Blue spaces, including rivers, lakes, coasts and seas, are often linked to health, wellbeing, the environment and local communities. Below is a neutral summary of how the main Welsh parties’ 2026 Senedd manifestos reference blue spaces, based on published commitments at the time of writing.
This content summarises publicly available manifesto statements. Paddle Cymru does not endorse any political party or policy position.
What do the manifestos say?
Plaid Cymru
- Refers directly to access to nature, including rivers and coasts, as part of wellbeing, health and planning policy.
- Describes land and water environments as shared assets for communities.
- Includes commitments to improve water quality, addressing sewage and agricultural pollution and supporting catchment‑based management.
Welsh Labour
- Focuses primarily on environmental improvement rather than explicitly on public access to nature or blue spaces.
- Sets out measures to improve water quality, including action on sewage discharges, agricultural pollution, regulation and enforcement.
Wales Green Party
- Explicitly frames rivers, seas and coasts as commons, with emphasis on safe public access.
- Includes detailed proposals on water quality, including ending sewage pollution, restoring rivers and wetlands, and introducing legally binding targets.
Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Refer to protecting and improving access to local green and blue spaces, highlighting community wellbeing and recreation.
- Commit to tackling water pollution, strengthening enforcement and improving transparency around water quality.
Welsh Conservatives
- Do not set out specific proposals relating to access to nature or blue spaces.
- Refer to water and environmental issues mainly in the context of regulation and farming policy, with limited detail on measures to improve water quality.
Reform UK (Wales)
- Do not reference access to nature or blue spaces in their manifesto.
- Do not include specific proposals aimed at improving water quality or tackling waterway pollution.
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