Memorandum submitted by John W Gittins
THE ENVIRONMENT
AGENCY INQUIRY
1. I am given to understand that the Parliamentary
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has decided to examine
the work of the Environment Agency, and has requested evidence
on a wide range of points relating to its work and effectiveness.
2. As an interested individual, having worked
with the Agency and its predecessors for over 35 years, I wish
to offer the following observations:
3. In respect of the Agency's relationship
with non-Governmental stakeholders and the general public:
(a) In general the Agency has built-on the
experience of its predecessors in an effective manner.
(b) However, this is not so in respect of
the manner in which it operates its Regional Fisheries, Ecology
and Recreation Advisory Committees. In particular the composition
of their membership, which have an imbalance in the number of
representatives from the Angling/Fisheries and Riparian interests.
In a democratic country this calls into question the raison d'etre
of such bodies.
4. How the organisational changes brought
about by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill will
affect the role of the Environment Agency:
(a) With the establishment of Natural England,
by combining the Countryside Agency, English Nature and the Rural
Development Service arm of DEFRA, there will be a far more effective
voice for nature and landscape conservation, open air recreation
and direct linkage with farmers and landowners through the work
of the RDA. Therefore, building on the excellent work of the three
existing bodies, in particular, the Countryside Agency in the
field of Access to Open Country, has the time not come to see
the new agency have the key role in respect of access to rivers?
5. How the Agency's work in improving wildlife
habitats will tie in with Natural England's work on biodiversity:
(a) A very sound case could be made to ensure
that Natural England is the lead agency in all matters relating
to biodiversity and that the Environment Agency works to this
body as a junior partner.
(b) I note that whilst biodiversity is specifically
cited in your request for evidence, landscape is not. I would
wish to see landscape having a much high profile in the future
work of the Environment Agency, doing so in close partnership
with Natural England. There is currently good practice in this
area on which to build. For if the environment sustains us as
creatures, it is the landscape which describes us as cultures.
6. I however have one particular area of
concern as to the effectiveness of the Environment Agency and
its predecessors, this is in regard to their inability to take
the necessary steps to ensure greater access to rivers for the
purpose of canoeing.
7. It is a disgrace that in contrast to
Scotland, the public in England and Wales are denied access to
and along 98% of rivers. This situation is unique in the world.
As you are aware, in Scotland, there is a traditional right to
roam in respect of both land and water, which is enshrined in
the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003.
8. The current efforts to conclude voluntary
agreement to stretches of some rivers in England, for example
the Mersey and Teme are totally inadequate. In spite of what the
immediate past Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity
has stated and what the current Minister has restated as recently
as on the 14 November 2005, has the time not come for HM Government
to seriously consider the need for primary legislation to allow
canoeists to use such natural resources. For after all, a legal
right of access to rivers will: (i) Provide benefits for the public;
(ii) Provide benefits for local communities; (iii) Protect wildlife,
landscape and the environment.
9. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate, that
while the Environment Agency in its current form has made substantial
progress in a number of areas, there is still room for improvement,
with consideration that some of its functions be taken over by
other agencies, for example, Natural England.
I would be happy to expand on any of the above points.
John W Gittins MA, BSc, Dip Educ, FRSA, FRGS
November 2005
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