Natural England

Natural England is looking to use the iconic South West Coast Path as an inspiration for the country as a whole.

This will be the message given to today (Friday 8 February) by Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England to the Cornwall branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

“We need to simplify the system for creating coastal access, improve it and roll it out across the length of the English coast. The principle is clear: the public should have consistent and secure access around their coastline.

“Our advice to Government makes it clear that local communities should have a vital role to play in creating the coastal access corridor in their area. Careful discussion with land managers and local interests is central to making this new right work for everyone.

“The time has come to make a legal reality of the access that people already have in most parts of Cornwall and Devon and to open up those parts that at present they cannot enjoy at all.”

Sir Martin continued: “To those who approach this debate about coastal access with questions about demand and public rights over private land, I respectfully suggest that they are missing the point. Surely it is not unreasonable for people to enjoy England’s countryside or coastline.

“The coast provides the ideal place to engage people with the natural world and enable them to marvel at the wonders of the marine environment. They can do this in a way that sits comfortably alongside other land uses, and that brings real and lasting economic benefits to coastal communities. At Natural England we are really excited by the challenge in front of us,” concluded Sir Martin.

ends

Notes for editors
For more information please contact Natural England’s South West Press Officer, Paul Wynne on 07900 608049.

1. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

2. Natural England has advised Government to introduce new legislation to provide the public with continuous access, so far as practicable, around England’s 4500km coastline. There would be careful consultation with local interests about the design and management of the access arrangements, and about priorities for improvement. At the present time Government is consulting on how best to provide coastal access along the whole length of the English coast.

3. The proposals presented to Government in 2007 are as follows:

• The Government should legislate to create a new approach tailored to the circumstances of the coast. Legislation should create statutory powers for Natural England to align a coastal access corridor around the whole of the undeveloped English coast, to create access where it does not exist and improve it where it needs improving, and to repeat this process later on any stretch of coast where necessary.
• The access corridor would include new areas of spreading room along the coast, and could also formalize existing beach access.
• Natural England's powers would include undertaking any necessary establishment work on the ground, such as installing gates and bridges.
• All Natural England's powers would be exercised under a statutory methodology, approved by the Secretary of State.
• Natural England would undertake nature conservation assessments as part of the planning process, to avoid significant damage to any features of importance.
• Natural England would undertake much of the planning and implementation through access authorities, where they were willing to take it on. We would do it ourselves where the access authority was unwilling to act. Natural England would fund the necessary work irrespective of who undertook it.
• Local solutions would be designed in consultation with local interests, including local access forums and land managers.
• Natural England estimates that this would require an implementation programme costing £5m per year over a period of 10 years. Work is continuing to refine this estimate.
• The reduced level of occupiers' liability introduced for ‘access land’ under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act should also apply to coastal access.
• There is a need for complementary work, by Natural England and others, to enhance coastal landscapes and wildlife.