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KAYAKING TO BE BANNED ON THE EXE ESTUARY
Sadly I am not joking.
The three local councils adjacent to the estuary are planning to introduce two voluntary exclusion zones on the Exe Estuary, one between Lympstone and Exmouth and the other at Dawlish Warren. Both zones will have a big impact on all watersports activities including paddling, sailing and wind surfing and other activities such as walking on the beach. Dawlish Warren zone is all year round, whilst Exmouth is 1 September to 31 December. They are due to be in force at all states of the tide.
There is plenty of money for enforcement. The councils have a £3million budget over five years for this matter and have already recruited three Habitat Mitigation Officers and bought a boat to catch people who do not comply with the zones.
At the Exe Estuary Forum meeting in February it was stated that if estuary users do not abide by the voluntary zones then the councils will take steps to have the zones made statutory and people who continue to use the zones would then be committing a criminal offence with penalties including unlimited fines.
If you like to paddle from the club to Exmouth you will be affected. It will also change how we are able to run our sea kayak coaching sessions and trips.
The reason put forward for the proposed exclusion zones is to protect the migrating birds. However the evidence provided does not show that paddling is causing significant disturbance to the birds. So far negotiation on this aspect of the proposals has been fruitless and it has not been possible to come to a sensible compromise. British Canoeing and the RYA are working hard on the issue but negotiations with the councils are very difficult.
THE SECRET PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The councils have been conducting a secret public consultation (no information was posted on any website until 9 March) but this whole matter has started to come to people’s attention during the last two weeks. On Friday 24 March it was announced that the consultation would be extended to 28 April.
Please learn more about what is going on. There is information below (look at the Project Proposal and the two proposed voluntary exclusion zones).
https://www.exe-estuary.org/national-and-local-consultations
THESE ZONES ARE JUST THE START
The two zones are just the start. If you look at the Project Proposal you will see that the Canoeing section says:
“Canoeing: guidance on where to canoe, requesting users to stick to the main channel within the estuary and a map shaded to show the main channel; the map should show the Clyst, the Bight, Shutterton Creek, Cockle Sand and Lympstone Lake as areas which canoeists should avoid between 1 September and 1 April; the map should highlight areas where canoeists can launch/land without likely disturbance; a requirement to avoid roost sites (the mitigation strategy suggests a 200m buffer drawn around roost sites).”
This means that the councils wish to bring in exclusion zones paddling higher up the estuary, nearer Topsham as well as towards the Southern end and for more months of the year.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
• Go to the public meeting on Tuesday 28 March at 2pm at Exminster Victory Hall.
• Go to the council meeting of the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee at 6pm on Wednesday 29 March at East Devon District Council at Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL. A number of people have submitted questions for this meeting and it would be great to have a good turnout to show support.
• Write a letter to Cllr Rachel Sutton, Exeter City Council, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1JN saying that you object to the proposals (or by email to cllr.rachel.sutton@exeter.gov.uk). Ask that the Councils be more open to proper negotiations with the representatives of the water sports users. Explain that paddling in the channel is not a safe choice for kayakers who are at risk of fast tides and being run down by large boats. Are the boat moorings in the zones going to be removed? Ask whether the businesses that will be affected by the ban have been informed eg local cafes. Has the reduction in car park revenue been assessed?
• Tell people what is going on. We need people to be informed.
• If you are willing to be more active please contact Jane on treasurer@exewatersports.org There is work that can be done if you are good at searching for information on the internet, as well as taking an active role at meetings.
It is likely that the watersports users will need to agree a compromise on this matter. For example once it is possible to start negotiating properly our representatives can work towards a solution that enables us to continue our recreation whilst minimising our impact on the migrating birds. Hopefully by putting some pressure on the three councils they will enable these negotiations to start.
Jane Evans
The three local councils adjacent to the estuary are planning to introduce two voluntary exclusion zones on the Exe Estuary, one between Lympstone and Exmouth and the other at Dawlish Warren. Both zones will have a big impact on all watersports activities including paddling, sailing and wind surfing and other activities such as walking on the beach. Dawlish Warren zone is all year round, whilst Exmouth is 1 September to 31 December. They are due to be in force at all states of the tide.
There is plenty of money for enforcement. The councils have a £3million budget over five years for this matter and have already recruited three Habitat Mitigation Officers and bought a boat to catch people who do not comply with the zones.
At the Exe Estuary Forum meeting in February it was stated that if estuary users do not abide by the voluntary zones then the councils will take steps to have the zones made statutory and people who continue to use the zones would then be committing a criminal offence with penalties including unlimited fines.
If you like to paddle from the club to Exmouth you will be affected. It will also change how we are able to run our sea kayak coaching sessions and trips.
The reason put forward for the proposed exclusion zones is to protect the migrating birds. However the evidence provided does not show that paddling is causing significant disturbance to the birds. So far negotiation on this aspect of the proposals has been fruitless and it has not been possible to come to a sensible compromise. British Canoeing and the RYA are working hard on the issue but negotiations with the councils are very difficult.
