Britain is blessed with a beautiful, diverse coastline and is used for a huge variety of reasons by a wide range of people from all over the UK. Here is a selection of comments expressing hoe important the coast is to people:
THE CLIMBER
David from Lanarkshire: “The UK coastline is one of our country's greatest assets. Access is important because it is our natural heritage and being able to see beautiful places is good for everyone. Depression rates are reduced and peoples' appreciation of nature and UK history is improved."
THE EXPLORER - favourite place South Devon
Peter from Devon: "Limiting access takes away a unique and important part of life's enjoyment."
THE HORSE-RIDER
Greer from Hampshire: “I live in a very built up area and the coastline is one of the few areas where I can exercise my horse. We support local industry paying for livery, horse feed, riding instruction, farriery etc. It is frustrating to have only limited access available."
THE NATURE ENTHUSIAST, loves visiting Lincolnshire
David from Lincolnshire: "The coastline offers a contrasting environment to inland agriculturally-dominated and more wild-country or moorland landscapes. I would very much wish to see as much of the coastline opened up for walking, particularly as the UK is constantly bombarded with the need to exercise more."
THE FAMILY
Sarah from Birmingham: “Our gardens are becoming smaller…our cities are polluted and over-crowded. Please allow us to have the freedom to roam or play on OUR beaches at will and without restrictions."
THE WALKER
Patricia from London: "Walking, days out, week long holidays - fresh air and beautiful countryside. For a hard-working city dweller it's absolutely necessary to be able to escape to the countryside and seaside"
THE SEA KAYAKER
John from Buckinghamshire: "For me, I want to know that wherever I beach my kayak I can walk with relative ease and no let or hindrance."
THE BIRD WATCHER
Sheelagh from Reading: "We need to encourage the younger generations to value the wonders of the natural world and to appreciate the vulnerability of marine life to change and disasters (e.g. pollution and shipping accidents). We need children and their families to know, love and take ownership to protect the seashore: that can only be achieved by providing them with ready, open access to the coachline and beaches."
THE WHEELCHAIR USER
Elizabeth from Hampshire: "Having unlimited access to coast, seashore and beach is vital for the overall well being of everyone."
THE SWIMMER
Chris from London: "Our family live in an inner-city area (London) and visiting and taking part in activities on the coast is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle."
THE CYCLIST
Audrey from Hertfordshire: "I feel some landowners are so greedy, keeping the coast to themselves. If they live by the sea it should be OK to have private access to a beach, but not to prevent others access to the shore or just inland from another point.."
THE FRIENDS
Amy from West Yorkshire: "The coast should be an environment which everyone can appreciate. It is a place in which people can relax, have fun and be sociable. It offers a lot of different and cheap activities which give pleasure, especially to children"
When the legislation was passed in November 2009. the then Secretary of State, Hilary Benn said, “Our island has a beautiful coastline that we should all be able to enjoy. The coastal path will allow everyone to access our coast and experience its beauty as well as providing a boost to regional economies through increased tourism. The first section of the coastal path will be completed in time for the lighting of the Olympic flame in 2012."
And... YOU
Get involved in the coastal access campaign
