Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle & the national media
November
2011
In the wake of the Angling
Trust press release, this week saw the national media pick up and run with a
story on the Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle, even though the paddle had been
postponed seven days earlier. The opening of the “Press Release dated 11 October
“ reads..
“The Angling Trust, wrote to the Chief Executive of the British
Canoe Union (BCU) today demanding that his organisation condemns a planned
illegal trespass protest on Saturday 22 October 2011 on the Hampshire Avon. The
Angling Trust has also asked for public confirmation that no BCU staff will be
involved in the protest, and that the BCU will make it clear to participants
that they will not be covered by public liability insurance while participating
in an activity which is not recognised by the National Governing Body for
Canoeing......... “ and it went on at length and creatively –
The large,
garish craft will also disturb the peace of the river and destroy anglers'
enjoyment of their sport by scaring fish away!
In addition there was
this comment “Any sniff of support for this illegal protest would be highly
irresponsible from a National Governing Body. We have contacted the police and
have asked them to take action to arrest anyone participating in aggravated
trespass."
Monday 31 October, saw column space and air time featuring
this story in the Daily Telegraph and on the Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio2. Both
the newspaper article and radio programme provided another insight on the
attitude of some angling and land owning interests to the rest of
society:
Daily Telegraph - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8858404/River-peace-shattered-by-battle-for-right-to-paddle.html
BBC
Radio2 interviews with an angler, canoeist and a cyclist can be heard again on
BBC I Player.
The access to water issue, and lack of rights that we
maintain are a matter of wider public interest was again highlighted, as were
the threats to canoeists. Mention was made of a warning that potentially lethal
razor wire may be stretched across the water to stop canoeists (doing so would
be with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm under the Offences against the
Persons Act, 1861, Section 31).
From the Radio 2 piece, whilst the
angler made no reference to the law or the 1664 navigation act for Hampshire
Avon , the familiar argument of disturbance was heard, and met with more than
adequate responses from the canoeist. The discussion with “phone ins” went
beyond a polarised debate between angling v canoeing as it should and drew out
other interests with concerns over angling. Only a snapshot, but more than an
indication that others and not just canoeists are critical of angling attitudes
and actions. Well worth a listen on I Player before the week is out.
Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle and the Angling Trust
October
2011
Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle
and the Angling TrustOctober 2011Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle and the Angling
TrustOctober 2011Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle and the Angling TrustOctober 2011A
trip was planned for 22nd October on the Hampshire Avon. Like many trips each
year it was being organised by a private individual(s) and was in no way
connected to Canoe England. This proposed paddle led to much communication and
even a very direct press release from the Angling Trust - “ Angling Trust calls
on British Canoe Union to Condemn Mass Trespass Protest”.
Canoe England
put out the following statement on their Facebook page on Friday, 14th October
2011:
Canoe England contacted the Angling Trust after the initial
allegations made on Radio Berkshire by Mr Martin Salter and before the recent
press release from the AT – “ Angling Trust calls on British Canoe Union to
Condemn Mass Trespass Protest”. Mr Martin Salter alleged that the BCU were
organising a mass trespass on the River Avon. We (BCU/CE) stated that we were
not organising any event on the River Avon in Hampshire. Canoe England also
stated that the paddle is titled the Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle ... it is not
called a protest or mass paddle. It is merely a group of individuals who are
going out to enjoy the river.
Since the press release from the Angling
Trust Canoe England officers have had communication with the AT and have
reaffirmed that this trip has not been organised by the BCU/CE. It is one of
many thousands of such informal trips organised by canoeists, members and non
members, on Britain's waterways on an annual basis.
BCU/CE have contacted
the EA who have confirmed that the salmon spawning season on the R Avon (Hants)
is the end of October to end of March. The Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle is on 22
October so there can be no allegations of disturbing spawning fish.
The
most recent research work by Rev’d Dr Douglas Caffyn has revealed that the
Hampshire Avon has a legally enshrined right of navigation from 1664 which has
not been repealed.
