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There
have been a number of calls to the SCA office regarding paddling
in Scotland over Easter time which is traditionally a time
for folk to come north and take advantage of the snow melt.
We are
not discouraging people from visiting Scotland during this
time as many businesses rely on income from tourism. What
we are saying though is
DO NOT EXPECT TO BE
ABLE TO PADDLE
Come prepared
to do other activities, currently limited to resort skiing,
cycling on the roads or climbing in the two currently available
areas of Aonach Mor and the Northern Corries.
In nearly
all areas of Scotland, there are signs asking people to stay
off the land and water for fear of spreading Foot and Mouth
Disease. These signs have been widely respected by all recreationalists
and we hope that this will continue.
As paddlers
we can exercise our own judgement and follow the advice of
the Executive
AVOID
ANY CONTACT WITH LIVESTOCK AND TO AVOID ALL ENCLOSED PLACES
WHERE LIVESTOCK ARE KEPT
HOWEVER
EVEN FOLLOWING THIS ADVICE YOU WILL STILL FIND SIGNS RESTRICTING
ACCESS, especially as so many of our rivers are accessed and
egressed close to, or across farm/grazing land. These signs
are a measure of the fear that FMD is engendering amongst
farmers and landowners, and the concern that the disease might
be transmitted inadvertently by someone traveling from or
through infected areas further south.
If you
go against these signs you will attract anger and resistance
- and bring down strong condemnation on the heads of all paddlers.
IT IS NOT THE TIME TO ASSERT
A RIGHT OF ACCESS.
The situation
in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire is very bleak - this
being the area of Scotland infected with FMD. At this stage
any attempts to paddle or to cross land to get to water could
be met with outright resistance. Please avoid rivers like
the Nith and Minnoch especially if you are intending to travel
further north.
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FURTHER
INFORMATION
The Scottish
Executive issued a statement on
22 March 2001 to " differentiate between the required
approach in enclosed fields or in bye-land and on the open
hillside".
This Comeback
Code was recently prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage
for the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department in agreement
with fifteen organisations (see below) concerned with the
management of the Scottish countryside. The Code "Outlines
sensible precautions for those coming back to enjoy the countryside.
Whilst large areas of Scotland are accessible it is wise to
check your particular destination is open before you travel".
- Deer
Commission for Scotland;
- Forest
Enterprise;
- Forestry
Commission;
- Historic
Scotland;
- John
Muir Trust;
- Mountaineering
Council of Scotland;
- Ramblers;
- National
Farmers Union of Scotland;
- RSPB;
- Scottish
Countryside Activities Council (representing SCA);
- Scottish
Landowners Federation;
- Scottish
Natural Heritage;
- Scottish
Wildlife Trust;
- SERAD;
- sportscotland;
- Veterinary
Laboratories Agency;
- Visit
Scotland
SUMMARY
Things
are getting better - but if the disease continues to spread
and comes further up north, they will get worse. The government
are differentiating between "enclosed farmland and open
hills", however on the ground there is some understandable
reticence to remove verbal or physical barriers. Signs
restricting access have been widely respected by all recreationalists
and we hope that this will continue.
The SCA
is not in a position to advise on individual rivers and areas,
as each local authority and landowner will be taking their
own decisions as to the precautionary measures they wish to
put in place to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Please
respect the signs you see.
This
information will be updated weekly.
John
Picken
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