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Welcome to the new web site for
River Wye Gillies Association
River Wye Gillies Association
'protecting and preserving salmon on the river Wye'
Canoeing
Lynn Bulbeck. Wye Navigation Officer for EA Wales is seeking responses in respect of craft identification as part of the consultation being carried out by the WAG Sustainability Committee. RWGA are uncertain whether or not WUF or individual riparian owners have responded and as far as we can see ,the only Upper Wye owner to respond to the enquiry was Harry Chichester at Llangoed; the Rhayader club did too, but not, we think, the Builth Club. Below is our response
Dear Mz Bulbeck.
I write with reference to your request for responses in respect of the proposal for or against craft identification on the river Wye.
My name is Geoff Franks and I am Chairman of the River Wye Gillies Association whose views I am authorised to express regarding this issue.
My members, especially but not exclusively during the fishing season have to deal with canoeists and other craft. I myself have, unfortunately in many respects, over 40 years experience in dealing with and witnessing canoe activity on the river Wye, both in the navigable area below Hay Bridge and the ‘unnavigable’ areas on the upper river.
The problems are huge, and varied but as your consultation paper seems merely concerned with identification matters I will try and restrict myself to this aspect.
Its rather obvious to anyone that a system of registration and identification must be imposed on the canoe/rafting fraternity in particular. It must be a compulsory system as a voluntary one will plainly not work. Those who do not wish to join it will simply not do so making the exercise meaningless. All canoes should have some indentification as to the orogin of the owner/leasee of the craft and any occupants be required to supply means of their own identification such as a name and address when requested.
A voluntary ‘code of conduct’ likewise does not work and this too must be compulsory with some form of penalty for transgression. If not why would you bother conforming? In my opinion too canoe occupants should have some form of competency in the control of their craft not only to avoid killing themselves but to avoid’ running down’ of wading anglers which happens quite often, so far luckily with no fatalities.
The river is a highway in a similar manner to a road and some control must be exercised over such issues as trespass, camping, firelighting, defecating, litter, drunkeness, general abuse, deliberate interference with other river users not to mention the constraints of the rivers SSSi or SAC status. Effects on flora and fauna too is certainly considerable.
Canoeists should hold some form of paid for registration document the monies from which could be used to either police the navigation or contribute to the maintainance of the river corridor such as anglers do.
Many of us are tired of the Eas pro canoeing stanc.You were desirous of holding the navigation rights and it is now your duty to police that navigation for the good of the river and ALL its users.
Geoff Franks.
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WATER-BASED RECREATION WYE AND USK EXEMPLAR PROJECT: PROJECT BRIEF
1. Background
The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has been requested by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to fund the development and delivery of exemplar projects that provide opportunities for water-based recreation in Wales. The project work is to be implemented during 2007/08, and will need to be completed by March 2008.
The Wye and Usk Project could be split into the following sections:
1) Llanwrthwl Bridge - Builth Wells
2) Builth Wells - Glasbury
3) Glasbury - Hay on Wye
4) River Usk, Sennibridge - Crickhowell
2. Aim and Objectives
The overall aim of the project is to pilot methods of facilitating opportunities for water-based recreation.
In order to achieve this aim, the following objectives will be delivered:
Contact riparian landowners, and set up database.
Contact local and other appropriate Outdoor Centres, activity providers and canoeing groups and include in database.
Organise meetings of riparian owners and fishing groups.
Organise meetings with outdoor centres, activity providers and canoeing groups
Determine site-specific appropriate river levels and seasons for canoeing, that ensure that the environment is sufficiently protected
Develop the use of river level data as a management and publicity tool, both on-site and via real-time mobile technologies (website), based on a ‘traffic light’ system. Liaise with the Environment Agency Wales to ensure that river level data and mobile technologies are compatible with those developed by other exemplar projects in Wales.
Make available via the website, appropriately annotated maps detailing each section of the river.
Review the requirements, in terms of facilities and information, for a range of different water-based activities, and of different types of users (for example families, experts)
Identify any new infrastructure requirements (signage, access and egress points, parking,) as required.
Investigate and encourage the development of opportunities for small-scale local businesses in relation to the provision of associated services (for example: accommodation)
Evaluate the impact of the pilot on: extent of opportunities provided; levels of use; behaviour of users; capacity (of the river and facilities); environmental quality; commercial and economic benefits.
Make the arrangements as simple but at the same time workable as possible!
3. Project Scope
The selected area has to be sufficiently diverse to enable the above objectives to be piloted. Secondly, the budget and timescale have to be taken into consideration in order to ensure that the pilot is deliverable. In relation to these points, the Wye and Usk has been selected, on the basis that it:
Provides a range of different landownership.
Offers potential opportunities for Kayaking, Canoeing and rafting by people of varying abilities from white water to flat water.
The whole river is has been designated as a SSSI and SAC.
Has a range of existing uses, including angling, canoeing and rafting.
4. Outcomes
The following outcomes will be delivered:
An increase in opportunities for Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting
A robust management system that can be replicated on other sites
An evaluation report on the process and impacts, that can be used to inform other public and voluntary bodies along with private sector landowners
Guidance on implementation that can be used to inform the delivery of opportunities identified in the Environment Agency Wales’ Strategic Plan for Water-based Sport and Recreation
An agreement accepted by users, based on river levels and environmental consideration and a notion of shared usage.
