Outdoor organisations call for coast for most
[14 February 2006]
A coalition of Britain’s leading outdoor organisations is
calling for Natural England to recommend ministers to introduce
a permanent, multi-user, right of access around England’s
beautiful coastline. The Natural England board meets in
Sheffield on 21 February to thrash out its policy on coastal
access.
The Ramblers’ Association (RA), British Canoe Union, British
Mountaineering Council, British Caving Association, CTC, Central
Council of Physical Recreation, Equestrian Access Forum,
International Mountain Biking Association UK and the Open Spaces
Society have joined forces to lobby for inclusive access rights
along the coast on behalf of the public.
The group is calling for a coastal zone - where informal and
responsible recreation rights are guaranteed - which will
promote people’s health and wellbeing and generate income for
local communities. In protecting the coast for access we also
make it more able to withstand the impact of climate change and
rising sea-levels.
Within the zone, a code of practice should define the new access
and set out rights and responsibilities. It is important that
access can be regulated to protect wildlife, and legitimate
privacy issues and to take account of coastal developments. New
grant schemes should improve the management of coastal land and
increase the benefits for wildlife, landowners and the public.
And there should be new planning guidance for the coast.
Kate Ashbrook, RA chairman: “We are an island nation and the
coast is a precious part of our heritage, yet access to it is
patchy at best. There is no right to walk on the foreshore
between mean and high tides, so even a child building a
sandcastle may technically be trespassing.
The government must grasp the opportunity to roll back the
arable land so that a healthy range of flora and fauna can
flourish. This will mean that England can boast of the type of
access that countries like France, Scandinavia and Portugal
provide for their citizens”.
Richard George, CTC Off-road campaigner: “Cycling around
England’s coast should be a pleasure – but only 33 miles of
coastline is open to cyclists, and half go underwater at high
tide!”
Henry Whittaker, Equestrian Access Forum: “The EAF recognises
the importance of coastal and beach access as it provides a
valuable resource to horse riders. Any proposals should provide
for multi use which will produce increased economic benefits to
the coastal regions”.
Chloe Nelson-Lawrie, British Canoe Union: “Opening up coastal
waters would help the BCU achieve its sporting and recreational
aims. Greater access would also enable us to assist in reaching
the Government's targets for outdoor educational, participation
in physical activity and for the health agenda”.
Brigid Simmonds, CCPR chairman: ”There is constant demand for
new facilities for sport and recreation but so little is done to
provide them. At the stroke of pen, ministers have the ability
to open up sites which have been off-limits to the public for
centuries. By signing up to this proposal, they can improve
public health, strengthen coastal economies, and safeguard the
natural environment”.
Dave Turnbull, Chief Executive for the British Mountaineering
Council: "The British coastline is internationally renowned for
rock climbing. There are more climbing routes on the cliffs of
Land’s End then the whole of the Eastern and Western seaboards
of the USA put together. What people want to know is where they
can park, where they can go and how to get there."
Duncan Simpson, Head of Communications at YHA, said: "YHA
aims to help all to a greater knowledge, love and care of the
countryside, including our coast. We operate around 50 coastal
properties. For many young people seaside holidays or walks
along the coastline are their first experience of the outdoors
and learning in this way instils a passion for further
exploration. This experience can only be enhanced by these
proposals".