Access ... Rights of Way .... What about access to and along water???
· Please be advised that today (14 May 2012) Defra launched a public consultation on a proposed package of changes to the processes for recording, diverting and extinguishing public rights of way.
A copy of the consultation paper, supporting documents and a response pro-forma can be viewed and downloaded at: www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/05/14/improve-rights-of-way/. The consultation runs until 6 August 2012 and is likely to be of relevance to all people who have an interest in public rights of way in England.
We welcome your views on our proposals as your feedback will be used to inform Government decisions on whether and how to implement the various proposals for improvement.
· You may also be interested to know that today Natural England opened its Paths4Communities (P4C) funding scheme. The aim of P4C is to encourage and support local communities to work with land owners to make improvements to the network of public rights of way and so deliver benefits to rural areas and walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
P4C will operate over the two year period from May 2012 to March 2014 and has a total fund of £2m. Local community partnerships are eligible to bid to Natural England for funds.
Further details, information and an applicant handbook can be viewed at: www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/access/rightsofway/p4c.aspx
New website coming soon ...
We are well underway with a new website ... and hope it will go live shortly ..
Thesis by Douglas Caffyn, River Transport 1189 – 1600
The University of Sussex has awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree to Douglas Caffyn for his thesis to establish the extent of river transportation in the period 1189 - 1600. m
Entitled “River Transport 1189 – 1600” and published this week, the thesis and his earlier work “The Right of Navigation on Non-tidal waters and the Common Law “2004 are available at www.caffynonrivers.co.uk
More information here
A Major National Scandal
The Radio Times (25th - 31st July 2010) cover features Griff Rhys Jones with the strap line - why does Griff Rhys Jones call Britain’s waterways “a major national scandal”?
Inside he is quoted in a leader to an article for the series – "Owners of river banks have the legal right to stop people canoeing. It’s a disgrace, gross selfishness, a major national scandal”
The Facilities Inquiry, an independent inquiry into the nation’s sport and recreation facilities,launched its report and recommendations 18th May 2010
http://www.facilitiesinquiry.org.uk/Report
The recommendations of the panel
7) Access to, and maintenance of, waterways must be improved.
At present access to the UK’s waterways is highly restricted, and maintenance is dramatically under-funded. Opening up high quality water and waterside recreation would hugely increase the facility stock.
7. Waterways (Pg 16)
At present access to the UK Waterways is highly restricted and maintenance is underfunded. Opening up high quality water and waterside recreation would hugely increase the facility stock. Over 90% of the population live within 2 miles of a waterway and so could easily be able to access water facilities if restrictions were removed.
also see Page 51 Comments on access and the EA access policy!
 Why is there a campaign?
In England and Wales, unlike elsewhere in the world, the public cannot assume there is an automatic right to have access to rivers. People are incredulous when they are made aware of this situation. The campaign is to secure this right as a matter of public interest. In the UK, Scotland already enjoys that right.
Research has revealed that prior to 1830, it was generally accepted the public had a historical right of access to rivers. Legal opinions since have continued to diminish this position and created a lack of clarity for such a right.
Who is the campaign for?
The campaign is not just for canoeists. It is for all members of the public who share the view that a legal right for access to and along water would provide enormous recreational, educational and economic opportunities.
A right of access will provide certainty for the future of water related sport and recreation. The campaign has gained support from many interest groups and organisations who seek more access to enjoy the natural water environment - swimmers, anglers, walkers etc.
This website is updated almost daily so do log it as one of your favourites and come back and visit regularly. To date we have had over 50,000 people visit this website and 10,000 people have logged their support for RIvers Access Campaign. We are extremely proactive in presenting the issue of access. The latest Campaign News is always available under Campaign Comment.
Strive to be a rubbish canoeist!!!
 
Canoeing is recognised as being environmentally benign and man has been canoeing for thousands and thousands of years... so why not take John's example and become a rubbish canoeist!
John and his canoeing group found many unusual items including the usual bottles, cans, plastic bags, wrappers, fast food containers, paper etc we found a car wheel and tyre, two traffic cones, bear crate, punch bag, trike, buckets, a piece of gas main, camp chair (not just a camp chair an M & S camp chair), fishing lures, lines and hooks galore, scales, rod bags, 7 or 8 buoys and much more that had no place being where it was.
more information here
So take your own rubbish home with you as well as someone else's but dispose of appropriately.. help keep our waterways clean...
Keep rivers for ALL – not just the select few
Anglers Mail 5/6/07
Read more here
Why is there no access we have the Right to Roam?
Many of us now get out and about and enjoy our natural heritage as a result of the CRoW Act (Countrtyside Rights of Way Act) With some £69 million being spent on the implementation of the Act the Govt has stated their disappointment with the take up of the new rights and the relatively low visitor numbers.
But has CRoW helped everyone? In the case of canoeists, swimmers, non-powered watesports the answer is a definite NO!! 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 extensive 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.
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So you think canoeing isn’t a political issue?
So its over, and now we have a hung parliament, but the work continues... what are you going to do? With over less than 4% of the linear river resource in England and Wales having any public access or a right of navigation it is time that they are opened up for the benefit of all.
Help us to help you ... here
How YOU can help the campaign...
Print your own poster here
We have got this far because of your support but there are things you can do to help us ..
Raising awareness
.... letter writing
and also here
to see what they are..
 Log your support
Support the Rivers Access Campaign. Over 10,000 people have logged their support so far! Unfortunately, due to spammers, we have had to remove the support campaign form.
Access Incidents
Help us to produce an incident file where experiences of both positive and negative access situations are noted. Click here
for the incident form
Campaign Comment
Click here for the latest news and Campaign Comment
Site Map
Click here for a site map, and discover the huge amount of information available on this site
To make you smile
The 1948 Olympics Sprint Racing was held at Henley .... The BCU have the original footage and gave it to the ICF Guests who came to the ICF Board Meeting in December. The ICF have decided to add music to it ...and speed up the footage... Benny Hill style!!
Have a look... here
Wild Swimmers call for a change in the access situation too
They, like millions of others, want clarity and certainty of access..
see here
Same old angry misinformation and hot air!!…
Some of the angling fraternity seem to be cranking things up and being extremely aggressive about the campaign for access to inland waters. Much misinformation and hot air is being put out!!! Increasing access to inland waters is for them too … as well as for many millions of others. Time for a change. It is not un-fetted access as Mr Salter MP states, it is access for all (non powered craft ).. rights with responsibilities. It is not about trespassing across private land is it about all of us all accessing water and using the rivers and inland waters appropriately..... .nothing unreasonable with this at all...
For exciting canoeing games and innovative canoeing designs on a wide range of goods.. 
The purpose of the Rivers Access Campaign is not only to raise awareness of the access issue on inland waterways in England but to bring about a change. The campaign is being undertaken by Canoe England on behalf all members of the public.
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