****EDM 1577 - INCREASED ACCESS TO WATERWAYS IN ENGLAND AND WALES - 02.06.2009****
Grogan, John
That this House applauds the British Canoe Union for staging an excellent 2009 European Canoe Slalom Championships in Nottingham, 28 to 31 May 2009, and celebrates the notable success of Team GB in taking four medals in total, two gold, one silver and one bronze; welcomes the BBC's live coverage on a busy sporting weekend; notes that over 2.5 million paddlers in Britain only have access to 1,400 miles of inland water in England and Wales, which is less than four per cent. of the total 41,000 miles of waterways over three metres wide; further notes that while the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2002 only incorporates land, the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003 and its supporting Scottish Outdoor Access Code includes waterways, ensuring that paddlers have the same rights as walkers and access to all of Scotland's waterways; and calls on the Government to set a realistic target for increased access to waterways in England and Wales by the Olympic year of 2012.
Access to inland water in Wales is a right of equity and social justice - Good News from Wales
More information in Campaign Comment and the Newsletter
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...
 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.
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.
Whose rivers are they anyway? “The frustration lies in the fact that at a time when obesity levels have risen to an unprecedented level and the government is encouraging more active lifestyles, this unique resource remains out of bounds.” - Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine Dec 2006
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.
A song for a Canoeist
My paddle's keen and bright,
Flashing like silver,
There where the wild goose flies,
Dip, dip and swing.
Dip, dip and swing them back,
Flashing like silver.
Swift as the wild goose flight.
Dip, dip and swing.
The tune is here
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World Rivers Day - September 27th, 2009.
World Rivers Day is set for September 27th this year (as always falling on the last Sunday in September) and, while the event is still several months away, it will be here before we know it. Consequently, we're hoping that river advocates from around the globe will start planning events as part of this year's World Rivers Day celebration.
Visit our Web site at: www.worldriversday.bcit.ca to find out more about World Rivers Day, and to register your own event with us.
Last year, river enthusiasts around the world came together for the fourth annual event. It was a great success, with millions of people involved from almost 30 countries.
More information 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...
Illustrations by Andrew Quick
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 by logging your support here
.Over 10,000 people have logged their support so far!
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
For exciting canoeing games and innovative canoeing designs on a wide range of goods.. 
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