Walkers protest over riverbank access

"Mass trespasses" are taking place on riverbanks across the country this month

Campaigners have taken to the banks of the River Dart as part of a "mass trespass" over the right to roam on riverbanks in England.

About 30 Right to Roam activists gathered along the river in Galmpton, Devon, calling on the government to review its manifesto pledge to "create nine new National River Walks".

The campaign group said the pledge was "unworkable", adding that landowners were blocking public access.

A Defra spokesperson said "too many people" had been "left without access to the great outdoors", adding the government was "increasing access to nature and the countryside" with the creation of the new river walks, three new national forests, and a new coast path.

Right to Roam wants the government to pass new legislation giving the public a "default right of responsible access" to all rivers, and further protests are planned across the country this month.

Guy Shrubsole from the group, who lives in Totnes, said: "The River Dart is obviously wonderful, people love going and trying to swim in it and enjoy it, but there are huge stretches of it that don't have any public access."

Mr Shrubsole said it had carried out an analysis earlier this year, which showed there were 108 separate landowners along the River Dart.

"When we see what the government is saying... firstly, we think that is very inadequate, there are 1,500 rivers in Britain, so a mere nine river walks is simply pathetic," he said.

Guy Shrubsole was among the group of about 30 campaigners on the River Dart on Sunday

"If every river is like the Dart, with 108 separate landowners on it, we're talking about thousands of landowners the government is going to have to negotiate access with to create these new permissive river walks that they're talking about."

Mr Shrubsole said Right to Roam wanted a "new social contract" between landowners and the public.

"We have huge sympathy with the idea of landowners feeling that they have some sort of legal responsibility," he said.

"Ultimately, what we're talking about is reduced landowner liability in return for greater access, and that's actually what's happened in both Scotland, but also under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in England, which gives us a partial right to roam but so far excludes rivers from those rights of access."

A Defra spokesperson said: "Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, but too many people across the country have been left without access to the great outdoors.

"We are increasing access to nature and the countryside, creating nine new National River Walks, three new national forests, and the 2700-mile King Charles III England Coast Path is also nearing completion."