West

At the moment, access to inland waterways in England and Wales is controlled largely by private landowners.

But there’s a mounting campaign for new legislation that would guarantee access for everyone.

The issue has divided opinions along the River Frome, with many landowners arguing that new access rights would be bad for the countryside and for wildlife.

The great outdoors

For Rob Fryer, swimming in the great outdoors has been a lifetime passion. 

Access to swim - the great outdoors.

Rob is the chairman of what is thought to be the country’s last river swimming club, at Farleigh Hungerford, between Bath and Trowbridge.

He says, "The law over access at the moment risks turning people like me into rebels."

The Farleigh Hungerford club aims to provide a safe and legal environment for its 2,000 members to enjoy the water but, even here, a fee needs to be paid and access is dependent on the landowner’s goodwill.

Landowner Phil Bryant says, "Unrestricted access, certainly we know from our experience of the river, does not work.

"Too many people abuse it. They come down, light fires, cut trees down, leave rubbish and cause lots of vandalism."

Swimming ban

At many other spots along the Frome, swimmers have been banned altogether.

The anglers argue that swimming and fishing are incompatible.

Paul Millard from the Country Land and Business Association says, "We have to get the balance between who is using what part of the countryside for what and that’s best done by voluntary agreements.

"In our opinion going to government and asking for compulsory access, compulsory powers, is really taking a very large hammer to crack what’s a very small walnut."

The government has so far refused to bring in a blanket statutory right to get on the river.

Instead, it insists access should be voluntarily negotiated between river users and landowners on a case-by-case basis.

But Rob Fryer says the campaign for freedom on the Frome will go on.

He argues that river swimming has been enjoyed by generations of people who’ve found it to be healthy, exhilarating and fun.