The Work of the SCA Access Committee
Scottish Access Rights - The SCA played a key role in helping develop the Land Reform (Scotland) Act and Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which together form the basis of our responsible right of access to most land and inland waters. The new access arrangements in Scotland work on the basis of balancing rights and responsibilities. The SCA has condensed the relevant rights and responsibilities for canoeists in the Paddlers' Access Code that is available as a leaflet, as well as on this website.
Education - The Access Committee seeks to educate all paddlers about responsible access via the Paddlers' Access Code and the related access and environmental advice contained in this section of the website.
Environmental Work - As well as working on access issues the Access Committee also considers the wide range of environmental issues relating to canoeing. Our concern is to conserve and enhance the waterways we paddle on by working to reduce our own impacts on the environment and to highlight and oppose others whose activities threaten to damage the canoeing resource in Scotland. We promote the concept that canoeing is an environmentally sound and healthy activity that is as valid as any other, and that the sport has a long history of access to water in Scotland.
The Access Committee - This sub-committee of the SCA meets 3 times a year and is made up of River Advisers and representatives from each of the SCA technical committees (coaching, recreation and competition). Other paddlers with an interest in access and environmental issues are also on the committee.
Your contribution - Eddie Palmer, the National Access Co-ordinator, is chair of the SCA's Access Committee and co-ordinates the SCA's access work. He's the person to contact if you are interested in volunteering to help with access issues. Volunteers are needed for a variety of projects including serving on the committee, acting as river advisers, getting involved with local access issues, representing the SCA on local access forums and preparing guidebooks and canoe trail leaflets.