Memorandum submitted by the Campaign to
Protect Rural England (DMB 65)
The Campaign to Protect Rural England is grateful
for the opportunity to make the following submission to the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. This should be read in
association with our submission to the Defra consultation of August
2007, which we attach.[24]
Summary
1. CPRE supports the Government's vision
for coastal access, and the proposed legislation to achieve it.
We recognise that the process of extending access will take some
time and that great care should be taken to ensure the most efficient
use of resources during that time. We consider that new legislation
is the most effective and most efficient way to achieve this objective.
We agree that there will need to be exceptions to and deviations
from a route giving continuous access to the coast itself. We
see this is a positive opportunity to reveal landscapes, views
and new perspectives of the coast.
2. We consider that thorough consideration
of the rights of land owners, farm tenants and other land managers
is a crucial part of achieving a successful and timely outcome
which benefits from the commitment of those who manage the coastline
or rely on it for their business or way of life. There may be
cases where compensation for the creation of coastal access rights
is appropriate. Provision for such compensation and a clear process
for appraising this will be a great help in encouraging constructive
engagement with land owners and coastal businesses. The welcome
vision set out by the Government will require adequate and realistic
resources over time and these should not be diverted from other
existing environmental and access programmes and commitments.
The enjoyment, understanding and good management of our varied
coastal landscapes all stand to benefit from this initiative,
as does the future of coastal communities.
3. CPRE makes some further observations
in relation to some of the topics listed by the Committee and
the wider implications of this initiative for landscape, planning
and development.
The case for exceptions to, and deviations from,
a route giving continuous access to the coast itself
4. CPRE does not regard successful achievement
of this objective as requiring a narrowly defined perimeter path
which exactly follows the line of land immediately above the inter-tidal
zone. In our submission to the Defra consultation we identified
a range of circumstances where exceptions and deviations might
be necessary, or even welcome. But creative and well designed
footpaths which respond to the need for such deviations and exceptions
would be very welcome additions to the public right of way network.
Often, with intelligent planning, new public paths will be possible
which will offer enjoyable and valuable new views. These will
in turn offer insight into the landscapes and settlements adjoining
the coast.
5. The intention to include feeder or tributary
paths to and from the coast is a very welcome one which CPRE strongly
supports. The accessibility of the coastline from the inland footpath
network would be a very valuable achievement in its own right,
benefiting the visiting public as well as communities which are
close to, but not actually located on the coast. The topography
and settlement pattern close to the coast is vastly varied and
the network of paths inland similarly so. In many places, existing
rights of way leading to and from the coast are few and far between.
The Government's proposals could, if carefully planned, celebrate
the shape and character of the great range of coastal landscapes:
from the heights above parts of the North Yorkshire or Dorset
coast, to the intimate and sheltered tracts of land beside Poole
Harbour, the estuaries of Essex or the dune systems of the Lincolnshire
coast.
6. We recognise the importance of the protection
of wildlife habitat along the coastline. CPRE is aware of evidence
that narrowly defined linear access can sometimes be more damaging
to wild species than a more diffuse pattern of access. We are
also clear that there is a risk that expanded coastal access could
have unintended consequences for species which rely on the often
less intensive patterns of land use immediately next to the coast.
For this reason, we strongly support the concept of "spreading
room" and the commitment made by the Government that local
solutions will be encouraged. "Spreading room" should
be a useful mechanism for managing human impact as well as the
physical effects of climate change on the coastline. We encourage
the Government to consider seasonal closures or diversions to
new and also some existing coastal paths to respect critical breeding
seasons or times when ground conditions would make public access
damaging or hazardous. Such variation of route could also offer
interesting variety of experience for those using the coastal
path network.
7. Notwithstanding CPRE's position on the
virtue of occasional diversions or exceptions to paths following
the actual line of the coast, we would strongly encourage emphasis
be given to improving access to those parts of the coast in places
which suffer from economic deprivation or a legacy of industrial
blight, dereliction or contamination. The regenerative power of
coastal landscapes and habitats such as the former "colliery
coastline" of Northumberland and Durham, or some of the Thames
estuary could be of great significance. Often, the coast has changed
roles from being a very active industrial and commercial interface,
to an inaccessible, forgotten and depressing one. Regeneration
need not be lead by substantial hard development or commercial
investment. A well managed and well designed pattern of coastal
access could provide a great boost to local communities and economies
with minimal investment or controversial and often exclusive coastal
development.
Addressing the landscapes adjoining coastlines
8. Provision of "spreading room"
is identified as an important element in coastal access policy
in relation to acceleration of coastal retreat because of climate
change. CPRE regard this concept as important for other reasons
as well. Even in places where coastal retreat is slow or non-existent,
a longer term and more permeable approach to public access close
to the coast is would be valuable. Such an approach would benefit
the landscape and appreciation of it, as coastal topography often
very rich and rewarding of exploration, beyond the narrow cliff
top or beach head line. A redirection of access pressure and use
away from a single path would also reduce the linear scarring
of a single restricted line of access. It would similarly also
reduce maintenance costs where pressure on a single route can
be intense.
9. In our September 2007 submission to Defra,
we strongly urged the expansion of agri-environment schemes to
land adjoining the coast. CPRE regards the sensitive management
of land adjoining the coast to be a vital part of the process
of improving coastal access and the public's experience of it.
Often, the immediate coastal fringe remains unfarmed or long abandoned,
but also a very restricted and narrow area. Where intensive farming
continues close to a narrow route of public access, the diversity
and character of land close to the coast will be limited. The
encouragement of more extensive and traditional land management
close to the coastline could, in time, create valuable landscape
and habitat with good public access. The extension of valuable
but presently very limited semi-natural habitat would be useful
for the recovery of habitat and species concentrated on coastal
fringes. Expansion of Environmental Stewardship to a special coastal
role should not be at the expense of already hard-pressed funds
for existing schemes and agreements.
Coastal access in estuaries
10. CPRE regards many estuary landscapes
as being of outstanding quality. In many parts of England they
are much the most dramatic local landscapes, as well as often
being far more ancient or relatively unaltered than farmland or
woodland. In particular, where reclamation has been limited or
where reclamation has protected an ancient low lying coastline
from erosion, such as parts of the Humber estuary, the pre-historic
qualities of the coast are often more intact. The dramatic dynamism
of the Severn estuary represents another very valuable aspect
of the landscapes of estuaries. The scale of dependence of wildlife
and in particular wading birds, can make estuarine coasts some
of the most rewarding places to enjoy wildlife in abundance; this
further enriches the qualities of access to estuary coasts. Enhanced
and extended coastal access in such cases would be particularly
welcome, so long as damaging wildlife disturbance is avoided and
public safety is secure.
Planning policy
11. The importance of integrating expanded
coastal access with spatial and land use planning needs emphasising,
in CPRE's view. This is important in relation to the development
of coastal settlement and the long term direction of sea defence
policy. CPRE urges the retention of specific planning policy for
coasts and coastal settlements. An imaginative and effective policy
for coastal access would benefit from a continued body of planning
policy on coastal issues. Planning Policy Guidance Note 20, Coastal
Planning contains valuable policy guidance, and covers the directly
relevant issues of tourism and coastal defence, as well as the
economic development of coastal communities. CPRE strongly supports
the retention and updating of this policy document in support
of the coastal access initiative.
CPRE
May 2008
24 Not printed. Back
| 
