NFU lobbying for coastal farmers backed by 2nd government report

The Government's Joint Committee report published today has picked up many of the concerns raised by the NFU on creating a coastal corridor around England.

The news comes just a week after the Efra Select Committee also agreed with many of the points raised by the NFU, namely that the coastal access element of the new draft Marine Bill needed 'fair balance' for landowners and contained 'fundamental weaknesses' concerning appeal procedure.

The Joint Committee also expressed fears that the £50m budget allocated for the scheme is 'inadequate' and agreed with the NFU in its submission that, in some areas, erosion will make it both 'difficult or very expensive, and may make it inappropriate, to facilitate coastal access'.

Speaking about the report NFU Vice President Paul Temple said: "I am pleased the Committee has picked up on the need for the designation of the route, and any decisions on exclusions and restrictions, to be subject to an independent appeal which we have lobbied long and hard for.

"The Committee has also seriously questioned the proposed £50 million budget as being inadequate and likely to see local authorities picking up the long-term maintenance bills, which again is something we have highlighted.

"The NFU is also pleased the Committee recommends Government clarifies the responsibilities of both the marine and land-based authorities which operate at the coast to ensure integrated management. This includes the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and the new proposed Marine Management Organisation. This should help to prevent additional burdens on coastal farmers.

"We said at the very beginning of this process that complete coastal access didn't make sense. Our desire has always been to see improved coastal access where it makes sense for both the public and the farming community and this report goes some way to addressing these concerns."