Neil Gray-ling? (SNP)
Fishing MPs
- Thread starter Cliff Hatton
- Start date
B
binka
Guest
Appreciating that this issue might be dragging on longer than expected I have emailed the Trust to repeat the above question.
As soon as I receive a reply I will let everyone know.
---------- Post added at 17:10 ---------- Previous post was at 15:28 ----------
Credit where credit is due, Mark Lloyd has very kindly replied to me earlier and very quickly too.
As suspected the issue is dragging on, with Mark's permission I can post the details of his reply by way of an update:
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your understanding. You’re right, it has dragged on longer than we had hoped, due to the intransigence of British Canoeing.
We have just commissioned some more legal advice from a QC and when we have received that then we will be making a further public statement. This will almost certainly be by the end of November and possibly sooner.
Feel free to post this information on the Forum and thanks for getting in touch.
All best wishes
Mark
PS Do contact me direct if you wish on this e-mail address
Fingers crossed now for a positive outcome for us
By way of the anticipated update on the illegal paddler issue, I have emailed Mark Lloyd who I'm sure will be back in touch with the current status of the situation.
As soon as I receive his reply I will update the thread.
thecrow
Well-known member
Thanks Steve.
thecrow
Well-known member
Is this all finished with now since the advice from a barrister to the Angling Trust?
B
binka
Guest
I've not checked on the AT website but the last I heard was that the AT had written to the canoeing governing body several times without reply.
I certainly hope it doesn't fizzle out after forking out on costly legal advice, we really need to see a return on that which has an impact down at ground level where it is all taking place.
Personally, I can see why the AT would go for the governing body but I still suspect the militants we've encountered, and potentially hundreds more like them, will carry on regardless of what their governing body says so we still need a plan of action at ground level to deal with them.
thecrow
Well-known member
Imo that's the only thing that will have an impact on them followed up by prosecution of the offenders by the EA, I have emailed the EA asking what action they would take against illegal paddlers, if I get an answer it should be interesting.
thecrow
Well-known member
Well I have received an answer? if you can call it that, it is in my opinion just a none answer, anyway here it is below make of it what you will. I have replied asking what waters they are the navigation authority for if I don't get a proper answer I shall put in an FOI to try to get the information.
Dear Graham,
Thank you for your email regarding navigation of rivers.
The Environment Agency would only take action against those using waterways where the Environment Agency is the navigation authority.
If there is no navigation authority for the river then the canoeists would require permission from the riparian owner before traveling that section of the river. If someone is travelling the river without the permission of the land owner or appropriate navigation authority then this could be considered trespass and would need to be followed up as such.
If you have any further queries regarding navigation of Environment Agency waterways, please get in touch or call 03708 506 506. For other waterways, please contact the appropriate navigation authority.
Dear Graham,
Thank you for your email regarding navigation of rivers.
The Environment Agency would only take action against those using waterways where the Environment Agency is the navigation authority.
If there is no navigation authority for the river then the canoeists would require permission from the riparian owner before traveling that section of the river. If someone is travelling the river without the permission of the land owner or appropriate navigation authority then this could be considered trespass and would need to be followed up as such.
If you have any further queries regarding navigation of Environment Agency waterways, please get in touch or call 03708 506 506. For other waterways, please contact the appropriate navigation authority.
geoffmaynard
Content Editor
Yes... They are very skilled at doing sweet FA about canoes, passing the buck and hiding heads in sand.
On my stretch - one of the heaviest canoed stretches of the non-PRN Wye, between Glasbury and Hay - I managed to get the County Council involved. After a year of procrastination, we now have a Code of Conduct in place. This involves all commercial company/operator/Schools to mark their craft with ID clearly so they are recognisable from both banks. Many operators have complied but several have not. These non-compliant companies therefor will not have permission to paddle the stretch, so their Public Liability insurance will be invalid. I now have to get some authority to police and prosecute this lack in the name of H&S (nobody cares about any trespass/civil laws).