The Canoe Access Dispute

[andy_youngs]

It's no secret that there's a very live dispute between sections of the angling community, and those who believe our citizens should have a right to navigate our inland waterways.

 

It's also no secret that sections of the canoeing community view recent attempts by the Angling Trust to enforce landowner prohibition of navigation through certain stretches of river as a trip back in time to the Enclosure Acts.

 

This is heavy stuff. It's not just about a few anglers and canoeists throwing stones at each other (although the reality is that that's whats actually happening on the ground).

 

The Government maintains that it's up to anglers and canoeists to sort it out, and that it's not a matter for Government to get involved in.

 

I think they're wrong on that, but what do I know?

 

A question to an educated audience ... what do you think we should do?

[Dick Dastardly]

Andy can I ask how many times a year you go cannoing,how many times you pass anglers and how many times you recieve abuse or things thrown at you?

[andy_youngs]

These days, I don't go fishing often, and I don't go canoeing often either. Maybe once or twice a year.

 

How often do I get abuse thrown at me? Very rarely. It happened once a few years ago. But I generally find those situations are avoidable and very few and far between.

 

As long as you refrain from going either angling or canoeing, then you should be safe.

Edited March 28, 2012 by andy_youngs