Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Coastal Access: Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle - Natural England’S Proposals

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Chapter 11: Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Coastal Access: Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle - Natural England’s Proposals

Part 11.1: Introduction

Start Point: Blacknor, Weston (grid reference: SY 6802 7096) End Point: Portland Bill (grid reference: SY 6814 6868) Relevant Maps: 11a and 11b

Understanding the proposals and accompanying maps:

The Trail: 11.1.1 Follows the South West Coast Path except at Portland Bill, where it follows another exsiting walked route which is closer to the sea and offers better views of the sea. See map 11b and table 11.2.1 below for details of the proposed route and table 11.2.2 for a more detailed explanation of the other route option we considered. 11.1.2 This part of the coast includes the following sites, designated for nature conservation, geological or heritage preservation (see map C of the Overview):  Isle of Portland to Studland Cliffs Special Area of Conservation (SAC)  Isle of Portland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 11.1.3 We have assessed the potential impacts of access along the proposed route (and over the associated spreading room described below) on the features for which the affected land is designated and on any which are protected in their own right. The levels and patterns of public access along this length of coast would be unlikely to change significantly as a result of our proposals and we have therefore concluded that our proposals would not be likely to have any significant impact on these features. See part 5 of the Overview for more details about the assessment process described above, and refer to our published Access and Sensitive Features Appraisal for more information about the conclusions of the assessment process.

Accessibility: 11.1.4 Generally, there are few artificial barriers to access along the proposed route. However, there are places where it may not be entirely suitable for people with reduced mobility because the trail would follow an uneven grass or bare stone path along the cliff top. See part 5a of the Overview ‘Recreational issues’, for more information.

Coastal Access | Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle | Natural England’s Proposals | Chapter 11: Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Where we have proposed exercising our discretion: 11.1.5 Landward boundary of the coastal margin: We have not used our discretion to propose a physical feature as the landward extent of the coastal margin on the length of coast shown on maps 11a and 11b. The coastal margin landward of the trail shown on maps 11a and 11b is subject to existing access rights of a type listed in section 15 of CROW and, as such, would become part of the coastal margin by default. 11.1.6 Restrictions and/or exclusions: The new access rights would also be subject to the excepted land types summarised in Annex C of the Overview, and the national restrictions on activities listed in Annex D. This would be so throughout the coastal margin, but these restrictions would not apply to the existing public rights of way. We have not used our discretion to propose any additional restrictions or exclusions on this part of the coast. 11.1.7 Voluntary restrictions on climbing are already in place to discourage access on parts of the Portland cliffs at times when birds are nesting. We do not propose any additional measures to protect cliff-nesting birds, but there would be scope to introduce statutory directions at a later stage if this proved necessary. See part 3 of the Overview ‘Understanding the proposals and accompanying maps’, for an explanation of the default extent of the coastal margin and how we may use our discretion to adjust the margin, either to add land or to provide clarity. See also Annex C of the Overview ‘Excepted land categories’.

Establishment and ongoing management of the trail 11.1.8 Some physical establishment of the trail would be necessary, in accordance with the general approach described in part 6 the Overview. 11.1.9 Ongoing management and maintenance would be necessary in accordance with the general approach described in part 7 of the Overview. The overall need for this is likely to be greater than on some other parts of the stretch, recognising that it will be necessary for the route to roll back from time to time in response to coastal processes, as described below. See parts 6 ‘Physical establishment of the trail’ and 7 ‘Maintenance of the trail’ of the Overview for more information.

Future Change 11.1.10 Part of the route of the trail on this length of coast would be able to change without further approval from the Secretary of State in response to coastal erosion or other geomorphological processes, or encroachment by the sea. This would happen in accordance with the criteria and procedures for ‘roll back’ set out in part 8 of the Overview. See tables 11.2.1 and 11.2.3 below for details of the sections likely to be affected. 11.1.11 At the time of preparing the report, we do not foresee any other need for future changes to the access provisions proposed for the length of coast described in this chapter. See parts 5e ‘Coastal processes’ and 8 ‘Future changes’ of the Overview for more information.

