EFRA report into coastal access mirrors NFU lobby for balance

The NFU is looking to Government to take on board new recommendations from its Efra Select Committee which today agreed a 'fair balance' needs to be agreed for landowners before coastal pathways are created around the country.

Fears raised by the NFU during consultation on proposals to create coastal access around the whole of the English coastline have been echoed by the Select Committee report on the provisions for coastal access under the Draft Marine Bill*, chaired by the Rt Hon Michael Jack. They include:

• Concerns that £50m is not enough money to fund the creation and ongoing maintenance of the route

• A 'fundamental weakness' in the Bill's current lack of appeal procedure for farmers which will be essential to strike a 'fair balance' between the interests of landowners and walkers.

• Details over dog control on land where livestock is kept is described as 'not obvious' and the report calls for the use of short leads as detailed under CROW.

The report also agrees with the NFU where compensation, landowner liability and the detail of spreading room is raised, with calls for local mapping where there is a need to clarify where the coastal path starts and finishes.

NFU Vice President Paul Temple visited some of the farms that stand to be affected by the Bill and said he was pleased the Efra Select Committee had taken on board many of the concerns raised by the NFU.

"This report makes a number of clear practical recommendations for the Draft Bill which, if the Government listens to and acts on, will significantly improve its acceptability to farmers," he said.

"All through this process we have lobbied hard for the fair balance called for in this report between farmers, landowners and users of the proposed pathways. We have real concerns about how the coastal pathways will be funded, especially in terms of on-going maintenance and the lack of appeal process open to our members.

"This report calls for 'concrete safeguards' to ensure everyone's concerns are addressed, which I welcome to ensure the creation of open access while safeguarding the livelihoods of our farmers and growers who live and work along this proposed route."