The Secretary of State has approved the first stretch of the England Coast Path at Weymouth Bay between Portland and Lulworth. Natural England aim to have this stretch open in time for the Olympic and Paralympics sailing events which will take place there in July 2012.
The over-riding concern about the Maine and Coastal Access Act, through which the Coastal Path is being established, is the blanket provision of access to the English coast where there is no clear public need. The NFU believes that the limited funds available for this project would be better spent on the provision of high quality and well-maintained access where it is actually needed.
The key outstanding issues for the NFU regarding developing a coastal access route include:
• Who will meet the costs of maintaining the route?
• Dealing with the confusion around spreading room – which is the most contentious part of the Act and NFU opposed heavily
• Managing dogs
• Managing the route with coastal change and managing the route regarding future development
Natural England have activity underway to develop coastal paths in the next 5 stretches:
• Cumbria – from Whitehaven to Allonby
• Durham, Sunderland and Hartlepool – from Seaton Carew to North Bents
• Norfolk - from Weybourne to Sea Palling
• Kent - from Ramsgate to Folkestone
• Somerset - from Minehead to Brean Down
Progress on these stretches, and details on the Weymouth stretch, can be found on
Natural England’s website Access advice is available to members in the NFU Business Guides online or from Call First on 0870 845 8458.
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