Take Action – What you can do to stop the coastal access route from sinking without a trace
1.) URGENT - Write to your MP and encourage others to do the same
We are calling on all Ramblers members to write to their MP to ask for their support for the designation of the England coastal route. We can supply suggested text, however, the letter will have more impact if write in your own words and give examples of how the new legislation could bring benefits (social, health, economic) locally.
****Please note that it is important to ask your MP to copy your letter to the relevant Minister (Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries at DEFRA). *****
Please encourage your friends to send letters as well. We ask that when you send your letter, you contact (via e-mail or other means), 3 other friends to ask them to write. In turn, they can each ask 3 more members, and so on. If this game of ‘letter tag’ succeeds, MPs and Ministerial post bags will fill nicely over the summer recess. MPs have told us that receiving 5 letters on a single subject is unusual, so your letters will make a difference!
Sample text for the letter can be found here
If you do not have the time to write an individual letter to your MP, then please take part in our e-action
If you would like copies of flyers to hand out on walks, please contact anastasia.french@ramblers.org.uk at Ramblers central office.
2.) Send a seaside postcard to Richard Benyon.
Are you going to the beach this summer? While you’re writing your “wish you were here” messages to your friends and family it would be great if you could also write a similar message to Richard Benyon (the minister responsible for Coastal Access) asking him to announce the next stretches of coastline.
You can write to him at Richard Benyon MP, DEFRA, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
3.) Take your MP on a coastal walk.
While your MP is on summer recess from parliament, invite them on a coastal walk, taking in some of this country’s most striking scenery. Hopefully, once you’ve taken them on the walk they’ll be keen to lobby Richard Benyon and DEFRA to ensure that the All-England Coastal route isn’t forgotten. If you don’t live near the coast, then please visit your MP in their constituency surgeries to tell them why you value coastal walking and to urge them to lobby Richard Benyon for a commitment to the program.
Please contact anastasia.french@ramblers.org.uk if you need support or advice.
4.) Write to Caroline Spelman to improve coastal access on the Isle of Wight
At the moment, the Isle of Wight is not included in the Marine and Coastal Act, take part in our ask to try and change this.
5.) Send us your seaside snaps
Do you know of a footpath that disappears into the water or a ‘coastal’ path that is miles from the sea? If you do, please send us your photos! Help us to show why we need improved access to the coast. Submit your summer seaside snaps onto Flickr or e-mail anastasia.french@ramblers.org.uk for help.
6.) Approach local businesses
Besides the fantastic walking opportunities that the new Coastal Route would allow, the main advantage would be for local businesses. The South-West coast path generates over £300 million a year for the local economy. If you are, or know any local business owners along the coast, please encourage them to write to Richard Benyon, explaining what they would value the coastal route.
7.) Donate to our appeal
The Ramblers are working hard to try and secure the new coastal route but we need your support and kind donations to help continue this work. Donate here
8.) Tell us what you’ve done
There is a special seaside prize available for the individual and Ramblers group/area that do the most campaigning over the summer. Email anastasia.french@ramblers.org.uk by October 1st with your stories of what you’ve done and you may be eligible for a prize presentation and feature in walk magazine.
