1. England Coast Path: Access to the Solway Coast
Introduce us & roles
England Coast Path National Trail – 2700 miles, whole coast of England, longest coastal path in world
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 – Natural England’s duty
Standalone project – funded directly

2. Not just a path – Coastal Access
England Coast
Path
England Coast Path is actually just one part of what comes under the umbrella heading of coastal access.
There is also the Coastal Margin: everything between the trail and the sea – pink wash like yellow open access wash.
Sometimes access is automatically excepted or restricted, but sometimes it can come inland too like here at Workington.
Rollback
Coastal margin

3. What have we done so far in the north west?
Gretna to Allonby – awaiting Secretary of State decision
Allonby to Whitehaven – open to the public
Whitehaven to Silecroft – open 2019
Walney Island – open 2019
Silecroft to Welsh border – proposals due 2019
So – where are we up to in the north west? Where can you already go?

4. Key principle – fair balance. Need to take into account
Gretna to Allonby
Consultations with partners and landowners. Route planning – 2016
Key principle: Fair Balance
Walkers – coastal route, safe & convenient
Landowners & occupiers – land/business management
Nature conservation – Access & Sensitive Features Appraisal
Key principle – fair balance. Need to take into account
needs of landowners and occupiers including land management
walkers - a coastal route which is safe and convenient
nature conservation, landscape and heritage designations

5. Gretna to Allonby
Storm Desmond 2015
Report was published in July 2016
Storm Desmond – caused us to have to reroute some sections, without the help of Cumbria County Council as they were all involved in flood recovery work.

6. Nearly 63 Km of new access rights proposed
4.8km of shared path with Hadrians Wall National Trail
1.3 million estimated capital cost

7. Gretna to Allonby Consultation period July to mid September 2016
Report approved….2019?
Establishment works
Establishment works may involve some realignment due to erosion
1.3 million estimated capital cost
There are two main elements to the overall cost:
 a significant number of new sleeper bridges would be needed on the trail, in
particular on route sections where the proposed route crosses various marshes; and
 a substantial new footbridge would be needed to provide a new crossing of the river
Waver therefore avoiding the need for a significant inland detour to use an existing
road bridge.

8. Coastal Access Rights Commence
South West Coast Path attracts 17.5m visitors who spend £436m and support 9,700 jobs
313m visits to coast ~ 60% of coast/NTs specifically for outdoor exercise
94% calm & relaxed after ~ poor mental health is largest source of disability in UK - & is increasing
Hard to put value but has been done – ‘welfare value’ of National Trails in UK £348m – ECP to add.
Context – nearly a fifth of regular Welsh CP users wouldn’t have walked at all otherwise – proof it’s not just existing walkers.
Project example – Living Coasts Project
This is where the fun starts!
Trail partnership
Business opportunities
New projects …..and great walking!

9. Any questions?