Attitudes to Walking Access in the Irish Countryside
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Attitudes to Walking Access in the Irish Countryside Elizabeth Madden M.A. in Sports Studies School of Health Sciences Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science Waterford Institute of Technology Supervisor: Jack Bergin ‘Submitted to Waterford Institute of Technology, June 2009’ Waterford Institute of Technology Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science M.A. in Sports Studies. Name: ELIZABETH MADDEN Student Number: 20006896 I confirm that all the work submitted in this thesis is my own work, not copied from any other person’s work (published or unpublished) and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment on any other course. Signed: __________________ Date: ___________________ ~ ii ~ Abstract The use of private lands for public recreation is a highly emotive issue in Ireland at present. Conflict over access rights, disturbance, liability and compensation has resulted in the closure of many sections of the countryside to those wishing to walk, climb, fish or swim. This research examines the attitudes of both the landowners and recreationists towards access to the countryside for walking access. An extensive literature review and a pilot study concluded that the key issue can be surmised into four topics: Disturbance, privacy, liability and compensation. A total of 162 on-site surveys were conducted (n = 85 Landowners, n = 77 Recreationists). The data was supplemented by eight in-depth interviews. Results show that there are many areas of agreement between both groups, access may be restricted (74% Landowners, 88% Recreationists), participants should accept the risks involved (99% Landowners, 100% Recreationists), recreationists should heed dangers (98% Landowners, 100% Recreationists) and that recreation has negative impacts on farmland and on landowners. Differences exist in the data with landowners more aware of the Occupiers’ Liability Act (1995), (P <0.001), landowners want compensation for access (P<0.001), and landowners should be compensated for work to facilitate access (P<0.5). Recreationists are more aware of environmental codes (P<0.001), they think that recreation is positive for their health (P<0.001) and that it is more positive for the local infrastructure. 55% of recreationists are willing to pay a mean fee of €2.24 to guarantee access, while 69% of landowners are willing to accept a mean fee of €6.27 to provide this access. Results show that a proportion of both groups are willing to cooperate and work together towards an accessible countryside to the benefit of both landowners and recreationists. Future collaboration must work towards an accepted level of access throughout the Irish countryside which eases the concerns of landowners and allows sufficient access for recreationists. ~ iii ~ “...Whoever may own the land, no man may own the beauty of the landscape”. G.S Phillips (1848) ~ iv ~ Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for their help, advice, support and smiles throughout the last two years. Without them, this would have been impossible. To Jack Bergin, thank you for giving me this opportunity and don’t stress so much. To my mother, thank you for being someone I can look up to with heartfelt respect. Thank you for your support, generosity and proof reading throughout my years in college, it has not gone unnoticed. To my sister, thanks for all the dramas, they were welcome distractions. To Mark, thank you for all those online pep talks, support, encouragement and hugs when I needed them the most, I am forever grateful. Now we can chillax. To my dad and brothers, thanks for all the work and laughs when I eventually did come home. To Granny, for the wisdom and guile to keep going. To Gráinne and Avril, the best two friends a girl could ever want. To Walter, there have definitely been a few laughs along the way. To Paddy, I will forever be appreciative of your help along the way and of all those ‘tea-breaks’ that lasted longer than they should have, regardless of the fact that I still don’t drink tea. Finally, to everyone who helped along the way, Lynn, Elaine, Emma, Milo and anyone else I may have forgotten. ~ v ~ Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................... v Table of Contents .....................................................................................vi List of Figures ..........................................................................................xi List of Abbreviations ............................................................................ xiii Chapter One - Introduction ..................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter Overviews ................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter One - Introduction .......................................................................................... 4 Chapter Two – Literature Review ................................................................................ 4 Chapter Three – Methodology ..................................................................................... 4 Chapter Four – Data Analysis ...................................................................................... 4 Chapter Five – Discussion of Data ............................................................................... 4 Chapter Six – Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................... 5 Chapter Two - Literature Review ............................................................ 6 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 6 Outdoor Recreation ................................................................................................................ 7 Definition of Outdoor Recreation ................................................................................. 7 Outdoor Recreation and Spirituality ............................................................................. 7 Development and significance of Outdoor Recreation in Ireland ................................... 8 Attitudes .............................................................................................................................. 12 Individual Attitudes ................................................................................................... 12 Attitude Components ................................................................................................. 12 Attitude Formation .................................................................................................... 13 Attitude Theory ......................................................................................................... 14 Access ................................................................................................................................. 15 Issue of Access in Ireland .......................................................................................... 15 Issue of Access Internationally ................................................................................... 16 Land Use in Ireland ................................................................................................... 18 Types of Access in Ireland ......................................................................................... 18 ~ vi ~ Current Issues ...................................................................................................................... 22 Current Concerns ....................................................................................................... 22 Landowners and Recreationists Concerns ................................................................... 22 Liability ............................................................................................................................... 25 Definition of Liability ................................................................................................ 25 Liability Law in Ireland ............................................................................................. 25 Cases taken under the Occupiers’ Liability Act (1995) ............................................... 26 Report of Expert Group ............................................................................................. 27 Legal Access Abroad ................................................................................................. 28 Insurance ................................................................................................................... 29 Loss of Property Rights ............................................................................................. 29 Disturbance .......................................................................................................................... 31 Definition of Disturbance........................................................................................... 31 Disturbance of Natural Habitats ................................................................................. 31 Disturbance of Birds and Animals .............................................................................