With only a week to go I thought it appropriate to find how each of the four main parties intend addressing the access debate. The following extracts are taken from their respective manifestos.



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Plaid Cymru

"Our rivers and lakes are a significant tourist and economic asset. They are also important habitats for the restoration of endangered wildlife and varied biodiversity. Anglers already play an important role in improving this habitat and in providing tourism opportunities. Their use of the river is already regulated. A regulated system for access to inland waters by other river users should also be introduced."


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Conservatives

"Introduce a licensing system and national code of conduct for all river users to safeguard fishing stocks and promote responsible access for unpowered craft."


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Labour

"Welsh Labour in government has taken action to improve access to our countryside for all. This remains important to our aims for the next term of the Assembly."


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Liberal Democrats

"Outlining plans elsewhere in this manifesto to protect green spaces and to ensure greater protection of our countryside. Access to green spaces for activity is essential for well-being and promoting activity."

...and then...

"Creating a new listing status to protect green areas of particular importance or value to the community."

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"Couple o' roach, couple o' tench, couple o' perch..."

Looks like Welsh anglers are about to be told to assume the position regarding canoeists!

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Not necessarily the case if they put their support behind the parties who support them. The paddlers' champion in the Assembly is already history as is her dream of her own Kinder Scout moment. An outcome at the elections which reflects the rights of Welsh anglers will reinforce that fact.

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"Couple o' roach, couple o' tench, couple o' perch..."

Thanks for taking the time to do that Hex, perhaps the next government will be more attentive to the anglers now the partisan JD is moving on.

Unfortunately rumours of her heading the new EA/CCW/FCW concoction persist but as she's a champion of free swimming in the Taff that may never happen.

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Musha rig um du rum da

I heard she was moving to live in Pembs. No doubt she wants to be near that other insanity, the Lammas eco village, which she foist upon the local communities despite overwhelming opposition.

Malvern Girls College has a lot to answer for...

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"Couple o' roach, couple o' tench, couple o' perch..."

Just bumping this up one last time to remind Welsh voters of the pledges of the various parties on issues of access.

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"Couple o' roach, couple o' tench, couple o' perch..."

I've always kept my name on the Gwynedd electoral register. This Thursday I will vote Plaid Cymru as my local candidate understands the environmental and fisheries issues at stake.

It seems strange to be casting a vote on the AV referendum whilst those in Wales already have two votes in the Welsh Assembly Election.

Hexataff you didn't state what the UKIP access policy is... save you the bother: they don't have one.
Don't waste your second vote on them as this rather trashy pamphlet I got in the post asks.

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Save the softmouth trout

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) have asked members to lobby their candidates for their views on shooting sports. If you wish you can check out your own candidates' responses by clicking here and typing your post code in the relevant box.

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"Couple o' roach, couple o' tench, couple o' perch..."

That's exactly how I read it too. Prepare to part with more money if you want to fish in Wales.

Are there any parties that won't be taxing you to fish or reducing taxes? Remember throwing money at a problem especially to a big centralised governmental body isn't going to solve any problems only make them worse.

Please remember that in 2008 the Welsh Assembly produced a report (costing god only knows how much) called The Future Structure of Fisheries Management & Enforcement in Wales. It was admittedly a seafishing report but it did note how much revenue that recreational angling brought into Wales and what did they do armed with this information... sweet fanny adams! You cannot vote on any Political manifestos in the hope that they will represent your particular interests. I believe the only way to influence the eventual ruling clique in Wales is to make a concerted representation using existing Angling bodies (also making use of the internet to lobby your own MP's or AM's) and to challenge the Assembly (whilst alerting the media) on each and every decision that threatens our sport. Otherwise as in Sea Angling whoever shouts loudest will gain the benefits (using the theory that the squeaky wheel gets the grease).

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I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can think of that probably doesn't.