A Paisley kayak crusader who wants to clear junk from the River Clyde has been threatened with arrest if he tries it.
Paul Richardson has also been warned by police his canoes and kayaks will be seized if he gets near the COP26 summit in the centre of the city.
And he blasted: “All I wanted to do was make the water look good for all these world leaders.
“How on earth can we have a global summit when we cannot even keep the river that runs right past it clean?
“But the police must think I am some kind of terrorist, as they were not having it.”
The 45-year-old, who runs Calamity Kayaking, is best known as the crusader who clears Paisley's White Cart Water of debris and plastic.
He’d planned to sleep out on a raft of plastic bottles during COP26 near where the River Cart meets the River Clyde north of Renfrew.
But the port authority and police also sunk that as a potential threat.
The ban on Paul and other casual water users does not end until November 16 and runs from the city centre to past Renfrew.
Paul’s pal Joseph Heenan was also ready to hit the water in the city centre, with the pair using two canoes and two kayaks.
Paul added: “They allowed The Rainbow Warrior up the Clyde but not a plastic warrior such as myself.
“We had wanted to do a clean-up at the Renfrew Ferry but were threatened if we went in the water we would get the jail.
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“They also said they would take the canoes off us and it marked a long year for me getting fed-up with authorities.”
Paul then contacted police again asking for permission after the Greenpeace yacht was allowed through the cordon.
He added: “I said we just wanted to get the plastic bottles away from COP26.
“I was then told I had been put on an intelligence file.”
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “Delivering such a complex and sizeable event as COP, with world leaders attending, means that restrictions are needed to facilitate the safe delivery of the event and maintain the safety and security of participants, citizens and visitors. Restrictions on the river are necessary for security purposes.
“No vessels will be allowed in the prohibited security zone. This includes all personal water craft such as kayaks, jet –skis, paddle boards and rafts.”
Ministry of Defence Police are responsible for monitoring about four miles of water, most of it downstream of the conference at the SEC.
For around three weeks movement and mooring restrictions are in force.
Superintendent Sandy Stewart of the Ministry of Defence Police said: “Our marine unit officers will be supporting the Police Scotland operation for COP26, providing a 24/7, armed policing presence on the River Clyde and ensuring compliance with the legal restrictions put in place, to deliver a safe and secure event for all involved.”
*Paul will stage a plastic protest this Saturday above the weir at The Gorbals, which is not part of the exclusion zone.
He said: “There is masses of rubbish there and we are going to collect it. We phoned Glasgow City Council for litter pickers and bags and go no answer. Renfrewshire Council have happily said they’ll give us bags despite it not being in their district.”
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