Memorandum submitted by Central Council
of Physical Recreation (CCPR)
BACKGROUND
1. CCPR is the independent voice for sport
and recreation in the UK. It represents 270 national organisations,
including 170 UK and English national governing bodies of sport.
2. CCPR and its member organisations, particularly
those within the Water Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits Division
have a very keen interest in the work and remit of the Environment
Agency (EA) and in particular the recreation and navigation department
of the EA. This paper has been based on consultation with CCPR
members, however some membership organisations have also chosen
to submit individually evidence, for example, The National Association
of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives and The British Canoe Union,
enabling them to comment on issues specific to their activities
or areas of interest.
3. CCPR does enjoy a good relationship with
the EA and in particular the recreational team and we look forward
to working together on future projects.
4. Recreational activities that take place
on or alongside, the inland waterways of the UK have an enormous
economic benefit to local communities. This can be highlighted
by the effects on the economic viability of the countryside caused
by the loss of expenditure from sport and recreation following
the Foot and Mouth outbreak illustrates starkly the central impact
of these activities to rural affairs. Furthermore recreational
activities which take place in rural locations have a key and
highly important role to play in sustainable development.
5. The CCPR welcomes the opportunity to
submit a written response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
committee enquiry into the Environment Agency.
CCPR'S RESPONSE
WILL FOCUS
ON THE
FOLLOWING SPECIFIC
POINTS
How successful the EA has been in its role as
enforcer of environmental regulations and controls, and how well
it manages its wide range of activities
6. CCPR acknowledges that the EA's remit
is very wide ranging and as a result there is a concern that the
culture and primary functions (control, environment protection
and regulation) of the EA can be seen to directly clash with its
less developed role as a recreational body. CCPR believes that
recreation and access can work in harmony with environmental protection
and conservation interests. This can be demonstrated through the
work of The Best of Both Worlds project, which is a combined project
supported by The Countryside Agency, English Nature and CCPR,
which provides good practice guidance to people who are trying
to improve opportunities for outdoor recreation whilst avoiding
adverse effects on the natural environment. CCPR welcomes the
involvement of the EA's recreation team within the Best of Both
Worlds project and CCPR hopes that the essence of the project
can be incorporated into the EA's policies and practices.
How the organisational changes brought about by
the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill will affect
the role of the Environment Agency
7. CCPR supports the creation of Natural
England as a powerful public body with an integrated remit for
conservation, biodiversity, access and recreation. CCPR is concerned
that as Natural England will have a statutory duty for access
and recreation, there is the potential for overlap as the Environment
Agency will continue to have a statutory duty for the promotion
of access and recreation for a number of water recreation activities,
such as canoeing and angling. It is CCPR's understanding that
the relationship between Natural England and EA will be based
on a Memorandum of Understanding. CCPR recommends that all stakeholders
should be made aware of this MOU and its context, so that all
stakeholders can gain a fuller understanding of the new relationship.
In addition, CCPR believes it would be useful to outline to all
stakeholders how specific projects and issues involving both the
EA and Natural England will be taken forward in the future.
The Environment Agency's forthcoming corporate
strategy 2006-11
8. CCPR would welcome a section in the corporate
strategy 2006-11 dedicated to recreation and navigation. As outlined
above, the overlap in remits between the EA and Natural England
is a concern and the recreation section within the corporate strategy
could help to define the roles that EA and Natural England will
have for access and recreation.
CCPR
December 2005
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