Countryside Minister Signals Bright Outlook for Coast Access
For immediate release 27 July 2006
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has welcomed the supportive comments by Carwyn Jones AM, at the Royal Welsh Show (Tuesday 25 July), that the public could benefit from a legal right of access to the beautiful Welsh coastline.
An ICM poll released by the RA shows that more than 94% of the population* want a legal right of access to beaches, foreshore, cliffs and adjacent coastal land.
Speaking at the RA’s stand at the show, Mr Jones stated: “There will be further consideration given to the issue of a statutory right of access to coastal areas”.
The Assembly announced plans for a coastal path in June. The national walking charity is encouraging the Assembly to create a legal right of access to beaches, cliffs and foreshore plus adjacent coastal land.
Beverley Penney, Director of the RA in Wales said: “We welcome Carwyn Jones’ forward thinking on this issue. This is what the public want. Walking makes a vital contribution to the Welsh economy of £548 million yearly, much of it generated on the coast. A new legal right of access will encourage even more people to visit the Welsh coastline benefiting the economy and rural communities. In Scotland, Portugal, France and Scandinavia there is full access to the coast with protection for privacy, property and wildlife”.
Mr Jones attended The Royal Welsh Show to launch the RA’s Use Your Paths Challenge which aims to get all footpaths in Wales walked by September 2007. For further information log onto www.useyourpaths.info and www.defnyddiadylwybrau.
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For further information please contact Beverley Penney on 029 20644308/ 0771 542 2164 or the RA’s Press Office on 0207 339 8531/8532
*Wales and the South West.
