RAFTS AND CANOES – PROBLEMS ON OUR RIVERS – HERE IN WALES

Those of us who were at the Royal Welsh Show (RWS) and who attended the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sustainability Committee launch of its ‘Inquiry into Access to Inland Water in Wales’ were deeply shocked, disturbed and bewildered with the way members of this committee – i.e. our representatives – are looking at the issue of access to water in Wales.

We knew that the Petitions Committee had looked favourably at the canoeists’ request for free access to our rivers (and had travelled to Scotland to gather evidence) – but the realisation that members of the Sustainability Committee too are looking very favourably at the rafters and canoeists request for open and free access to Welsh rivers was a major blow for us anglers – and if we – as anglers – are not careful we will lose everything we have worked for and which we hold dear.

In other words we have been put on RED ALERT and it is time for us to act. In fact there is very little time for us to act but it is imperative that every single club and indeed every single angler takes this issue very, very seriously – NOW – and responds positively as we are in danger of seeing on our rivers what is already happening in Scotland – Inland waters that are Free for All – and not just for canoeists..

The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we would be happy with such a situation – if not then action is called for – not by the ‘club down the road’ and not by ‘someone else’ but by each and every one of us. The Sustainability Committee will receive written evidence up to 19th September

We sent ‘Pledge Forms’ out to clubs before the RWS – and we are attaching them again today – please get them photocopied and signed – we need at least 10K signatures supporting our stance – we only have 3K signatures to date. Please get all your members out there looking for signatures and support. We say angling has more participants than any other sport – let’s prove it.

Also get in touch with your Assembly Member – get a representative group of your club members together with farmers through whose land your river runs to meet him/her at his/her surgery and present your case honestly and sincerely. Get all your members to write individually to them – Bombard them with your views – you are their constituents (the majority of the canoeists reside outside Wales). OUR AMs need to know how WE feel – and all anglers in Wales need to speak and act as one.

I don’t know whether you heard of the intervention of the TV celebrity Griff Rhys Jones into the access issue. He openly encouraged canoeists to disturb as may fishermen as possible

It is apparent that we anglers must make a stand. We just cannot allow the rafters and canoeists to push us off the rivers, streams, ponds and lakes of Wales – thereby gaining free and unfettered access to our waters for 365 days a year.

Please treat this problem as URGENT and get your club members to act. Sign the Pledge Forms – Visit your AMs – Make your feelings known – NOW.

What have you done to support your river, your water? What has your club done? What can you do together? Please, Please – Act Now. (Sorry to sound so emotional – but time is of the essence)

Moc & Julia

Downloads:
	Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
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