Egress for Lower Dart now a building site

[Kitty]

The buildings at Staverton by the railway are getting turned into flats, a builder saw us getting off yesterday and saved us some hassle by pointing out the big fence between the river and road. He suggested carrying on a further 400yds downstream and getting out there (an old slip way?), although obviously that makes a longer carry with the boats.

We went back up just under the bridge and lifted the boats over some railings straight onto the road. I would recommend that, rather than walking through the field upstream of the bridge as the farmer has made it clear in the past he doesn't want people walking though his field.

Please don't try and cut through the building site, the builder we spoke to was very pleasant, but said he has already had people (not paddlers) wanting to get to the river saying they were going to sue him for being unable to get through!!

[Denys]

I'm sorry Kitty, which buildings?
Does this mean we can't use the steam railway car park and get out just above the weir anymore?

[KrisBD]

The egress in question is the one at Staverton next to the old mill buildings not the the one at Buckfastleigh station.

[Swampthing]

You can still park in Staverton steam rail park, no prob. 50p charge all day.

[Denys]

Cheers for clearing that up.

[Jon_Brown]

Photos of bridge/mill http://picasaweb.google.com/Jonandteresa/StavertonMill?authkey=T02nEWM6kJY#

[jeremyvanr]

Hi everyone
I got a visit from PC Booth from Totnes Police station yesterday evening (Saturday 8th October 2011).
He said that I had no right of access river left after Staverton Bridge.
I'd brought my group out where we'd got out for years at the Old Mill egress.
I'd heard there were residents and a developer who were trying to make a fuss and stop access.
The residents tried physically blocking our way and initially tried to be aggressive.
I had juniors in the group.
When they realised we weren't going to be intimidated they backed off.
I feel it's important to keep using this egress as it's an old access point that's been used by locals for many years.
The other spots where some people get out is no good for juniors or anyone who is disabled in any way.
I wrote twice to the BCU Rivers Access Campaign Group about this last year sending them photos of the small gate that's been put up at the Staverton Bridge egress saying "no canoeists".
Of course I never heard back from them and wonder if they aren't actually just smoke and mirrors to make it look like the BCU care.
My club are getting together documentation to fight the attempt to block access.
Funnily enough the residents have allowed access for fishermen.
I'm not sure why the copper came round but I told him we didn't agree that it was private regardless of what a new development thought and would fight it.
So I would say use it or lose it.
The ordinary person has a right to access the great outdoors.
Remember "The Kinder Trespass in 1932 was a landmark in the campaign for national parks and open access to moorland in Britain. At the time, such open moors were closed to all; they were strongly identified with the game-keeping interests of landed gentry who used them only 12 days a year."
If only the BCU would put together a team to help local canoeists with these issues.