Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
England Coast Path in Essex
Update for Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal
Community Team (25 July 2016)
Natural England ECP Essex Team at Cudmore Grove
The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 requires us to:
. Promote nature conservation and protect biodiversity; . Conserve and enhance the landscape; . Secure the provision and improvement of facilities for the study, understanding and enjoyment of the natural environment; . Promote access to the countryside and open spaces and encourage open-air recreation; and . Contribute in other ways to social and economic well- being through management of the natural environment
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 1
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 requires us to:
. Make provision for and in connection with the establishment of an England coastal walking route and rights of access near the English coast; and . It places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State and Natural England to secure a new 4,500 km (2,700 mile) long distance National Trail around the open coast of England, together with public access rights to a wider area of land along the way, for people to enjoy
Why Coastal Access?
Last year 7% of visits to the 51% took a dog natural environment were to 20% took children the coast… 44% went to eat/drink (that’s 101 million visits) 40% went to visit a beach
Over half want to go more often (57%) and.. 24% knew or 54% walked from home while thought they knew about the 40% drove England Coast Path
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 2
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
Why invest in National Trails?
Because they provide access to some of our most special landscapes
. Public engagement . Health and well-being . Local Economic Benefit (boost to tourism) . Accords with Maldon & Blackwater Coastal Community Team’s ambition to increase visits to the District (2%)
Picture credit: Maldon District Council
The nature of the coastal access rights
i.e. foreshore, Certain coastal beach, dune, land types flat, cliff, bank Trail and barriers
Land seaward of Land landward the trail (unless of the trail ‘excepted’ land e.g.
Buildings and their (discretionary) The Margin The Coastal
curtilage)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 3
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
The nature of the coastal access rights - balancing public & private interests
Public interest Private interest
. Proximity of the trail to the . Operational needs sea . Income . Views of the sea from the trail . Privacy . Safety and convenience . Changes of use . Continuity of the trail
. Enjoyment and protection of the natural environment . Responsiveness to coastal change – ‘roll back’
Essex Stretches Where we are delivering
. Natural England has eight ‘hub’ teams covering the English coast with one team for the 500km of the Essex coastline
• We have started work on six stretches of coast in Essex with four more to follow
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 4
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
Delivery Partnership
Working closely with Essex County Council and other stakeholders (e.g. EA, NFU/CLA and Essex Coast Organisation) to ensure we understand the issues and opportunities that need to be addressed
The 5 stages of Coastal Access implementation
Stage 1 • Prepare Done
Stage 2 • Develop In progress to late 2016 / early 2017
Stage 3 • Propose Reports published MSC (4/17) BSC (7/17)
Stage 4 • Determine 8 week consultation PINS / SoS
Stage 5 • Open Summer 2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 5
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
Public drop-in events
. Series of public drop-in events (Jan-Mar 2016) held at Maldon, Burnham-on-Crouch, Goldhanger, Steeple and Tollesbury . Good uptake of public and landowner / occupier interest (all affected coastal landowners contacted) . Reply slips (views, observations + how people want to be contacted about future stages) . Triggered community meetings and “walk the course” site visits
‘Walking the course’ (WTC) site visits
. Ongoing WTC site visits across both ECP stretches: Maldon to Salcott (MSC) and Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon (BCM) to capture initial thoughts on where the route might go, issues and concerns plus accessible coastal margin . Site Visit Reports provided for affected landowners: to explain the ECP, areas of agreement, disagreement and action(s) . Targeted at farmers, coastal businesses, wildfowlers, nature reserves, coastal property owners / occupiers . BCM: Maldon-Maylandsea, Dengie + St Lawrence Bay . MSC: Salcott (private sections of seawall), Tollesbury and Maldon (urban) + Osea Island
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 6
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
Protection of sensitive features
. Separation of Natural England’s duties: ‘access case officer’ & ‘site responsible officer’ . Aim is to achieve the least restrictive option whilst ensuring appropriate protection . Impact on visits to coastal sites will vary depending on the location and designation - disturbance to birds often the principal concern . Appraisal template to help ensure consistency and compliance with legal requirements Questions & discussion
CCT Plan and shared ECP Objectives
. The Maldon & Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team will facilitate and support the sustainable growth of the local economy through developing the visitor offer by concentrating on the Marine Heritage, Historical, Outdoor Leisure and food sectors of the economy . Success will be increased visitors enjoying the outstanding offers that Maldon & the Blackwater Estuary has to offer in these sectors . It is estimated that a 2% increase in visitor numbers will generate an additional £1.7m for the local economy . The Blackwater Estuary part of the England Coast Path, which is due to be open/complete in 2018 is already available (as a public footpath), however the promotion of this National Trail will encourage more people to walk and with its relative proximity to major centres of population it is hoped that the Blackwater section will see increased numbers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 7
Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team (25 Jul 2016)
Key Contacts
Patrick Welsh (Initial Contact) 07557 631389 or 0208 026 3837 [email protected]
Claire Cadman (Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon) 07717 427425 or 0208 026 5737 [email protected]
Phil Sturges (Maldon to Salcott) 07900 227383 or 01621 850198 [email protected] TL 948 082 Cockle beach at edge of small "bay" (SE of Rolls Farm)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-coast-path-in-essex 8