59
BY BOB MARK - TRUSTEE AND FORMER CHAIR, SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION CHARITY.
Exciting things are happening with our local coast path. Tis August the 68-mile Kingswear to Lyme Regis stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path opened. Many readers will scratch their heads and say we already have the South West Coast Path (SWCP), 630 miles from Mine- head to Poole – what is this new path and why does it matter locally? Te KCIIIECP is an ambitious
scheme to create one of the longest continuous coast paths in the World – 2700 miles – around the coast of England. Details of progress to date are on the nation-
altrail.co.uk website. Although from Kingswear to Lyme, the new KCIIIECP pretty much follows the line of the SWCP but there are important changes. Perhaps the most important
is that the KCIIIECP enabling legislation, the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, does just what it says on the tin. Now that the stretch from Kingswear to Lyme is officially open, the public have a right of coastal access – where ap- propriate – to any land other than the trail itself, which forms part of the newly defined ‘coastal margin’, typically the land between the KCIIIECP and Mean Low Water. What does ‘where appropriate’
mean? Te 2009 act defines ex- cepted land – typically the curtilage of buildings, gardens, industrial sites, MOD training areas, for example, where public access is in-
appropriate. Further details about appropriate access, rights and obli- gations, are available on the Coun- tryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) website;
www.gov.uk/ guidance/open-access-land-manage- ment-rights-and-responsibilities which has been amended to include the newly defined Coastal Margin. Tis website also has a handy map showing you where the Coastal Margin is. Much of the Coastal Margin is on
private land of some form and the good sense of the public to respect private property, protect livestock, keep dogs under proper control and to respect the natural environ- ment by, for example, not removing or damaging plants, is very much still extant and well articulated in the Countryside Code. Te code states that a dog should
be on a short lead or proper- ly trained to come to heel on command. Te new KCIIIECP path – like the SWCP – and the Coastal Margin, is for the enjoy- ment of walkers not cyclists or electric bikes. Cyclists have their own National Cycling Network
accessible online (
sustrans.org.uk). It is important to note that, in the Coastal Margin, a landowner is not liable for any injury caused by a physical feature of the land, natural or man-made. In other words, pub- lic access is at ‘own risk’, although the landowner may not ‘do things recklessly’ which might endanger the public. Devon County Council and Torbay Council are the ‘access authorities’ for the SWCP and KCIIIECP and appropriate public access to the Coastal Margin. If in doubt, please seek their advice. Te KCIIIECP brings a further benefit in simplifying the mechanism for Path Managers to resolve problems due to coastal erosion. Te South West Coast Path As-
sociation membership charity – if you love our wonderful coast path please consider joining - works with local authorities to publish details of path cliff falls and associ- ated diversions. Our SWCPA volunteers make
an annual survey of the 630 miles of SWCP and raise funds to keep the coast path in good shape - including through our annual ‘Step-up and Find Your Way Appeal’. Details can be found on
southwestcoastpath.org.uk, where there are hundreds to download for free to suit all abilities. We are all so lucky to have such a wonderful coast to explore so put on your boots and enjoy some of the finest scenery in the world, here – right on your doorstep.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
