Memorandum submitted by Warrington Borough
Council (DMB 12)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This submission seeks a change to the draft
legislation in order to ensure that coastal estuary land is included
as qualifying land for the Coastal Access Provisions
1. I refer to section 276 of the Marine
Bill which relates to River Estuaries.
2. I suggest that "the English Coast"
in the mind of the public includes the shores of the major estuaries.
Such estuaries are effectively arms of the sea with attributes
such as tides, beaches, cliffs etc. and the public have a similar
desire to access this coastal land as they do for the rest of
the coast.
3. The draft bill by section 276 would allow
Natural England to identify the first upstream bridge accessible
on foot or a ferry as the route for continuing the coastal route.
4. Taking the River Mersey as an example
the default situation for the River crossing would be the Widnes-Runcorn
Bridge but Natural England could direct that the Mersey Ferry
(Liverpool-Wallasey) could provide the crossing because it would
be more direct and convenient for the coastal route.
5. I would argue that the coastal route
is an amenity for all and as such should provide for local people
in addition to serving as a long distance path. To this end a
more inclusive treatment of the coasts of estuaries is needed.
6. For example the estuary of the River
Mersey runs to the centre of Warrington and access to its shores
is available in part along both banks, where suitable, between
New Brighton/Bootle and Warrington. However, between Widnes/Runcorn
and Warrington apart from at Widnes Warth and Fiddlers Ferry on
the northern bank the River is largely inaccessible. The Mersey
Forest with its partners is looking to develop an Upper Mersey
Valley Forest Park on land centred on the River over this length
because of its potential for both amenity access and nature conservation.
The Marine Bill would provide the legislative
framework for the development of the core routes for public access
to the River estuary in this initiative.
7. Proposed legislative change—May
I suggest that in order not to exclude coastal estuary land from
the provision of coastal access through the Bill, a nominal maximum
span of qualifying upstream bridge, be inserted in the Bill as
a replacement of paragraphs a) and b) in Section 276(3) in reference
to "relevant upstream waters". This would prevent the
presence of large suspension bridges over estuaries, or ferries,
disqualifying estuary coastal land from being excluded from the
provisions of the Act.
Provision could still be given for Natural England
to identify alternative estuary crossings as part of the coastal
route to provide for personal choice.
This submission is sent on behalf of Warrington
Borough Council with the approval of Councillor Brian Axcell,
Executive Board member—Environment Services
John Thorp
Public Rights of Way Officer, Warrington Borough
Council
May 2008
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