The Ramblers’ Association (RA) today advised the Government that a national coastal trail would bring massive economic and social benefits to rural communities, as they gave evidence to a joint committee scrutinising the coastal access provisions within the draft Marine Bill.
The RA’s evidence was a given as part of a two day process of hearings with the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Commons Select Committee and parliamentary joint committee responsible for looking at how effectively the proposals contained within the Draft Marine Bill will deliver improved coastal access.
Britain’s biggest walking charity, the RA, is supporting Government proposals to create a trail around the whole of England’s coastline under the Marine Bill. They are urging the Government to maintain the corridor as a national trail, with provisions for the protection of wildlife biodiversity in the zone.
Tom Franklin, CEO of the RA told the committee: “The potential social and economic benefits of a national coastal route to seaside communities are huge. The South West Coast path brings over £307 million a year to the region and is named as a major selling point by 73.3% of accommodation providers. If these economic benefits were expanded nationally, it would completely rejuvenate the social and economic life of our coastal towns.”
The RA has dismissed claims that coastal access will widely threaten the privacy of private gardens and loss of property values (1) as ‘scaremongering’.
Tom Franklin comments: “Similar objections were raised by opponents before 1 million hectares of open land were opened up by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, citing the damage to property, invasion of privacy, danger to livestock and destruction of wildlife habitats that would result. Despite dire warnings, none of these imagined threats emerged. We hope the same cries of 'Wolf' will be treated with the healthy scepticism they deserve. The need for local negotiation with both landowners and user groups features very prominently in the Bill and will ensure will ensure that everyone with an interest in the coastal route can have a say over the exact route that it takes.”
He continues: “As a coastal nation we have a unique affinity with our coast and should all be free to enjoy it. Opening up the coastline fully to walkers would benefit the public and the rural economy, too, as the South West Coastal path has already proved.”
The Ramblers’ Association told the joint committee today
The public have an automatic affinity with the coast and enjoy being there. An RA commissioned ICM poll found that 94% of those surveyed believed that the public should have a legal right to walk on the coast.
Existing public access to the coast is provided by an array of different mechanisms, which has led to a situation lacking clarity and consistency.
National Trails are an effective, well-tested method of promoting walking tourism and are known and understood by the public. The use of spreading room allows the public to explore particular coastal landscapes away from paths and really get to know them. This greatly adds to the walking experience, creating a sense of freedom and openness.
Alternative methods of improving access to the coast are expensive and ineffective and have been available for decades. Creating open access under the CROW Act cost £73 per hectare. In contrast, access provided via the voluntary Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which ran at the same time as the implementation of the CROW Act, cost £233 per hectare.
The inclusion of measures to improve coastal access sits well with the rest of the Marine Bill. Improving access aids the public’s understanding and desire to protect landscapes and wildlife, which is a main component of the bill. The access components of the Bill are supported by a range of organisations concerned with wildlife and conservation including the RSPB, the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts.
For more information please contact the RA’s Press Office on 020 7339 8532/8531 press@ramblers.org.uk