A website indicating up to date access information and data on daily river levels
5. Next Steps
At this initial stage the following next steps are required:
Establish a working group to advise and oversee the delivery of the project
Determine a project timescale, with key milestones
Allocate the budget
Lynn Bulbeck. Wye Navigation Officer for EA Wales is seeking responses in respect of craft identification as part of the consultation being carried out by the WAG Sustainability Committee. RWGA are uncertain whether or not WUF or individual riparian owners have responded and as far as we can see ,the only Upper Wye owner to respond to the enquiry was Harry Chichester at Llangoed; the Rhayader club did too, but not, we think, the Builth Club. Below is our response
Dear Mz Bulbeck.
I write with reference to your request for responses in respect of the proposal for or against craft identification on the river Wye.
My name is Geoff Franks and I am Chairman of the River Wye Gillies Association whose views I am authorised to express regarding this issue.
My members, especially but not exclusively during the fishing season have to deal with canoeists and other craft. I myself have, unfortunately in many respects, over 40 years experience in dealing with and witnessing canoe activity on the river Wye, both in the navigable area below Hay Bridge and the ‘unnavigable’ areas on the upper river.
The problems are huge, and varied but as your consultation paper seems merely concerned with identification matters I will try and restrict myself to this aspect.
Its rather obvious to anyone that a system of registration and identification must be imposed on the canoe/rafting fraternity in particular. It must be a compulsory system as a voluntary one will plainly not work. Those who do not wish to join it will simply not do so making the exercise meaningless. All canoes should have some indentification as to the orogin of the owner/leasee of the craft and any occupants be required to supply means of their own identification such as a name and address when requested.
A voluntary ‘code of conduct’ likewise does not work and this too must be compulsory with some form of penalty for transgression. If not why would you bother conforming? In my opinion too canoe occupants should have some form of competency in the control of their craft not only to avoid killing themselves but to avoid’ running down’ of wading anglers which happens quite often, so far luckily with no fatalities.
The river is a highway in a similar manner to a road and some control must be exercised over such issues as trespass, camping, firelighting, defecating, litter, drunkeness, general abuse, deliberate interference with other river users not to mention the constraints of the rivers SSSi or SAC status. Effects on flora and fauna too is certainly considerable.
Canoeists should hold some form of paid for registration document the monies from which could be used to either police the navigation or contribute to the maintainance of the river corridor such as anglers do.
Many of us are tired of the Eas pro canoeing stanc.You were desirous of holding the navigation rights and it is now your duty to police that navigation for the good of the river and ALL its users.
Geoff Franks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WATER-BASED RECREATION WYE AND USK EXEMPLAR PROJECT: PROJECT BRIEF
1. Background
The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has been requested by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to fund the development and delivery of exemplar projects that provide opportunities for water-based recreation in Wales. The project work is to be implemented during 2007/08, and will need to be completed by March 2008.
The Wye and Usk Project could be split into the following sections:
1) Llanwrthwl Bridge - Builth Wells
2) Builth Wells - Glasbury
3) Glasbury - Hay on Wye
4) River Usk, Sennibridge - Crickhowell
2. Aim and Objectives
The overall aim of the project is to pilot methods of facilitating opportunities for water-based recreation.
In order to achieve this aim, the following objectives will be delivered:
Contact riparian landowners, and set up database.
Contact local and other appropriate Outdoor Centres, activity providers and canoeing groups and include in database.
Organise meetings of riparian owners and fishing groups.
Organise meetings with outdoor centres, activity providers and canoeing groups
Determine site-specific appropriate river levels and seasons for canoeing, that ensure that the environment is sufficiently protected
Develop the use of river level data as a management and publicity tool, both on-site and via real-time mobile technologies (website), based on a ‘traffic light’ system. Liaise with the Environment Agency Wales to ensure that river level data and mobile technologies are compatible with those developed by other exemplar projects in Wales.
Make available via the website, appropriately annotated maps detailing each section of the river.
Review the requirements, in terms of facilities and information, for a range of different water-based activities, and of different types of users (for example families, experts)
Identify any new infrastructure requirements (signage, access and egress points, parking,) as required.
Investigate and encourage the development of opportunities for small-scale local businesses in relation to the provision of associated services (for example: accommodation)
Evaluate the impact of the pilot on: extent of opportunities provided; levels of use; behaviour of users; capacity (of the river and facilities); environmental quality; commercial and economic benefits.
Make the arrangements as simple but at the same time workable as possible!
3. Project Scope
The selected area has to be sufficiently diverse to enable the above objectives to be piloted. Secondly, the budget and timescale have to be taken into consideration in order to ensure that the pilot is deliverable. In relation to these points, the Wye and Usk has been selected, on the basis that it:
Provides a range of different landownership.
Offers potential opportunities for Kayaking, Canoeing and rafting by people of varying abilities from white water to flat water.
The whole river is has been designated as a SSSI and SAC.
Has a range of existing uses, including angling, canoeing and rafting.
4. Outcomes
The following outcomes will be delivered:
An increase in opportunities for Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting
A robust management system that can be replicated on other sites
An evaluation report on the process and impacts, that can be used to inform other public and voluntary bodies along with private sector landowners
Guidance on implementation that can be used to inform the delivery of opportunities identified in the Environment Agency Wales’ Strategic Plan for Water-based Sport and Recreation
An agreement accepted by users, based on river levels and environmental consideration and a notion of shared usage.
A website indicating up to date access information and data on daily river levels
5. Next Steps
At this initial stage the following next steps are required:
Establish a working group to advise and oversee the delivery of the project
Determine a project timescale, with key milestones
Allocate the budget