Waterways Minister says no to statutory right of access for paddlers

On the 13 June 2011 MP Ian Austin (Dudley North, Labour) received the following response to his Parliamentary written question
 "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider the merits of introducing a statutory right of access for unpowered craft to inland water for recreational purposes."

Richard Benyon (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Natural Environment and Fisheries), Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; MP for Newbury, Conservative) replied that

"We have no plans to introduce a statutory right of access to inland water for unpowered craft for recreational purposes. We are keen to achieve far greater levels of access to waterways for canoeists and other users by encouraging locally agreed, voluntary, access agreements. This fits very well with the big society agenda as it will give access where it is needed and meet the needs of all users and interested parties."

Whilst it comes as no surprise that this Minister has reiterated his personal and party stance in this way, it serves to once again highlight  the facile emptiness of the Coalition Government's claim that it seeks to build a fairer society, and demonstrates that it is prepared to ignore the clear failure of this approach over previous years, and its own recent 'Red Card to Red Tape' recommendations to remediate this inequity, in order to protect the status quo in favour of vested interests.

Waterways Minister Richard Benyon disagrees with the report comissioned by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, which conludes that "DEFRA should introduce a statutory right of access in England and Wales for unpowered craft to inland water for recreational purposes.  This system of rights and responsibilities should be based on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code."

River Kennet chosen to highlight contested paddling access rights

Some images from last weekend's paddle on the River Kennet between Padworth Lane road bridge and Sheffield Bottom.  Thanks to Jennie, Joel and Mal for the pics.

With paddlers travelling from Bristol, Hampshire, Surrey, and West Sussex, the chosen meeting point was the Kennet & Avon Canal Visitor Center at Aldermaston Wharf(pedantically, it should really be called the Kennet Navigation Visitor Center this far downstream from Newbury, but who cares).  There are 15 parking places, and on the sunny day before (when this picture was taken), they were full.  By midday on the 12th the wet forecast had allowed everyone to park up without obstructing other visitors, and having already enjoyed breakfast (my wife was bribed into assistance on the day with the promise of a bacon and egg butty, which I wished I'd ordered too as I watched her enjoyment over my toast and coffee), the group moved down to the put-in.

With 8 vehicles turning up at the put in (including our volunteer shuttle driver who'd only learnt the route the day before), off-roadside parking for 2-3 vehicles can be made just before the bridge, whilst just over the bridge there is similar space for 4-5 vehicles considerately parked. A thank you goes to the landowner  who responded kindly to our request to park next to his gate.  The group gathered for a final briefing alongside the public footpath that runs river left between Padworth Mill and Padworth Lane.

The put in utilised an existing track and break in the plant growth for minimal disturbance.
The group of 11 paddlers (including one two year old - canoeing and kayaking is an inclusive, family orientated activity for all ages) assembled on the water...

...before the 6 canoes and 2 kayaks headed towards Padworth Lane road bridge.

Once beyond the bridge the group were now paddling through the Englefield Estate, home to DEFRA Waterways Minister Richard Benyon.  He had been contacted prior to the paddle for advice on any potential hazards or river works, and the communication had been forwarded to the Estate Office, who advised that there were no known obstructions on the route.

The section down from Padworth Lane is a prime fishing beat, and other than a half-submerged old rowing boat, is remarkably free of the litter and other human debris that so often blights such stretches of the Kennet.

Some of the wider sections currently display gravel shallows at their margins, but the main river channel is more than deep enough to provide easy passage without scraping or touching the bottom.

One end of the old partially collapsed bridge built by POWs in WW2, was recently removed by the Estate as it was causing a tree-gathering obstruction.

Once past the old bridge Ufton road bridge was quickly reached...

...and the group paddled towards the confluence with the Navigation and an uncontested right of navigation.

The first portage was at Tyle Mill Lock.

This was quickly followed by the second and final portage to negotiate Sulhamstead Weir.  A public footpath runs over the top of the bridge atop the weir...

...and then river left along the bank for about half way around this riverine section which is once again bordered to the north by Englefield Estate lands.  Such is the popularity of this stretch of river with RDAA members that the numerous breaks in the foliage are  permanently established and provide for easy re-entry to the waterway.

About half way round the section a tree-fall spanned the river, but it was carefully negotiated in single file.  The slow flow of the river made this easily possible, but such obstructions might prove dangerous at higher water levels.  The Estate was advised of the obstruction immediately after the paddle, for which thanks were expressed.

The rain had been intermittent and fairly light but now set in...

...as we returned to the Navigation and headed toward Bonsal's Point.  A lady on a narrowboat enthusiastically greeted the group with thumbs up as it passed as she had heard BBC Radio Berkshire's news bulletins reporting the purpose of the paddle to promote public navigation rights.

Canoeists and kayakers can duck under the swing bridge at Sheffield Bottom...

...before reaching the take out above Sheffield Lock which is conveniently adjacent to the large public car park.

Many thanks to those who travelled some considerable distances to highlight the disputed right to paddle on the inland waterways of England and Wales.  Their effort is not diminished by the disappointing (if predictable) response of DEFRA spokesman Richard Benyon the following day (more on this later), and demonstrates that the Government's anachronistic and partisan promotion of so called access 'agreements' is neither accepted or necessary for the public to responsibly enjoy their natural heritage rights.

Another River Kennet hazard removed above Barbel Bar weir

At the behest of the Environment Agency, an old cattle feeder that had been sitting in the River Kennet above the weir at Barbel Bar for over a year has been removed by the Caversham-based Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Water Rescue Unit.

 

Low water levels made it an easy task to cross the river, which is currently only just chest deep in the center of the channel.

The cattle feeder cage is removed to the bank river right by the RBFRS WRU...

...who then demonstrated just how low the water level is by walking back up the weir face.  When the weir at Barbel Bar is at this level...

...it equates to an Environment Agency river level reading like this.