East Mills weir, 1km upstream from Fordingbridge (Grid Reference SU157144), potentially offers a unique local feature for canoeists providing an ideal and friendly ‘training ground’ for practicing basic ‘white water’ skills. Indeed, it is, as far as I know, the only local site that offers this. I paddled at the weir on a few occasion in 1998, with the permission of the, then, owner of the Manor House at the Mill. On these few occasions the weir provided a safe ‘stopper’ or hydraulic with a natural flow through (on river left) to allow canoeists to exit the slot with comparative ease.The weir is situated at an Environment Agency Depot and, consequently, I, on behalf of a local Canoe Club, sought permission from the Agency, in 1999, to paddle here for one or two evenings a month. Unfortunately, the Agency’s ownership is limited to the depot area and river bank. The river bed and fishing rights are owned by the Manor House that had recently changed hands.
The Agency was happy to grant access for canoeing providing consent was given by the new owner of the Manor House. Unfortunately, such consent was denied outright (indeed, the owner refused to even discuss the issue) and any potential ‘access agreement’ was, at that time ‘dead in the water’
Sadly this very much represents the pattern and outcome of access negotiations by canoeists, canoe clubs and the BCU across the country. Voluntary Access agreements across England and Wales have only managed to secure permission to paddle around 1% of rivers - and these rare agreements are often highly restrictive in nature, allowing paddling for a few months of the year
1 comment:
If you didn't trespass to get on the water, and have done no damage while on it, then it is unlikely anyone would be likely to bother sueing you.
The 1664 Act of Parliament for making the river Avon Navigable from Christ-Church in the City of New Sarum (Salisbury) has not been repealed and is still in force.
Because of Magna Carta clauses outlawing obstructions to vessels, the authority of the king (via parliament) would have been needed to authorise new obstructions in any river including the locks and weirs needed to allow larger vessels to pass up and down the river.
I've identified at least one court case from the preceeding century or two before this act where this is confirmed.
It wasn't necessary to create a new right of passage for vessels on the river.which is why the acts do not mention it, but always refer to authority to carry out works (affecting adjoining land), and levy tolls on vessels carrying goods (to compensate for the costs).
Public have used the river for quite some time - regattas were held which have been documented, as have other trips down this section.
Brevan
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