As the UK swelters through increasingly frequent heatwaves, a growing movement is pushing for a fundamental right that's long been taken for granted in other parts of Europe: access to water. Campaigners argue that the public should have the right to roam freely along riverbanks and access the water itself, but their efforts are being thwarted by restrictive laws and a lack of public access points. Shocking statistics reveal that nearly three-quarters of England's riverbanks are off-limits, leaving many communities without a safe and accessible place to cool off, swim, or simply enjoy the great outdoors. As the government grapples with the impacts of climate change, will it finally grant the public the freedom to enjoy the country's waterways?
Campaigners urge government to introduce right of access to water, particularly as heatwaves become more commonAlmost three-quarters of riverbanks in England have no public access, according to data released by the Right to Roam campaign.Across the country, the public cannot use riverbanks or gain access to the rivers themselves in most of the river catchments from the west of Cornwall up to the Tweed, which flows through northern England and Scotland. Continue reading...
