FOR MORE ON ACCESS

www.riversaccess.org

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Access to Rivers Manifesto

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SUGGESTED PADDLES

River Cam

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Cliveden Reach

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River Crouch Estuary

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Exeter Canal and Exe Estuary

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River Ivel

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Kennet and Avon Canal

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River Mersey Canoe Trail

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River Great Ouse

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Oxford Circuit

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River Stort

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Teign Estuary

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River Thames

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Ullswater Canoe Trail

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Waterhead, Lake Windermere

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River Wear

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River Wharfe, Collingham

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River Wharf, Otley

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The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) is the most significant legislation for water in 20 years and sets out a process to protect and improve the environmental condition of all waters. It provides a common approach to setting environmental objectives to achieve ‘good status’ for surface waters (including lakes, streams and rivers), groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters (out to one nautical mile) within the European Community. The Environment Agency (EA) is the competent authority in England and Wales to lead the Water Framework Directive.

The directive embodies the concept of integrated river basin management plans and sets out to identify the environmental pressures and problems (significant water management issues) facing the river basin and associated catchments. This will determine measures for River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) to drive improvements to the quality of the water environment – cleaner waters, abstraction, sustainable use, protect and enhance aquatic habitats and natural landscapes, and more opportunities for recreation.

Myths and realities – access in Scotland

Q. So now it is free-for-all in Scotland – you can do what you like? A. Definitely no – access to the vast majority of both land and water in Scotland is open to all, but it comes with responsibility – respecting the rights of others to carry out legal activities as farming, angling. Access also comes with understanding personal responsibilities. Q. How do I do that? A. Find out about access before you visit – by using the SCA web site, reading the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC), using the SCA’s River Advisers and if still in doubt, asking the SCA’s Access and Environment Officer. Q. I have heard that we can camp anywhere now? A. Basically, yes, but, again, by using common sense – SOAC says that you can camp in small groups for a short time e.g. one or two nights. The SCA Wild Camping Code is now on our web site – please read it! You should not camp within the curtilage of a house (the garden). Q. I have heard that canoeists have been breaking access agreements in Scotland? A. No, because there are no such things in Scotland – access is the right of every individual, and it cannot be taken away by anybody else e.g. by the SCA on behalf of members. There are no ‘agreements’ taking away access due to angling or anything else, so any stories you have heard about a ‘non-canoeing river’ are inaccurate and spurious. It is believed that a few landowners and anglers have been spreading stories that are, basically, incorrect. www.canoescotland.com

Consultations on RBMPs for each of the nine River Basin Districts in England and Wales have commenced; and the EA is seeking views from stakeholders. Draft RBMPs are to be published in December 2008.

Canoe England representatives attended six catchment workshops in the south east river basin district in February; and is keen for paddlers to contribute to this process in each of the other eight river basin districts. Paddlers can have a detailed knowledge of catchments and water bodies. At national level, Canoe England is a member of the DEFRA National Stakeholders Group.

How the EA is consulting varies with their management in each river basin district that is a mix of catchment workshops and means of comment on outputs from the EA.

To take part in your River Basin Management Plan consultation

Contact the River Basin Planning Manager at your regional or area EA office or contact: access@bcu.org.uk

Learn more about the Directive

There are a number of resources on the internet for how river basin planning will work where you live:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd gives details on how the directive will impact on user sectors.

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfdforums an online forum to discuss significant water management issues in the South East, South West and Dee River .

www.euwfd.com all about the directive in the UK and Ireland from the Foundation for Water Research.

The Water Framework Directive will overhaul the management and use of surface and ground waters with implications for recreation, business and industry.

Marine Bill and Coastal Access

The government is expected to launch the Marine Bill in April to manage the marine environment in a more integrated way with a vision for clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. Government reviews have concluded that in many places the marine environment is becoming increasingly crowded with demands on space for development, to exploit resources, for recreation and nature conservation.

It is anticipated that the bill will capture most water recreation activities to include; canoeing, sailing and boating, swimming, diving, angling, surfing etc. The intention is to ensure protection of UK marine natural assets, simplify law and address the sometimes conflicting demands for energy, aggregates, shipping, fishing and recreation; while also ensuring that conservation objectives are achieved.

The Marine Bill will address water quality and this will lead to some overlay with the Water Framework Directive. It is currently unclear how the bill will be positioned with the directive.

Another factor in the Marine Bill recently announced by the government is the inclusion of coastal access. Originally there was going to be dedicated primary legislation piece the extension of public rights to the coast, but the government has had a change of policy and is bolting coastal access onto the Marine Bill.

Canoe England responded to the 2007 consultations for the Marine Bill White Paper and Coastal Access and will closely follow the passage of the Bill through parliament.

For more information on the detail of the Marine Bill visit www.defra.gov.uk

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