Coastal Access | Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle | Natural England’s Proposals | Chapter 11: Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Part 11.2: Commentary on the maps See Part 3 of Overview for guidance on reading and understanding the tables below 11.2.1 Section details: Maps 11a and 11b, Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Notes on table: Column 2 – an asterisk (*) against the route section number means see also table 11.2.2: Other options considered. Column 5 – ‘Yes – normal’ means roll-back approach is likely to follow the current feature (e.g. cliff edge/beach) for the foreseeable future. Column 5 – ‘Yes – see table 11.2.3’ means refer to that table below about our likely approach to roll-back on this part of the route 1 2 3 4 5 6a 6b 7 Map(s) Route section Current Current Roll-back Landward boundary Reason for Proposed number(s) status of this surface of proposed? of margin landward exclusions section this section (See Part 8 of (See maps) boundary or Overview) discretion restrictions 11a LRR-11-S001 to Public Grass Yes – see Landward extent of Not used None LRR-11-S004 footpath table 11.2.3 existing access land 11b LRR-11-S005* Other existing Grass Yes – see Landward extent of Not used None walked route table 11.2.3 existing access land LRR-11-S006* to Other existing Grass Yes - normal Landward extent of Not used None LRR-11-S008* walked route existing access land LRR-11-S009 and Other existing Stone: Yes - normal Landward extent of Not used None LRR-11-S010 walked route bedrock existing access land LRR-11-S011 Public Tarmac Yes – see Landward extent of Not used None footpath table 11.2.3 existing access land LRR-11-S012 Public Grass Yes – see Landward extent of Not used None footpath table 11.2.3 existing access land LRR-11-S013 Public Stone: Yes – see Landward extent of Not used None footpath aggregate table 11.2.3 existing access land LRR-11-S014 Public Grass Yes – see Landward edge of Not used None footpath table 11.2.3 trail LRR-11-S015 Public Stone: Yes – see Landward edge of Not used None footpath aggregate table 11.2.3 trail

11.2.2 Other options considered: Maps 11a and 11b, Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill

Map(s) Section number(s) Option(s) considered Reasons for not proposing this option as the route 11b LRR-11-S005 to We considered aligning the We opted for the proposed route because: LRR-11-S008 trail along the existing route  it offers better sea views and is closer to the sea; of the South West Coast Path as shown on map 11b  it is comparable, in terms of the safety and convenience of walkers; and  it has the support of the landowner.

11.2.3 Roll-back implementation – more complex situations: Maps 11a to 11b, Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill

Map(s) Section number(s) Feature or site How we will manage roll-back in relation to this feature or site potentially affected 11a LRR-11-S002 Buildings, their If it is no longer possible to find a viable route seaward of the curtilage and gardens buildings, curtilage and gardens, we will choose a route landward landward of the trail of them. In reaching this judgement we will have full regard to the need to seek a fair balance between the interests of potentially affected owners and occupiers and those of the public. 11b LRR-11-S005 and Buildings, their If it is no longer possible to find a viable route seaward of the LRR-11-S011 to curtilage and gardens buildings, curtilage and gardens, we will choose a route landward LRR-11-S015 landward of the trail of them. In reaching this judgement we will have full regard to the need to seek a fair balance between the interests of potentially affected owners and occupiers and those of the public. Coastal Access | Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle | Natural England’s Proposals | Chapter 11: Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill Part 11.3: Chapter 11 - Formal Proposals  Below are our formal proposals to the Secretary of State for the length of coast shown on maps 11a to 11b.  They should be read in conjunction with the relevant maps.  The commentary above explains the practical effect of these proposals.

Formal Proposals – Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill

Proposed route of the trail 11.3.1 In relation to route sections LRR-11-S001 to LRR-11-S015 the initial proposed route, as determined at the time the report was prepared, is to be at the centre of the line shown on maps 11a and 11b as the proposed route of the trail. 11.3.2 If at any time any part of the route described in the previous paragraph needs to change in order to remain viable, as a result of coastal erosion or other geomorphological processes or encroachment by the sea, the new route will be determined by Natural England in accordance with the criteria and procedures described under the title ‘Roll-back’ in part 8 of the Overview and section 4.10 of the Scheme. If this happens, the new route will become the approved route for that section for the purposes of the Order which determines where coastal access rights apply.

Landward boundary of coastal margin 11.3.3 There are no such proposals in relation to the length of coast shown on maps 11a and 11b.

Local restrictions and exclusions 11.3.4 At the time of writing this report, there are no proposals for local restrictions or exclusions in relation to this length of coast

Coastal Access | Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle | Natural England’s Proposals | Chapter 11: Blacknor (Weston) to Portland Bill *

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