Will we be fighting them on the beaches?
For outdoor types a trip to the beach usually means one of two things. Strolling along the cliff top remarking how beautiful the cold, dark waters of the North sea appear, or for the more energetic, the opportunity to shake up some salt-slick climb before trying to belay off a rabbit.
All bracing fun, but as yet, no decision has actually been taken on how public access can be improved to one of our most important natural treasures - the English coast. Inland there’s now good old CRoW, but back at the seaside, the Natural England partnership (that’s the Countryside Agency, English Nature and Rural Development Service to you and me) is still researching and fact-finding to find the best access option. Their ambitious aims are to “improve the coastal wildlife, landscape, and quality of enjoyment”, and make the coastline more accessible to boot.
But will this actually make any difference to what we already experience? Well, currently about half of the foreshore is owned by the Crown Estates, and beaches are under a variety of ownerships including local authorities and the National Trust. Much of this access is often permissive or de-facto, a luxury which can, and has, been revoked on occasion. The public footpath system around our coast is similarly variable in quality and doesn’t allow for a continuous journey. So, in short, yes, improvements could be made.
The nature of these rights has yet to be decided however, and a number of options have recently been presented, including statutory improvements to linear rights of way, a mapping approach, and a non-mapped, descriptive method. The first option, a strict “rights of way” approach would simply be too restrictive to deliver that full coastal experience that us islanders need. The second is using a CRoW-like methodology - mapping with consultation, however this may be complicated and time consuming, mapping a small corridor of the wide and varied coastal margins. This leaves the descriptive process - it could be less accurate than mapping and might be open to misinterpretation by landowners and public alike, yet it may offer the most realistic and easily implemented solution.
Whichever method is chosen, the BMC would like to see full access to the coastal zone including the foreshore, an area adjacent to the foreshore, and a distance back from the cliff face or adjacent land. Only this would give the access that climbers and walkers expect, and need. And as ever, it’s a balancing act - stronger conservation legislation, and reduced concerns of occupier’s liability also need to be addressed.
The situation in Wales is slightly different again. The options, similar to those presented in England include “coastal access enhancement initiatives” with a round-Wales trail, a CRoW type approach and CRoW variant to include fields adjacent to the cliff top as well. There has already been a consultation process in Wales and these options are now with the Welsh Assembly - who have hopefully all had an early summer beach holiday and want to totally embrace the idea of access to the coast, not just a strip of footpath around the edge of it.
Of course the situation is very complex. Our coast is made up of a number of different and sensitive environments including estuarine areas, sand dunes, urban areas and sea defences, so the combination of the options needs careful consideration. But access to our shores needs to be inclusive and beneficial to the complete spectrum of users. So what happens now? Well, presently the BMC is lobbying for what we see as the most sensible coastal option - an “open access” approach to the coastal zone. But at the same time we understand the importance of this environment for conservation and would of course continue to support necessary agreed restrictions to ensure the protection of wildlife.
The Natural England partnership has just reported to the Department for the Environment, and a public consultation document will be produced this October. The Welsh options are currently with the Assembly Government and it is hoped that they too will produce a consultation document in the next few months. Things should only get better for the coastal visitor, but at this stage the type of improved access is still unclear. Whatever happens, rest assured the BMC is doing the spade work, and we’re on your (sea) side.
By Cath Flitcroft
This feature article originally appeared in Summit
42. Opinions expressed are of the author - not necessarily
the BMC, and should be taken in the context of time.
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