Almost 75% of England’s riverbanks ‘off limits’ to public, figures show | Access to green space

Almost three-quarters of riverbanks in England have no public access, according to data published by the Right to Roam campaign.

Across the country, people are unable to use riverbanks or access rivers in most river catchments, from west Cornwall to the Tweed, which runs through northern England and Scotland.

Environmental social scientist Lewis Winks, of Right to Roam, who conducted the research, said: “Access to rivers should be a fundamental right, but the vast majority remain off-limits. As long as we continue to face extreme temperatures, it is vital that the public can enjoy the benefits that water brings.”

Campaigners are calling on new environment minister Angela Eagle to launch a promised but long-delayed consultation on access. as part of the access to nature green paper – and promote the right to responsible access to water and land in the next king’s speech.

The research showed that 71% of riverbanks along major rivers and tributaries in the 89 river basins studied lacked any contiguous land access or right of way up to 100m from the water.

The finding was consistent regardless of whether urban areas were included or not. Additionally, 96% of rivers in England and Wales have no defined legal right to the water itself; This means that activities such as swimming and rowing are often objected to by landowners and are off-limits on the vast majority of inland waterways, including reservoirs and lakes.

Kate Rew, from the Outdoor Swimming Association, said she would like to see vibrant rivers all over England in 20 years, and that people want to easily access these rivers and swim, paddle, walk and spend time by the water.

“Being part of the natural world makes us healthier, happier and more alive,” Rew said. “But it’s not just about what rivers can give us. We need to return some of the life we ​​extract to rivers. People rarely fight for places from which they are excluded, and right now our rivers need people to fight for them. The work of restoring our rivers starts with reconnecting people with them.”

Keir Starmer’s government has committed to creating nine new national riverwalks, but Winks said the first of these did not create any additional access on the River Mersey.

The fight for accessible and swimmable waterways has become a major social issue, especially as record-breaking heat waves prompt families and young people to seek free ways to cool off; However, rescue services warned people to be careful when entering cold water.

Data published by Right to Roam revealed significant regional disparities in river access. In the Severn Middle Shropshire catchment, 90% of the riverbank had no access, while in the New Forest catchment the figure was 49%.

Lack of access is so widespread that many designated long-distance hiking trails are named after rivers they cannot follow. Winks said these included the section of the Severn Way between Shrewsbury and Telford, which is almost completely separated from the river and veers off for more than half a mile in some places. The majority of the Test Trail, a 44-mile (71 km) hiking trail named after chalk creek, does not follow the river itself.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “This government is focusing on the issues that matter most to the British people, including restoring nature to ensure we have pride in local communities and access to green spaces.

“We are increasing access to nature and the countryside by delivering nine new national river walks, a coast-to-coast route in the north of England and the 2,700-mile King Charles III England coast path.”