6. When will access to the inland waters of Wales be back on the Welsh Government’s agenda? OAQ(5)0094(ERA)

Thank you. Access to water has never been off our agenda. The Welsh Government is keen to secure improvements in opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. I have considered the responses to a Welsh Government consultation on accessing the outdoors, and intend to set out my approach in the coming weeks.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer, and would like to acknowledge here that the Welsh Government has done a great deal to open up the countryside over recent years, but this has largely been concentrated on land usage rather than on water access. It is some nine years ago when the Sustainability Committee published its report in response to a 10,000-signature petition received by the Petitions Committee. Amongst other things, their report stated that the situation with regard to access to water was untenable and that new legislation was required. Now, you will know of Waters of Wales. It’s a community of independent campaigners representing swimmers, boaters, walkers and other interested parties, which seeks to have legislation that would enshrine rights of responsible access to inland waterways throughout Wales. I do acknowledge, as my colleague mentioned with the marine environment, it’s a very, very complex issue that you would have to deal with, but does the Cabinet Secretary not agree that after some nine years, it is time for the Welsh Government to address this issue, especially given that such rights would impact positively on the tourist trade, and also greatly assist in the objectives of the health and well-being Act?

Well, I was actually a member of the Sustainability Committee back in 2009; it’s actually 2010 I think we had our inquiry into access to inland waters. And what the Welsh Government has been doing to date is actually following the recommendations from that committee report. But we have had a review of legislation on access to the outdoors, and we’ve had a subsequent public consultation, which I referred to in my initial answer to you, which has involved lots of stakeholders. We had a workshop that specifically looked at the issue around access to inland water. As I say, I will be making a statement over the coming weeks in relation to it.

Cabinet Secretary, I thank you for the answer you’ve just given and the indication that you’re going to be announcing shortly the decision on the consultation. Obviously, when the Green Paper came out, there were deep concerns from anglers in relation to the impact it would have on fishing stocks and breeding times. And perhaps the question of ‘responsible’ access is the important word. I met with my local anglers’ society last Friday night, and they’re still concerned over this business of timings of access to ensure that when the fish are breeding, they’re not disturbed. Will you therefore ensure that the voluntary process that you’ve identified is perhaps the best way forward to ensure that there is a good relationship between the anglers and those who wish to use the rivers, so that all can get the benefit from the inland waterways?

Yes, absolutely. I think it’s a very emotive issue. I remember when I was a member of the Sustainability Committee, my postbag was quite full from both anglers and canoeists, and as a Minister it’s just the same. It is incredibly emotive. It’s about, I think, considering not just anglers, not just canoeists—it’s about walkers, it’s about swimmers, it’s about gorge walkers; I’ve had correspondence from people who enjoy gorge walking. So, I think we need to get it right. It’s about looking at the additional benefits also—the health and well-being benefits—and, again, I think we’ve seen that from the coastal path, for instance, so we need that with our access to our inland water too.

I’m of the same opinion that voluntary agreements are the best way forward, but, of course, one does recognise that getting that agreement can be difficult at times. What consideration has the Government given, therefore, to appointing a mediator or mediators in such situations—a role that NRW could perhaps play—in order to ensure that we do come to voluntary agreements, which hopefully then will be far more successful?

That is something we are going to have to consider. The access to the water is probably the most contentious issue that’s come out of the consultation. The advice from Natural Resources Wales does say that the existing voluntary access agreements—. There’s only around 4.6 per cent of the total main river length of Wales available for canoeing and kayaking, so we need to have a look at that. You’re quite right; maybe if there was a need to mediation, NRW would be the most appropriate organisation to do so, but I’m having a look at all the responses, and will bring forward a statement.