The Environment Agencies’ report into rivers access – ‘Putting pilot voluntary canoe access agreements in place’, launched on 3rd October 2006 achieved very little. In two years a meagre 20 miles of access have been gained with some of that being highly restrictive and complicated. (The study claimed that 72kms (45 miles) has been negotiated for paddlers, but in reality there was already agreement and acceptance for canoeing to take place on much of the area of study.)
The Countryside Right of Way legislation (CRoW), which gives some people the right to roam, has not included everyone. Canoeists, swimmers, non-powered watersports have not been given the right to roam right to go to, on, traverse or in waters which have no access agreement or public right of navigation. Even if you want to watch wildlife from a boat/canoe, put your hot feet in the water after a walk, or allow you children to wade in a river on a hot summer’s day you could be committing trespass if there is no access to or along that waterway. Despite lobbying, water was taken out of the CRoW Act at the eleventh hour and still there is no access to and along 98% of the rivers in England and Wales. In essence England and Wales have a natural heritage which provides great opportunities for open-air recreation and education. Open-air recreation provides people with great benefits for their health and well-being and contributes to the good of society in many other ways.
The Public Access to Inland Waters Bill (2007) gives everyone (non-motorised users) statutory access rights to and along most inland waters. However, people will only have these rights if they exercise them responsibly. All rights of navigation will continue to exist and are unaffected by the Public Access to Inland Waters Bill (2007)
Legislation, such as this Bill, will codify responsible access to and along water. It protects the environment and activities of canoeists, anglers, other users and landowners who are all required to adhere an Access Code. One similar to that of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code would be developed to support the Bill.
The benefits of Canoe and Kayaking A legal right of access to rivers would provide more recreational opportunities for a group of people who want to use the water for recreational and educational purposes including canoeists, swimmers, and boaters and members of the general public with knock-on benefits for public health. The recreational aspects of canoeing could coincide effectively with government’s "everyday sport" and Welsh Assembly Government’s "Climbing Higher Strategy" if only river users had more access.
Our sport and recreation, which is currently the most popular watersport in the UK, contributes to the Government’s targets on; health - it is a healthy outdoor activity which encourages a respect and passion for nature and the environment. It also contributes to the local and national economy. Water related activities are dramatically on the increase and access would provide millions of people with the opportunity to recreate near their homes and on a variety of waters.
Medal Success With the London 2012 Olympics on the not too distant horizon, England and Wales should have the same access to our waters as the rest of the World. Watersports contributed to 40% of the GB medal success in the Athens 2004 Olympics. At the recent Youth Olympics held in Australia, our young talented Olympians of the future won an impressive five medals.
Support for the Campaign The Campaign is supported by; the Inland Waterways Association, the canoeing community, many sporting and non sporting bodies, uniformed youth organisations and the thousands who think the law is archaic and needs to be clarified though new legislation.
A recent petition on calling for new legislation is on of the most popular on the Prime Minister’s petitions page, visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Canoeists/
For more information on the campaign visit www.riversaccess.org
For more information on BCU visit: www.bcu.org.uk
|