Twenty-five years and still waiting for greater blue space access
Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK
This comes as we marked the 25th anniversary of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act in November. The CROW Act, which received royal assent in 2000, granted a limited ‘right to roam’ over mapped open country and registered common land.
While it was a significant step forward for walkers, it left paddlers, swimmers, sailors and rowers in England and Wales without a statutory right to enjoy our inland waters.
How can you help deliver clear access and clear waters?
Paddle UK is urging the government to revisit this critical issue. We want them to work towards a more inclusive approach that recognises the public’s desire for responsible access to inland waters for recreation and wellbeing.
Soon, the government will bring forward a Water Reform White Paper, followed by a Bill in 2026.
We are calling on the government to use this moment to assess options to extend access rights for swimming and the use of unpowered craft on inland waters.
Fair, shared, responsible access to water. It’s not much to ask for, is it?
It is crucial that we make MPs aware of this opportunity to improve the status quo around access to inland waters. In turn, we need our MPs to raise this matter with Defra Ministers so this issue does not get overlooked.
We need your help in contacting your MP. Tips on how to write to your MP can be found at https://paddleuk.org.uk/clear-access-clear-waters/.
You can also use our MP look-up tool to find out who yours is. MPs receive hundreds of letters and emails every week, some local and some national. Your letter, therefore, needs to stand out to capture their interest in your cause.
- Explain what this means to you, your club or your group
- Please explain why this moment is essential (as we have the Water Reform Bill coming soon)
- Ask them to write to the Minister for Water to raise your concerns.
Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, said, “The CROW Act is undoubtedly an essential milestone in the long history of access to our countryside. As a result of all those who tirelessly campaigned, millions of people have since been able to explore and enjoy wild places – on foot. But it was also a huge missed opportunity.
“While the Act provided new access to mountains, moorland, heathland, and downland, it left our rivers and lakes stranded in the ‘too difficult’ pile, where they still reside.
“This government has committed itself to cleaning up our waters, which we applaud. But, given the overwhelming evidence of demand to explore and enjoy blue spaces, this government must now find the courage and conviction to finally resolve the unfinished business of access to our inland waters.
“We cannot allow this can to be kicked down the road for another 25 years.”
Why did CRoW fail to address water?
The fragmented system of ownership and navigation law in England and Wales, in which most riverbeds are privately owned, posed a significant hurdle during the drafting of the CROW Act.
The government were concerned that including water could complicate and delay the passage of the Bill.
What is the Countryside and Rights of Way Act? https://paddleuk.org.uk/what-is-the-countryside-and-rights-of-way-act-crow-act/.
Paddle UK, in collaboration with swimmers and other water users, continue to advocate for legislative reform.
The recently published ‘Outdoors For All: Recommendations For Government’ (https://outdoors.inparliament.uk/about-us) report by the APPG for Outdoor Recreation further underscores the urgent need to address access to blue spaces.
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