CLOSURE OF A STRETCH OF THE RIVER TAY BETWEEN BURNMOUTH AND LUNCARTY, SCOTLAND IN JUNE 2009
SCOTTISH OUTDOOR ACCESS CODE (SOAC)
Article Date 22/05/2009
Under the Scottish access legislation, event organisers can apply to the Local Authority to close a section of river at certain times for certain activities e.g. a large fishing competition. There has to be a special reason why the river would need to be closed.
Due to the high profile nature of the World Fly Fishing Championships, their organiser has applied to Perth and Kinross Council for a Section 11 Exemption Order on a river. This has now been granted and is a legally-enforceable restriction. This means that paddlers must obey the Order.
The SCA has been heavily involved in the discussions surrounding the planned closure from the start – representing paddlers’ interests and successfully negotiating down both the number of days and hours that the stretch of the Tay will be closed.
The exact stretch of the Lower Tay is from Burnmouth (Stanley) down to Benchil, above Luncarty and the closure will take place:
Monday June 8th – 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Tuesday June 9th – 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Wednesday June 10th – 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The SCA is using every available route to publicise the forthcoming closure – to reach all paddlers including non-members. Signs will be placed at standard access points down the river to explain the situation. Stewards working at the Fly Fishing Champs will not allow paddlers to get on the river at Burnmouth. Anyone arriving at Burnmouth from upstream will need to leave the river at this point. They will be offered a transfer service to beyond the fishing stretch which will be provided by the organisers - but this could take some time.
As there is so much daylight in June, an option is to wait until after the fishing has taken place and then continue down the river. Initially the organisers proposed shutting the river for whole days but the SCA has managed to get the closure reduced to just the time required for the actual competition. Due to the small car park at Burnmouth it is likely to be congested even in the evenings when the river is open again.
The use of the Exemption Order in Scotland is likely to remain extremely rare and be reserved for special events such as this angling competition.
TRANSPORT ACT 1968 CELEBRATIONS
The Transport Act 1968 (1968 c.73) was an act of the parliament of the United Kingdom. The main provisions made changes to the structure of nationally owned bus companies, created passenger transport authorities and executives to take over public transport in large conurbations. There was a recent “do” at the Houses of Parliament to celebrate its 40th Anniversary.
As far as the waterways were concerned The Act made changes to the use of facilities controlled by the state-owned British Waterways. Reflecting the decline in the use of canals and rivers for freight distribution, waterways were divided into three categories:
• Commercial Waterways
• Cruising Waterways
• Remainder Waterways
The Act recognised the value of the waterway network for leisure use, and set up the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council (now known as IWAC) to give advice to both government and British Waterways on all matters concerned with the use of the network for recreation.
Since then so much has happened and British Waterways supported by hundreds of volunteers have opened up parts of the disused canal network and in fact canals have become a really enjoyable place to be.
During the celebrations the new Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP (Ogmore – Wales -Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs).spoke at length about the recognition of the value of the waterways to health and social benefit as well as urban and rural regeneration. He stated that the waterways can bring different parts of the community together and are natural places for education/sporting and leisure activities..
He also assured us that the consultation on the new Waterways for Tomorrow would be extensive… watch out for more information.
CANOEISTS PUT THE WATERWAY TO THE TEST
Article Date 12/08/08
NO this is not the main River Thames, it is actually part of the hidden Maidenhead Waterway where it runs southwards just to the side of Braywick Park. If only people knew it was there and what a wasted asset this is…!
News story here
There were 16 independent canoeists there on the day, aged from 6 upwards – including Shaun Baker of the Canoe England and Longridge, Ollie Harding also from Longridge and Fran Faulkner of Windsor Canoe Club.
The group unquestionably proved, the channel from Green Lane to The Thames at Bray Marina is in practice already navigable for small boats. With a bit of branch cutting back of fallen trees, all the boats that set out for Bray got through without needing to be lifted out of the water. It is also a quite beautiful stretch of water in places, with lots of wildlife, yet the waterway here is almost completely hidden and rarely seen by anyone due to the lack of public footpaths along most of the route.
Shaun Baker on the Waterways