Ramblers Secure Coastal Access for All
12th November, 2009
The entire Sussex coastline will permanently opened up to the public for the first time, as the Marine and Coastal Act passed into law today, following years or campaigning by the Ramblers.
You might think that you have the right to play on the beach, build sandcastles and walk along the prom and the rest of the coast, but up to now you often haven't.
In some cases the Crown sold the rights to the beach long ago so owners could stop people going on the beach. Examples of this include houses on the beach near Hove Lagoon (including, we believe, Fat Boy Slim's house) and at Lancing.
In some cases the path has fallen or is likely to fall into the sea. Examples of this include the famous cliffs between Seaford and Eastbourne.
Sometimes people have walked along the coast for years, but there is no legal right of way.Examples of this include some of the coast between Worthing and Littlehampton, Bexhill and Hastings, Rye and Winchelsea and between Littlehampton and Bognor. Access could be withdrawn at any time. This was particularly likely if a council sold of its land, as Worthing Council is trying to do inland near Cissbury Ring.
Sometimes there has never been a right of way and walkers have been barred. Examples of this include land round Selsey, Pagham Harbour and Chichester harbour.
Over one third of the coastline of south east England has no secure and satisfactory right of way along it according to Natural England.
From today this will change throughout the country.
Access to beaches will be secured.
Within ten years it is intended that there will be a path around the whole of the coast of the country. Where erosion destroys a path the route will automatically roll back to a safe point (subject to protection of the gardens of individual houses etc).
The new rights will be gradually introduced by secondary legislation and the Ramblers will now campaign for the right secondary legislation to turn the act into a reality. Members and staff will be working with Natural England to ensure the creation of a national trail that will boost tourism and local economies and be the envy of the world.
For more information contact Ramblers Sussex area press officer Chris Smith 01273 474070 (office hours) or email chris.smith@hbhelp.co.uk (not 18 or 19 November).
