A Shropshire canoeist has been arrested after allegedly failing to pay to paddle along a stretch of river.Nigel Conway, of Shrewsbury Canoe Club, was arrested following a dispute between canoeists and a paddlesport company over rights of access along a section of the River Dee. North Wales Police said an investigation was now under way into the incident.
It allegedly happened on a section of river attached to land owned by JJ Canoeing and Rafting (JJ’s) at Llangollen.
Inspector Tony Wan said: “A person has been arrested and has been bailed to Wrexham Police Station in July.”
Mr Conway, 32, of Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, said he was arrested by police while locking up a nearby shop he works at in Llangollen last week.
He said: “Paddlers in general have a problem over access to open water. It happens to be myself who has taken a stand and the canoe club is supporting me by boycotting that stretch of the Dee until the issue has been resolved.
“Canoeists in general all feel aggrieved they are being forcibly charged to use the water and threatened with legal action if they don’t pay for it. I do help out Shrewsbury Canoe Club with coaching so it’s a bit of a sad state of affairs to be honest.”
Mr Conway said he had been arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Fraud Act.
David Butler, committee member for Shrewsbury Canoe Club, claimed owner of JJ’s, Jimmy Jayes, was attempting to charge people to use a section of the river even if they were passing through and not using his facilities.
The club claims the centre wants to charge canoeists between £3 and £5.
Mr Butler said: “This may prove to be an important test case. If paddlers are right and there is a right to paddle any navigable river that is a very important statement.
“But if the landowners are entitled to say you must pay £5 and if you don’t a policeman will be waiting for you at the bottom with a pair of handcuffs that is also a very important development because it will criminalise a major area of the sport.”
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10 Comments
WELL I’VE HEARD OF BEING SOLD DOWN THE RIVER BUT THIS MUST BE JUST PLAIN BONKERS!
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Charged for entering cities (Congestion tax)
Charged for parking
Charged for using roads (In future)
Now charged for using rivers
I suspect in the near future councils will start charging us a wear and tear tax for using payments after all we all taxed on pretty much everything else at the moment
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All rivers and mere’s should be made public amenities for the pleasure of all for canoeing, boating, fishing etc. not rented off in lots for private club members.
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The Police should step well back from this and advise the parties it`s a civil matter, sort it out in court at their expense, not the tax payer.
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Graham – what would the police do instead?
Surely you’re not suggesting harassing criminals.
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Well I am glad all the serious crime has been cleared up and the police can concentrate on catching serious law breakers again. We can now sleep at nights
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Looks like the North wales police must be short of there arrest targets, this just sums up the way the country is going, and more wasted taxpayers money
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I cannot believe that this quiet and likeable young man has fallen foul of the law in such a ludicrous manner. I have known Mr Conway for years,and always found him of good, if not great character. The fun police strike again. Take em all the way Nigel. Viva the revolution.
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police call and arrest some one for this a dispute over £5 access charge at the end of the day, your car is stolen 5k you get a crime number, its a disgrace i thought the police prioritise calls.
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This is absolutely a civil matter – at best the man should have been escorted away from the stretch of river, but to arrest him after the event is an abuse of authority. Is this really technically an arrestable offence?
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