Access to the English Coast

Context

• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 received Royal Assent on 12th November 2009.

• Established the duty on Natural England to secure a coastal trail and coastal margin around the English coast

• Work has commenced on 6 lead stretches - Durham, Sunderland and Hartlepool; Cumbria; Kent; Somerset; Norfolk and Weymouth (in time for 2012 Olympics)

Current Situation Kent

• Kent attracts many visitors who come to walk along the coast but they don’t have a secure or consistent right of access.

• A third of the English coast (37% in Kent) currently does not have a satisfactory, legally secure path.

• NE working with KCC to secure a clearly marked, well managed coastal trail that will allow greater access to the coast

• The public want the confidence and certainty in a quality coastal path that isn’t punctuated with the stop go effect that we currently experience.

Wider Benefits

• Walking along the coast is even more popular than relaxing on the beach

• This is not just about a footpath, it’s about securing a coastal margin where people can rest, relax or admire the view.

• The South West Coast Path draws in excess of 7 million leisure and staying visitors and is worth in excess of £300 million a year to the SW regional economy

Benefits contd.

• Coastal trail will increase visitors to the Kent coast,

particularly national and international visitors

• Contribute towards KCC’s “Vision for Kent” to enhance the quality of life, encourage active lifestyles and develop the tourism economy within East Kent.

• Coastal access will raise awareness of Kent’s coast and

support the development of Kent as a world class short

break destination

Principles of Alignment

Statutory Principles for route alignment • Safety and convenience• Adhere to periphery of the coast providing sea views• Practicality – interruptions kept to a minimum ensuring

an unbroken and continuous route

In addition to ensure:• Enjoyment and protection of the natural environment• Responsiveness to coastal change – roll back

Roll Back

Roll Back 2

Roll Back 3

Alignment in practise

• First we align the route of the trail in consultation with owners and occupiers– Either adopt an existing PRoW– Adopt a permissive or de-facto walked line– Create a fresh ‘line’

• Everything seaward of that line becomes spreading room

• Then we look at the discretion to extend spreading room inland (guided by the scheme)

Figure 1 A section of coast before alignment, showing fields of permanent pasture with heath, scrub and rock to seaward side.

Figure 2 The trail aligned along the cliff slope.

Figure 3 Spreading room seaward of the trail

Figure 4 Spreading room landward of the trail

Implementation process

Stage 4 – Draft Report /Consultation – April 2012

• Currently preparing draft report • Consultation to commence April 2012• Primarily web based consultation - 12 weeks long • Invite all interested parties to comment• Listen to what people are saying and amend draft

proposals accordingly

oughQuestions?