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Inland Waterways: Access

Asked by Phil BrickellLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 28 April 2025UIN 44736

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of inland waters that have a statutory right of access for recreational users.

Answered by Emma Hardy

Current estimates are that around 4%, or 1,400 miles, of rivers in England and Wales have a public right of navigation. There are around 3,500 miles of canal and river navigations that have a public right of access through the licensing regimes operated by the navigation authorities that own them.

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