CLA calls on Government to heed coastal access findings of all-party committees

The CLA today calls on the Government not to ignore the findings of the coastal access proposals of two parliamentary committees.

The Efra Committee and the Joint Committee both backed the position of the CLA in calling for key amendments to the Marine Bill - such as a right of appeal, compensation for proven loss by landowners, and accurate mapping of the new access.

After considering the committees"e; reports, the Government is expected to respond to their recommendations on the Bill within the next fortnight.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "We are looking forward to making some real progress in ironing out basic inequities on the coastal access proposals in the draft Marine Bill.

"For instance, the Efra Committee described the lack of a right of appeal in the draft Bill as a "e;fundamental weakness"e;. The CLA expects the minister to take this on board.

"It should also be a basic principle that, when Government gives rights across your land and you can show you have suffered a loss, compensation is paid to cover the value of that proven loss.

"And accurate mapping of the new access is vital. This new right of coastal access should be recorded on a map so that the public knows where to walk and the landowner knows the extent of his liability for the public on his land. Without this accurate mapping, it is likely that far from resolving issues of access to the coast, it will create further tensions that benefit no one – landowner or walker."

The CLA President added: "A significant amount of time has been invested by all sides in these all-party parliamentary committees.

"If the Bill becomes law, this right of coastal access will be with us forever. So it is essential it works not only for walkers but also for businesses that earn their living on and beside the new access."