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| Views sought on coast path plans | Views sought on coast path plans |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The public is being consulted on plans to open up the whole of the English coastline to walkers. | The public is being consulted on plans to open up the whole of the English coastline to walkers. |
| The government proposal would allow access to about 30% of land currently out-of-bounds. | |
| Ramblers have welcomed the move, but some landowners are concerned they will receive no compensation and have little say in how the path is created. | |
| There is already a right of access to Scotland's coast and the creation of a coastal path in Wales is under way. | There is already a right of access to Scotland's coast and the creation of a coastal path in Wales is under way. |
| The government has said it wants to set up a continuous route as close to the coast as possible, giving access to the entire shoreline including headlands, coves and beaches. | The government has said it wants to set up a continuous route as close to the coast as possible, giving access to the entire shoreline including headlands, coves and beaches. |
| Wildlife charities have said they support the plans in principle, but would want to ensure proper protection for wildlife habitats. | Wildlife charities have said they support the plans in principle, but would want to ensure proper protection for wildlife habitats. |
| I want families to have safe and secure access to walk, climb, rock scramble, paddle and play all along our coastline David Miliband | I want families to have safe and secure access to walk, climb, rock scramble, paddle and play all along our coastline David Miliband |
| Biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner said walkers were often frustrated when a day out was spoiled by a path that goes nowhere. | Biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner said walkers were often frustrated when a day out was spoiled by a path that goes nowhere. |
| "We are an island - being close to the sea, being part of the coast is actually part of who we are." | "We are an island - being close to the sea, being part of the coast is actually part of who we are." |
| He said being unable to get to nearly one-third of the coastline was "wrong". | He said being unable to get to nearly one-third of the coastline was "wrong". |
| The Country Land and Business Association said the proposals did not appear to adequately address compensation for landowners, even where the value of a property or business was affected. | The Country Land and Business Association said the proposals did not appear to adequately address compensation for landowners, even where the value of a property or business was affected. |
| Its national access advisor, Sarah Slade, said there was very little demand for more of the coast to be opened up. | Its national access advisor, Sarah Slade, said there was very little demand for more of the coast to be opened up. |
| She said 84% of the public enjoyed access to the 70% of shoreline already available and had not identified a problem. | She said 84% of the public enjoyed access to the 70% of shoreline already available and had not identified a problem. |
| "I think really the government is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. This is more of an ideological stance rather than addressing a proven need." | "I think really the government is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. This is more of an ideological stance rather than addressing a proven need." |
| 'Punitive' | 'Punitive' |
| But Environment Secretary David Miliband said the coast was everyone's " birthright". | But Environment Secretary David Miliband said the coast was everyone's " birthright". |
| "I want families to have safe and secure access to walk, climb, rock scramble, paddle and play all along our coastline. | "I want families to have safe and secure access to walk, climb, rock scramble, paddle and play all along our coastline. |
| "The coast is also vitally important for nature conservation and wildlife and for tourism." | "The coast is also vitally important for nature conservation and wildlife and for tourism." |
| A public consultation will ask for views on the following options: | A public consultation will ask for views on the following options: |
| The Conservatives have said they support the idea but would want a few issues ironed out. | The Conservatives have said they support the idea but would want a few issues ironed out. |
| Damian Cleghorn of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said the government needed to "think carefully" about the policy, which he said could threaten the environment. | Damian Cleghorn of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said the government needed to "think carefully" about the policy, which he said could threaten the environment. |
| He added that ruling out compensation for landowners was "punitive" because security and safety problems were likely to result in the fall of property values. | He added that ruling out compensation for landowners was "punitive" because security and safety problems were likely to result in the fall of property values. |
| Chair of Natural England Sir Martin Doughty said they wanted the government to use legislation to give them new powers to align a suitable strip of access land around the English coast. | Chair of Natural England Sir Martin Doughty said they wanted the government to use legislation to give them new powers to align a suitable strip of access land around the English coast. |
| "Natural England would concentrate on sections of coast where access on foot is currently missing, defective or insecure," he said. | "Natural England would concentrate on sections of coast where access on foot is currently missing, defective or insecure," he said. |