THE SECRET PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The councils have been conducting a secret public consultation (no information was posted on any website until 9 March) but this whole matter has started to come to people’s attention during the last two weeks. On Friday 24 March it was announced that the consultation would be extended to 28 April.
Please learn more about what is going on. There is information below (look at the Project Proposal and the two proposed voluntary exclusion zones).
https://www.exe-estuary.org/national-and-local-consultations
THESE ZONES ARE JUST THE START
The two zones are just the start. If you look at the Project Proposal you will see that the Canoeing section says:
“Canoeing: guidance on where to canoe, requesting users to stick to the main channel within the estuary and a map shaded to show the main channel; the map should show the Clyst, the Bight, Shutterton Creek, Cockle Sand and Lympstone Lake as areas which canoeists should avoid between 1 September and 1 April; the map should highlight areas where canoeists can launch/land without likely disturbance; a requirement to avoid roost sites (the mitigation strategy suggests a 200m buffer drawn around roost sites).”
This means that the councils wish to bring in exclusion zones paddling higher up the estuary, nearer Topsham as well as towards the Southern end and for more months of the year.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
• Go to the public meeting on Tuesday 28 March at 2pm at Exminster Victory Hall.
• Go to the council meeting of the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee at 6pm on Wednesday 29 March at East Devon District Council at Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL. A number of people have submitted questions for this meeting and it would be great to have a good turnout to show support.
• Write a letter to Cllr Rachel Sutton, Exeter City Council, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1JN saying that you object to the proposals (or by email to cllr.rachel.sutton@exeter.gov.uk). Ask that the Councils be more open to proper negotiations with the representatives of the water sports users. Explain that paddling in the channel is not a safe choice for kayakers who are at risk of fast tides and being run down by large boats. Are the boat moorings in the zones going to be removed? Ask whether the businesses that will be affected by the ban have been informed eg local cafes. Has the reduction in car park revenue been assessed?
• Tell people what is going on. We need people to be informed.
• If you are willing to be more active please contact Jane on treasurer@exewatersports.org There is work that can be done if you are good at searching for information on the internet, as well as taking an active role at meetings.
It is likely that the watersports users will need to agree a compromise on this matter. For example once it is possible to start negotiating properly our representatives can work towards a solution that enables us to continue our recreation whilst minimising our impact on the migrating birds. Hopefully by putting some pressure on the three councils they will enable these negotiations to start.
Jane Evans
Comments
Booking required see:
https://www.exe-estuary.org/national-and-local-consultations
Jane is not scaremongering or joking when she posts as she has here. I have accompanied her to one of the meetings (Wednesday 22 March) she mentions and on a fact finding expedition around Dawlish Warren (Sunday 26 March). There are people who mean to see these exclusion zones enacted and, if not complied with, enforced and, if they are not resisted they will win the day, It is also clear that they will not stop with the two exclusion zones currently being considered, there are other areas following along behind!
I am not about to repeat what Jane says in her post but, please be assured that there is a great danger that before long our canoeing and kayaking activities in the estuary will be restricted to the main channel. The water in the main channel moves at up to 6 knots and we can only manage 3 knots in most of our craft, the danger this imposes is self evident. Additionally, sometimes in the main channel and often in areas next to it there are moorings for us to be swept into and possibly under the craft moored there.
Most of the people at the meeting on Wednesday were like minded paddlers, rowers and sailors. We were there to be told what the proposals amount to and so we could begin to register our reactions. Everyone agreed that the wild birds need continued protection from disturbance. What was not agreed was the proposal in its current form, particularly the sizes of the proposed exclusion areas puts users of the estuary in un-powered or low powered craft at real risk of being swept out to sea on an ebb tide and/or into moorings on a flood tide.
There does seem to be an acceptance that we might encroach on the exclusion zones and even land on the exposed sand in case of an emergency. This will be fine where enforcement officials speak to us at the time and listen to our explanation, or even if we end up in Court once the zones become mandatory, which I have no doubt they will in time. Where we are vulnerable is when we are photographed from a distance and our emergency becomes just another incursion in the statistics.
So, as Jane asks, please do read and digest all the material she has drawn our attention to and make every effort to amplify our voice at every opportunity whether that is by attending meetings, speaking to councillors, writing to councillors or by drawing the proposals to the attention of other users of the estuary and local residents etc.
We can fight this proposal but only if we mobilise support and act in a reasonable manner. We will need to make concessions but I am confident a compromise can be reached.
Thank you,
Brian.
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/news/2016/11/local-primary-schools-take-over-east-devon-district-council-for-the-day/
Hats are optional.
The consultation has been extended to 28 April and they are introducing a questionnaire. I will provide a link as soon as it is available.
https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=149095415647
Please can as many people as possible respond to the questionnaire.
Also booking for the consultation event on 20 April is via here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/see-the-revised-zones-and-codes-of-conduct-of-the-exe-estuary-tickets-32320065185
There is a campaign website to try to stop the zones here:
https://exe-estuary-vez.org.uk/