Coastal uncertainty leaves landowners in limbo

UNCERTAINTY over government plans to create a public footpath along the East Anglia coastline has left landowners in limbo.

Work on the path – part of an ambitious project to establish a coastal path around England – is likely to be scaled back following government cutbacks which have seen Natural England’s budget cut by 5%.

The Country Land and Business Association warned that ongoing uncertainty over the scheme would blight prospects for landowners who would now find it difficult to plan for the future.

The project would give walkers and cyclists access to a 30ft wide, 2500 miles long walkway around the coastline But CLA eastern region Rob Wise said areas such as the east of England already had an excellent coastal path.

“Natural England has now accepted it cannot afford to impose the scheme within the 10-year time frame originally intended As a result, every coastal homeowner, farmer and rural business in England will have their land blighted.

“No one can make long-term plans on what to do with their land when the right of public access is looming. It makes business planning impossible. This is completely unacceptable particularly at a time when all businesses should be free to prosper.”

According to Natural England’s own figures, 84% of the coast was already accessible to the public, said Mr Wise. Of the remaining 16%, half would remain inaccessible because it was covered by ports, military bases and so on.

“Spending £50 million of public money on a scheme to provide access to a mere eight per cent of the coast in this time of austerity is clearly unjustified. The CLA believes access can best be provided on a local and voluntary basis.”

Most people wanted improved coastal facilities, such as parking and toilets, rather than a long-distance path. “The legislation is unnecessary, and we trust that this will be reflected in the comprehensive spending review.”Natural England said it would be wrong to suggest the scheme had been abandoned altogether. But it conceded that the scale and scope of the project in Norfolk would be reduced due to reductions in this year’s budget.

“It is incorrect to say that the coastal access project has been shelved,” said a Natural England spokesman. The availability of funding for a wider rollout of coastal access schemes would become clearer later this year.