The Ramblers say those involved need to put their best foot forward to implement access to the English coast

Campaigners are pressing for urgency in the setting up of the coastal path round England.

The plea came as Natural England, the Government’s official body for the outdoors, outlined its plans for the establishment of the path – the result of years of campaigning by walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Six areas around England have been earmarked for the first sections of the path, which will open up to the public large sections of coastline to which walkers and climbers have previously been excluded.

The Ramblers called on all those involved to ‘put their best foot forward’ in implementing the scheme. There are fears that the impending election could affect the progress of the English coastal path – which Natural England has estimated will cost £50m over ten years.

With public expenditure likely to be severely squeezed by whoever wins the May general election, the coast path is viewed as an easy target for cuts. Lord Greaves, the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman, said: “The way the project is set up means that it will require the continued commitment of the Government, and sufficient resources for Natural England working with local authorities to bring it about on the ground.

“While we were passing the bill through Parliament the Conservatives sometimes seemed both partial and lukewarm in their support for this part of it. The Ramblers would do well to ask their members to press their local Tory candidates on this matter.

The Cumbrian coast is earmarked for early implementation of access for walkers

“In addition, a Government looking for billions of pounds of cuts may find this important scheme to be an easy option. A battle has been won but I suspect the campaign for access to our coast is not yet over.”

A spokesperson for Richard Benyon, the Conservatives’ shadow minister for agriculture, fisheries and wildlife told grough earlier this month: “Any coastal path will need investment but no government can make guarantees of funding over a 10-year period, especially during these difficult economic times.

“Many coastal communities have suffered in the recession so the priority for the implementation of any new path should be areas where it will bring the most benefit for tourism and the local economy, with the minimum of disruption.

“We recognise the benefits of increased access to the coast of Britain and see the act as a means of making that happen. However, we do have concerns about what certain impacts of the path – in particular spreading room – might have on some rural businesses.”

‘Spreading room’ is a concept within the Marine and Coastal Access Act whereby the 4m trail can be widened at areas such as beaches, dunes and headlands where people can rest, relax and enjoy a picnic en route.

It is with the background of these political uncertainties that the Ramblers urged an early start to work on the coastal path. Justin Cooke, Ramblers coastal access campaigner, said: “Full implementation of this enlightened scheme will open up thousands of miles of England’s beautiful coast for generations to come.

“Now everyone involved – from the public to landowners – must put their best foot forward to make the scheme a reality, without delay, so that the public can finally see and walk on once-forbidden coastline.

“The Ramblers particularly welcome that the new all English coastal path will be of national trail standard, with the certainty and ease of use this will bring.

“We welcome the targeted way in which Natural England will work on the new path, prioritising public spreading room in the areas with least access.

“The Ramblers also welcome that Natural England will be working locally with landowners and the public to find the right route which works for all.”

Natural England said the first area for the establishment of coastal access was a stretch of coast at Weymouth, with rights due in time for the 2012 Olympics. Five other areas: Cumbria, the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kent, Norfolk and Somerset are next on the list.

NE said its scheme, which has now been approved by Secretary of State Hilary Benn, details, among other things, how the route will be aligned; what approach will be taken on estuaries; how the 4m wide trail will be accommodated alongside other land uses; and the sort of areas that are likely to be treated as spreading room. Importantly, it said,  the concept of ‘walking the course’ – where landowners and other stakeholders are invited to discuss where the route and spreading room should be – is central to the approach being taken, as is wider consultation with other interests about their aspirations for each stretch of coast.

Poul Christensen, chair of Natural England

Poul Christensen, chair of Natural England, said: “The publication of this scheme is an important step in making clear, secure and consistent coastal access a reality for England. The scheme explains the procedures and criteria we will use to align the route and associated ‘spreading room’, and the ways in which access will be managed to minimise conflicts with other land uses. It is the blueprint that will be used at each leg of the journey, as we develop an all-England coast path stretch by stretch around the country.

“This country has one of the finest coastlines in the world but access to it is currently a lottery, with many sections lacking a secure, satisfactory path. We can now begin the work on the ground to address this and sort out, once and for all the piecemeal, stop-go nature of coastal access. In all senses, the scheme we are announcing is a historic step towards better and clearer access along our coast.”

Ramblers’ chief executive Tom Franklin added: “Years of solid campaigning by the Ramblers has paid off; this historic scheme marks a victory for everyone who walks in this island nation. The coastal access scheme enshrines a very simple principle that everyone, no matter who they are, where they come from or how much money they have has the right to visit all parts of the coast which is so much a part of our heritage.”

The Ramblers said that almost 50 per cent of the English coast has no public right of way, and the public can only walk an average 1.9 miles on the coast on a ‘secure or satisfactory path’.

The Welsh Assembly Government is also working on an all-Wales coast path. In Scotland, the public already has access rights to access the coast under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act.