Man released after Llangollen canoeing dispute

Aug 1 2008 By David Simister

A DISPUTE over access rights to the River Dee in Llangollen has ended with a previously-arrested canoeist having all charges dropped last Friday (August 1).

Your Vale reported last month that Shrewsbury Canoe Club had clashed with local landowners JJ Canoeing and Rafting over the stretch of river in the town, and had led to one Shrewsbury member being arrested.

"We have been made to look as though we're the enemy of canoeists, and we're not," said JJ co-owner Sally Jayes.

"This chap had been warned repeatedly by police that he was not allowed to use our facilities for free, so on about the fourth occasion they had no choice but to arrest him."

The arrested canoeist has now been named as Shrewsbury club member Nigel Conway, who the Crown Prosecution Service say will not be charged in relation to the arrest.

"I'm glad the CPS has made this decision - I didn't want it to go to court and him end up with a criminal record. We charge £3 in the evening to use all the facilities and £5 for a full day. We're here as a centre for canoeists, but we're a business, not a charity."

Jayes says that Mr Conway had paid the centre’s charges in the past, but earlier this year had refused to pay and had been warned repeatedly by police about the offence, and were eventually left with no choice but to arrest him.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution service said that the Shrewsbury canoeist would not be charged because there was insufficient evidence to build a case against him.

"It is however a matter for the civil courts and not the Criminal Justice system. This does not mean that Mr Conway is entitled to use the river without payment" he said.

Shrewsbury Canoe Club have so far not commented on the developments but a spokesman said last month:

"Many paddlers believe that if there was a test case, the courts would confirm that there is a general right for the public to navigate any river in England and Wales and that therefore Mr Jayes’ claim is unfounded in law."

Llangollen is no stranger to clashes over river access rights, which four years culminated in a protest in the town centre by over 500 canoeists.