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CLA questions coastal access plans
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has hit out at the government’s proposed draft Marine Bill, which aims to provide public access to England’s entire coastline.
According to the CLA, the plans will result in losses for country businesses as well as an increased risk of legal actions against them.
The association is concerned that the plans would mean farmers facing greater liability for farm animals and buildings not designed for public use in areas where no access previously existed.
CLA vice president Harry Cotterell said: “We fear the true cost of establishing an unbroken ribbon of access around the coast would be borne by landowners because these proposals simply would not compensate rural businesses for the loss in the value of their land and property.
“As soon as private property is opened to the public, expectations of that access change completely. For instance, steps to a private beach which are safe for the owner might not be regarded as acceptable for public use. Who then would be liable in the event of an accident if the steps were not upgraded? The same would apply to buildings, fences, walls, agricultural machinery and even ploughed land.”
A public consultation on the coastal access plans was announced in June 2007 by then environment secretary David Miliband.
If the government decides to proceed to create the network following the consultation, Natural England, which would be responsible for implementing the paths, expects work to take around 10 years to complete.