www.gov.uk/englandcoastpath England Coast Path Stretch: Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea Overview of Natural England’s statutory reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 1 England Coast Path | Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | Overview Map A: Key Map – Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea 2 England Coast Path | Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | Overview Report number and title AHS 1: Aldeburgh to Sizewell (Maps AHS 1a to AHS 1e) AHS 2: Sizewell to Dunwich (Maps AHS 2a to AHS 2e) AHS 3: Dunwich to Southwold (Maps AHS 3a to AHS 3f) AHS 4: Southwold to Pakefield (Maps AHS 4a to AHS 4k) AHS 5: Pakefield to Lowestoft (Maps AHS 5a to AHS 5d) AHS 6: Lowestoft to Hopton-on-Sea (Maps AHS 6a to AHS 6c) Using the Key Map Map A (opposite) shows the whole of the Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea stretch divided into shorter numbered lengths of coast. Each number on Map A corresponds to the report which relates to that length of coast. To find our proposals for a particular place, find the place on Map A and note the number of the report which includes it. If you are interested in an area which crosses the boundary between two reports, please read the relevant parts of both reports. Printing If printing, please note that the maps which accompany reports 1 to 6 should ideally be printed on A3 paper. If you don’t have the facility to print at A3 size, we suggest you print the text of the report you are interested in on A4 paper and view the associated map on your computer screen, using the zoom tool to view it at a suitable size. 3 England Coast Path | Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | Overview Contents Map A: Key Map – Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea ................................................................................... 2 Report number and title ......................................................................................................................... 3 Using the Key Map ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Printing .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Please read first! ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1. Improving coastal access ...................................................................................................................... 7 2. The determination process .................................................................................................................... 8 3. Understanding the proposals and accompanying maps ........................................................................ 9 Our Proposals: ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Part 3 Proposals Tables explained ........................................................................................................ 9 Part 4 Proposals Maps explained ............................................................................................................... 14 4. Preparation of the report ..................................................................................................................... 16 Stage 1 - Prepare ................................................................................................................................ 16 Stage 2 - Develop ................................................................................................................................ 17 Key issues along this stretch....................................................................................................................... 18 5. Discretion to include part or all of an estuary or estuaries.................................................................... 18 Proposed route of the trail .................................................................................................................... 21 Map A2 showing estuarial limit of the River Blyth ................................................................................. 22 6. Other considerations on this stretch .................................................................................................... 23 Map B: Existing public access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea .......................................................... 28 Map Ci: Key statutory environmental designations on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea ............................ 29 Map Cii: Key statutory environmental designations on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea ........................... 30 Other issues ............................................................................................................................................... 31 7. Future changes ................................................................................................................................... 31 8. Restrictions and exclusions ................................................................................................................. 33 Map D: Map showing overall effect of directions to restrict access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at Dunwich Heath .................................................................................................................................... 35 Map E: Map showing overall effect of directions to exclude access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at Dingle Marshes .................................................................................................................................... 36 Map F: Map showing overall effect of directions to exclude access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at Easton Broad ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Map G: Map showing overall effect of directions to exclude access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at Covehithe Broad .................................................................................................................................. 38 Map H: Map showing overall effect of directions to exclude access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at Benacre Broad ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Map I: Map showing overall effect of directions to exclude access on Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea at The Denes ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Annex A: Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 41 4 England Coast Path | Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | Overview Information about Natural England’s coastal access programme: ........................................................... 41 Information about the statutory framework for coastal access: ................................................................ 41 Environmental legislation referred to in the reports: ................................................................................. 41 Other published information used in the preparation of the report: .......................................................... 42 Annex B: Glossary of terms ........................................................................................................................ 47 Annex C: Excepted land categories ............................................................................................................ 52 Annex D: National restrictions ..................................................................................................................... 53 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 .................................................................................................... 54 5 England Coast Path | Aldeburgh to Hopton-on-Sea | Overview Please read first! This Overview document sets out the context for Natural England’s proposals to improve public access to and along the stretch of coast between Aldeburgh and Hopton-on-Sea. It explains key common principles and background underlying the detailed proposals that we make in our compendium of linked but legally separate statutory reports, each covering a single length of coast within the stretch. Each of these reports should be read in conjunction with this Overview. Taken together, these reports explain how we propose to implement the England Coast Path (“the trail”) on this stretch of coast, and detail the likely consequences in terms of the wider ‘Coastal Margin’ that will be created if our proposals are approved by the Secretary of State. Our reports also set out: any proposals we think are necessary for restricting or excluding coastal access rights to address particular issues, in line with the powers in the legislation; and any proposed powers for the trail to be capable of being relocated on particular sections (through “roll-back”), if this proves necessary in the future because of coastal change. So although this Overview has multiple reports