Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, talks about what might lie ahead for paddlers in the next five years following the General Election.
Now the waters have calmed, what is instantly striking is the sheer scale of change in terms of new faces in Parliament.
We now have hundreds of new, energised MPs to meet and enthuse about blue spaces.
After six years campaigning on Clear Access, Clear Waters, it became an uphill battle finding politicians who would actively champion our cause.
Government ministers were largely disinterested in expanding access (let alone on water) and who argued they had gone far enough to tackle sewage pollution (they hadn't).
‘Clean rivers, greater access’
This is an exciting reset.
It is crucial we set aside political apathy. If we as a paddling community want change – cleaner rivers and greater access – we have to get on the front foot now.
Time and resource are always in short supply in government departments. The list of things to fix is endless.
If the change we are asking for is not seen as a big enough issue, then what hope do have of ever reaching the top of their to-do pile?
We as a community need to work together to make sure our MPs know and understand our issues and ACT on our behalf.
We know for a fact that those who don't want to see paddlers and swimmers enjoying greater responsible access to inland waters will be doing the same.
This week, the final few ministerial positions have been filled.
Pleasingly, much of the shadow team has remained intact, meaning that the good relationships we had built leading up to the General Election can continue.
A week before the election, I had the pleasure of paddling with Stephanie Peacock – MP for Barnsley East and now our new Sports Minister.
On the water we discussed the major issues that are impacting our sport; pollution in our waterways and lack of access on and to rivers.
We also discussed how Paddle UK has been leading the way on sustainability as well as its role in convening the Outdoors For All and Clean Water Sports Alliance.
Having paddled a lap round the lake at Manvers in a canoe, our new sports minister pledged that if elected, we would meet again, to discuss these matters in greater depth – and importantly to have a go on a paddleboard. I'll be holding her to that!
Steve Reed OBE MP, has taken up the role of Secretary of State for Defra.
Within days he had set out his five priorities for the department; to clean up our rivers, to ensure nature’s recovery, to boost food security, protect from flooding and to move toward a zero waste economy.
Days later, the Secretary of State met with water industry bosses, in what media dubbed a ‘reset moment' for the water sector.
We should be optimistic, but not complacent, about Labour's commitments to protect our waters and expand access to nature.
Labour have a good track record on access, having brought the CRoW Act in 2000, which, at the time, fell short of delivering access on inland waters.
‘Blue space demand’
We feel it is time for Labour to finish unfinished business. Demand for access to blue space has never been greater.
The public have shown they want to play an active role in protecting our waters, through citizen science and river clean ups.
People care for what they love, but they only love what they know.
You have to BE THERE TO CARE, the biggest first step towards protecting our rivers for future generations has to be giving our waterways back to the people.
This isn't a political or ideological stance.
When we are the only nation in Europe and the rest of the world with such restrictive access rights. It is just plain, simple, common sense.
Something we shouldn't forget is that we do have an opposition.
While the Conservative Party were decimated at the polls, they as the official opposition and their job is to hold the government to account.
The Liberal Democrats in particular, who saw huge gains in the number of seats in the House, set out some bold actions both for water quality and access to nature.
Lib Dem and Green MPs will therefore be very valuable allies, to ensure that Labour plans for reform are pushed and scrutinised as hard as possible.
We have much work to do in the coming weeks to. Our core principles, set out in our Clear Access, Clear Waters Charter remain the same.
- Expand rights of responsible access to inland waters
- Protect and recover our precious blue spaces from pollution
- Educate, inspire and inform responsible behaviour
So what next? Having written to the new Secretaries of State for DCMS and DEFRA, as well as members of their ministerial team, this is a fresh start for our campaign.
We cannot expect things to change overnight, difficult and challenging conversations lie ahead. But if we don't ALL seize this fresh start, then we may not get such a good chance again.
Read more:
Labour is ‘committed to expanding access to sport and nature’