Row simmers over rights to rivers

There are fears there could be conflict between river users

A row is simmering between canoeists and anglers over who uses rivers for their sport, BBC Wales has learned.

Some canoeists say their sport does not receive fair treatment, because they only have access to some 4% of all Welsh rivers.

Most riverbanks and rights to the water belong to angling clubs, who pay large sums for the right to fish.

BBC's Week In Week Out was told abuse and intimidation is already creating a tense atmosphere on some rivers.

Some canoeists feel that decades of negotiations have made no progress, the programme found.

They want the law to be changed to give access to all.

One day, it will be the wrong persons at the wrong time Gethyn Thomas, Carmarthenshire Fishermen's Federation

Gareth Bryant of Llandysul Paddlers, in Carmarthenshire, said they have a good relationship with the town's angling club, but said some canoeists were getting frustrated.

He said: "The access that we've got on here is about 5OOm that we can use year round, and that is 5OOm of the river Teifi which is almost lOO miles long, so, it's not very much.

"At the moment you, you can't canoe anywhere else on the river, unless you contact a landowner of the land which juts up to the river, or if you are going on to Fishing Club Waters, then the Fishing Clubs as well.

"The problem is, is that there are so many landowners on a small stretch of water, to try and contact each individual land owner, and ask permission is impossible."

But some anglers have said they will fight any legislation that undermines their right to fish.

Out of bounds

They added canoeists should work out local access agreements to use the river, in the same way as fishermen.

Gethyn Thomas, of the Carmarthenshire Fishermen's Federation, claimed canoeists were already ignoring existing laws and were paddling on out-of-bounds areas.

Mr Thomas said it was a worrying trend that has brought them into conflict with anglers.

The problem is, is that there are so many landowners on a small stretch of water Gareth Bryant, Llandysul Paddlers

"We are trying to tell our members as anglers, not to get involved in any confrontation, because there's anglers as well which we have got to watch, but maybe... one day, it will be the wrong persons at the wrong time, and there will be something nasty," he added.

The Welsh Assembly Government has said access to rivers must be through local agreements, but they are actively looking at ways of improving access for all.

But at least one political party, the Liberal Democrats, is in favour of changing the law.

Elsewhere in the UK, Scotland have already introduced a new law to allow reasonable access.

Ashley Charlwood of the Welsh Canoeing Association said: "It's an exciting time in Wales at the moment, the new Government of Wales Act, gives Wales the opportunity to introduce legislation that sees beneficial for Wales.

"Westminster has already made a statement on 16 October last year that recreational and access to inland water is for the Welsh assembly to consider.

"Fundamentally, we believe that there needs to be legislative intervention."

Week In Week Out is broadcast on BBC One Wales on Tuesday, 29 May at 2235 BST.