Subsequently, the paddle participants took the
responsible decision to postpone the Hampshire Autumn Paddle for clear
environmental reasons due to the exceptionally low river levels and the
possibility of grounding in places. It may now be a Spring paddle when the
river levels are more suitable.
Canoe England cannot grant or deny
permission to use any waters and the choice to whether to canoe is the
responsibility of the individual. As a membership organisation and in an
advisory capacity, Canoe England has issued guidance for good environmental
practice in the leaflet “You, your canoe and the environment” - /media/pdf/youyourenv0206_lr.pdf
Changes to the Canoe England
Access Team
October 2011
Some of you may already have
noticed on the website that all matters relating to access and the environment
are now under the heading Waterways and Environment. This is not a 21st century
‘make over’ style of change – but reflects our response to the issues that we
are now facing for paddlers to access the waterways.
Waterways and Environment better captures
the wide range of these issues that extends into planning applications and
regulations, legislation, liaison with agencies and other organisations, and the
growing area relating to environmental management. The changes will be reflected
in a new structure to deal with the strategic and operational issues that arise.
This will be led by Richard Atkinson who joins us on 31st October as a new
Waterways and Environment Manager.
The changes mean that our Regional
and Local River Advisors will now be known as Regional and Local Waterway
Advisors, whilst the title Local Coastal Advisor remains unchanged. The roles
and responsibilities of these posts remain the same.
Waterways and
Environment
The proposed new structure for the reformed
Waterways and Environment department for Canoe England will be introduced in the
coming months. This will comprise of a Strategy Group and an Operations
Group.
Waterways Trustees Report
on Charity Progress
October 2011
The transition trustees of
the newly named Canal & River Trust, which from next April will take
responsibility for the care of the 2,000 miles of historic waterways in England
and Wales, have today published their first report on what has been achieved
since they took up their posts in May 2011.
The report sets out the
trustees’ thinking on membership, governance, funding, management and other
matters relating to the new charity. It provides greater detail, terms of
reference and timetables for the appointment of the Trust’s Council and
partnerships and announces the decision to seek three new trustees with
experience in finance, investment and engineering.
More information is
available here
Join the race to save our Blue Planet
May 2011
WWF are launching an event called ‘The Blue Mile’, which is raising money to clean up and protect our water environments.
It is time to do your bit for the water you enjoy so much! We want you
to set yourself a challenge in your kayak, with a group of friends, your
club or alone – how far can you kayak for WWF? Or just do a mile in the
silliest costume you can think of with your friends – make that usual
paddle something different and collect sponsorship for us. Make sure you
keep it safe and get organising; it is quick and easy with our 8 step
guide…
Do not forget to send us your photos of your event and your sponsorship
money, for more information and help to organise your event have a look
at - www.wwf.org.uk/bluemile
A New Era for the Waterways
A consultation on the Governments proposals for moving inland waterways into a new charity in England & Wales.
The consultation document is published at www.defra.gov.uk/consult/waterways-1103/
The consultation is open until 30th June 2011. Government response to the consultation is scheduled for Autumn 2011
Red Card to Red Tape launched
April 2011
The Sport and Recreation Alliance review Red Card to Red Tape – How
sports clubs want to break free from bureaucracy, a report into the
regulatory burden on sport and recreation clubs was published on 22
March 2011. The Review was commissioned by the Minister for Sport and
the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, and will feed into the Government’s
wider review of regulation being conducted by the Cabinet Office.
For canoeing and other water recreation, the report highlights the
burden of there being no automatic right to launch a boat, canoe or
other vessel or to access the river bank in England and Wales; and
recommends a statutory right based on the principles of the Scottish
Outdoor Access Code for responsible access.
The full review, summary and press release are available from
http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/news/22-03-2011/red-card-red-tape-launched
Quick search for Access to inland waters - Pg 34 in the exec summary and 185/199 in the full report.