Examination of Witnesses (Questions 200-208)
MR JO
BURGON, MR
TONY BURTON
AND MR
GWYN WILLIAMS
9 JUNE 2008
Q200 Chairman: How much have you
spent so far on the path that you have got?
Mr Burgon: We do not manage that
path. We get a grant from Natural England in terms of the National
Trail. It is not our path; it is a right of way. We act as an
agent for the Highway Authority across our land in Devon and Cornwall.
We do not own the 600 miles of the National Trail in the south
west. We maintain it over the land that we have responsibility
for.
Q201 Dan Rogerson: Presumably, until
we know exactly what form the Bill is going to take, for example,
were estuaries to be brought into it, you cannot tell what it
might cost?
Mr Burgon: Yes, and all the spreading
room management and all the rest of it.
Q202 Dan Rogerson: You were telling
us before about the role of access authorities, local authorities,
being crucial in this. Do you think that the Bill therefore requires
greater clarification as to what the responsibilities and liabilities
are of the various organisations involved?
Mr Burgon: Yes.
Q203 Chairman: When do you think
this work is going to be finished that you are doing with Natural
England?
Mr Burgon: I hope this autumn.
I think it is quite quick. I have just started discussions with
a member of their team.
Q204 Chairman: So would your recommendation
be to this Committee, in the light of Mr Gray's questioning and
your reluctance until you finish this work to be a little firmer,
that the Government should not contemplate introducing this measure
as real legislation as opposed to draft until (a) the work you
have done has been completed and evaluated, and (b) they have
made it very clear in the light of what you are doing with them
just how much resource is going to be available to turn the legislative
requirements into reality?
Mr Burton: I think that is fair
and I think that time frame would allow that to happen because
I am sure that is the level of scrutiny that it will require as
it is going through Parliament. If we can help Natural England
inform that process by the autumn that should enable us to come
to an effective assessment.
Q205 Chairman: I just cannot understand
the process. We have heard that there are a number of significant
players in terms of the access arrangements—local authorities,
landowners, bodies like yourself. Then there is the question of
farmers and people who cultivate who may need to use environmental
schemes, the Higher Level Scheme, for example, to achieve some
of the objectives. In other words, it is not a question of money
to one group of people; it is a lot of little pots. Is this evaluation
going to look at all of those potential pots to come to a number,
possibly greater than 50, as the final outcome of this process?
Mr Burgon: I think you will have
to ask Natural England that. I do not know.
Q206 Chairman: It is not a trick
question.
Mr Burgon: We have not got into
that level of discussion.
Q207 Chairman: You have not?
Mr Burgon: No.
Q208 Chairman: So we ought to go
back to Natural England and ask that question?
Mr Burgon: Yes.
Chairman: Right; we will do that. Jolly
good. Thank you very much indeed. You have genuinely been very
helpful to us. If, as I said before at the conclusion of our previous
session, there are things that occur to you that you would like
to confide in the Committee we would be delighted to hear from
you. Thank you very much indeed for both your oral and your written
contributions today.
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