Access rights in England
Rights to access the English countryside, including waterways, should more closely resemble those of Scotland. The land should be free for all to enjoy and use responsibly, it works in Scotland, it can work min England too.
Richard Openshaw
shared this idea
874 comments
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Doug Dew
commented
Guys, comments are great, and don't forget to vote... if don't have a number next to your name, you haven't voted... you can give up to three votes.
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Tania
commented
If Scotland has access to their waterways why not the rest of UK?
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Philippa Bevan
commented
Please add Wales
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Gambatte
commented
I neither fish or kayak now, although i did both in the past. As a kid I fished dawn till dusk during the summer break from school and later on, when I got a car, would shoot up and down the trent, looking for an unmatched peg.
I never minded kayakers.
As a kayaker, I’d always check where anglers were fishing – keep away from floats etc. I never had any problem with anglers. I did have problems with reps of angling clubs – till I contacted the waterways who issued my licence and was told the reps were talking garbage and to refer the reps on to themselves if I had any more problems.
The lake where I swim is a watersports lake which allows fishing. It works there, with canoeists too, why not everywhere else?
And BTW, I’ve also had the experience of being in a kayak and removing a dead owl from the water, still attached to the fishing line in turn attached to a branch. Location the River Don below the 3 step Weir, just above Oughtibridge. -
Michael Carter
commented
Certainly in favour of open access for swimmers
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Michael Carter
commented
Certainly in favour of open access for swimmers
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Doug Dew
commented
Gambatte, we have had lots of input from outdoor swimmers, although the discussion has been dominated by canoeists who are in favour and anglers who are against. The campaign includes all land and water use for recreation by countryside users. As you know this works perfectly well in Scotland and will provide a marvelous and long overdue recreational resource for our young people as well as families and older folk. We want our young people outdoors immersed in sport and the open air
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boxoctosis
commented
Agreed. Living in one of the wettest parts of Britain (NE), it's frustrating that most of the waterways come with "do not swim" signs attached. E.g for the mighty Kielder Water, it's very much look but don't touch.
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Gambatte
commented
I see theres a lot of comment on here about canoeing and kayaking. I’m all for it, but personally I’d like to see access opened up for swimming.
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PaddyR
commented
"He called me a louse and said "Think of the grouse"
Well i thought, but I still couldn't see
Why all Kinder Scout and the moors roundabout
Couldn't take both the poor grouse and me
He said "All this land is my master's"
At that I stood shaking my head
No man has the right to own mountains
Any more than the deep ocean bed"or the riverbed.... or at least to stop people swimming down a nice river...in my opinion..
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John Jordan
commented
As with country side access that Tony Bliar organised (a hugely positive move) , rights of access to water are outdated and unfair. As a country full of waterways and lakes that are now mostly clean and safe, there is a ridiculously small number of places where one can legally enjoy the water.
Given the focus on exercise and obesity, more is required to open up fun outdoor places to have fun while exercising. This is a positive campaign. -
Neil Leacy
commented
I'm all for it opening access to waterways in particular. The Scots have it right in many ways and we should take heed from the way they have handled requests for access.
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matt f
commented
Canoeing and Kayaking are good for your health!
They are low impact activities that can improve your aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility. Canoeing and kayaking can be done as a hobby, a competitive sport or as a fun activity on holidays
The australian government have recently endorsed this as part of their national plan to improve the nations health.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Canoeing_and_kayaking
Australia, of course have no such petty access issues and people are free to paddle rivers and lakes as they choose.
Responsible access works in yet another country.
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Big Doug
commented
If you believe that the Tories would ever back a bunch of freeloading parasites over legitimate land owners, you fools are even more deluded than I thought.
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William JOhnston
commented
I wouldn't vote for Cameron, but, while he's still in office, we might as well take advantage of the one or two things we actually agree on.
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ChasDWarren
commented
The system seems to work very well in Scotland & with good will & friendly attitudes can work well in England & Wales.
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ChasDWarren
commented
The system seems to work very well in Scotland & with good will & friendly attitudes can work well in England & Wales.
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ChasDWarren
commented
The system seems to work very well in Scotland & with good will & friendly attitudes can work well in England & Wales.
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ChasDWarren
commented
The system seems to work very well in Scotland & with good will & friendly attitudes can work well in England & Wales.
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Fishguard
commented
well Andy you know what to do then VOTE CAMERON!!
