Dave Manby wrote in message ...
The majority of the population of Llangollen is on our side and the
chamber of commerce is involved. But a total boycott would emphasize the
benefit we bring to the town

What about some kind of small but noticable poster or window sticker
along the lines of "we miss the paddlers". Businesses (and homes) in
the town could display these in support of access to the river. This
show of solidarity from locals, if widely taken up, would be a real
coup.

Another idea would be a non paddling rally. Mass in the town one
Saturday; drink the beer, use the shops, eact the chips but most
importantly show strength of numbers. This is the of thing the media
will pick up. Walk the length of the river carrying your boats. A
similar stunt at Stanley (Tay, Scotland) was a success.

Obviously it could backfire if we create the sort of problems that we
know a large group of paddlers can create, but if it can be managed it
should make quite a statement.

What we would really like, I think, is to have access to the river
throughout the closed fishing season.

What, I think, you would really, really like is access 365 days a
year. Responsible access, free access. One day!

What we would really like, I think, is to have access to the river
throughout the closed fishing season.

What, I think, you would really, really like is access 365 days a
year. Responsible access, free access. One day!

I think that the arrangement in France is pretty good - no paddling
early in the morning or in the evening. Most paddlers are not too good
at getting up early and the fishing gets worse as the sun gets higher -
this might not affect Wales quite so much!

--
Dave Manby
Details of the Coruh river and my book "Many Rivers To Run" at
http://www.dmanby.demon.co.uk

Dave Manby wrote in message ...
What, I think, you would really, really like is access 365 days a
year. Responsible access, free access. One day!

I think that the arrangement in France is pretty good

The question is how is it going to be achieved? Thirty plus years of
negotiation would appear to me, from the distance and relative sanity
of Scotland I admit, to have achieved little more that to slow down
the erosion of access in England and Wales, despite the hard work and
committment of those involved.

Is it time for another CRACK at it? Confrontation will certainly not
improve the relationship between paddlers and land owners, but with
even with the land owners and paddlers on the best of terms can the
latter ever expect more that restricted access or a few token
weekends.

So long as the access issue remains a dialogue between paddlers and
land owners I cannot see what progress will be made, the land owners
hold all the cards, along with all the land, and currently have no
reason to change their attitudes.

If there is a plus side to confrontation, it is that will raise the
profile of the dispute, it will become visible to a wider audience who
will, hopefully, realise that it does, or might, effect them. Only
once the general public, the media and the politicians are involved
with there be any reason for the landowners to take notice of the
paddlers.