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The CLA shows the Commons’ Efra committee right way for the coast MPs on the House of Commons' Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee were yesterday (Thursday, June 26) shown the way forward for coastal access by the CLA.
The rural economy experts took the Select Committee on a tour of the coast around the Hamford Water of Essex to show the great amount of public coastal access – permissive or statutory. Through the Marine Bill, Natural England is trying to forge a footpath around the entire coastline of England and Wales – without offering compensation to landowners. The Efra Select Committee is currently hearing evidence about the draft Bill from various parties, including the CLA and the Government and its agency Natural England. On yesterday's visit, the CLA was demonstrating that the "one size fits all" solution to coastal access proposed by Natural England would force a right of access through sites vital for nature conservation and also over land used by a range of businesses. It also demonstrated that the coast is ever changing with erosion, changes to sea defences, and also managed re-alignment for new wildlife sites. There was a marked difference between the hard coastline of the South West dominated by rocky out crops and the soft coastline of mudflats and sandbanks interspersed with numerous estuaries with forms the Essex and Suffolk coast. The MPs were shown that on Hamford Water alone there are factories, marinas, boat yards, campsites, commercial premises, sporting interests - as well as agriculture and private dwellings. And they were told that public access to the coastline could damage all of these. CLA National Access Adviser Andrew Shirley told the Committee: "This is why it is essential there is an independent right of appeal to make sure the legitimate interests of property and business owners are balanced against the perceived public need. "If there is no right of appeal, the route could be forced through the cheapest and easiest way leaving the landowner to pick up the bill of managing the access and increased costs in managing the area and making it safe for both the public and those working there." Mr Shirley added: "Landowners also face a potential loss in capital value of the property as a result of misguided implementation of legislation that is currently very flexible for Defra and Natural England, but offers no protection for the individual or business operator. "The CLA is asking for checks and balances within the legislation to make sure coastal access is implemented in the best way for either the landowner or the user – a statutory right of appeal would be a safety net for landowners and ensure the impact of the scheme was limited." MEDIA CONTACT: Oliver Wilson, Communications Director, 020 7460 7936 or 07702 928828, ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk, Out of hours duty phone: 020 7201 9511. NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the amount of public access already available, the interaction of different uses on the availability of public access, and also the impact of increasing public access on businesses and on the changing coast 2. The hosts were: Walton on the Naze: David Eagle, The Old Rectory, Great Holland. David Brooks, Robinson Hall Surveyors Andrew St Joseph, Mell Farm, Tollesbury, Maldon
Little Oakley Hall: Dick Strachan, Little Oakley Hall, Little Oakley Derek Guilfoyle and Daryl Howard, Exchem Nick Orbell, Hutchinson Ports
CLA Andrew Shirley, National Access Adviser Richella Logan, Head of Public Affairs Nicola Currie, Eastern Regional Director
3. The CLA Game Fair, the world's biggest countryside event, celebrates its 50th Anniversary at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Friday 25 - Sunday 27 July. www.gamefair.co.uk. For Press information and passes contact: Fiona Eastman, Director of Marketing and Development, fiona.eastman@cla.org.uk, or Marishelle Gibson, Press Officer marishelle.gibson@cla.org.uk, mobile 07979 908190,
4. The Country Land and Business Association has a 36,000-strong membership.
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Contact Andrew Shirley MRICS
Media Contacts Ollie Wilson T: 020 7460 7936
T: 020 7460 7934
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The CLA Game Fair 2012
More articles and documents [News Archive] [26 October 2009] Coastal Access (England only)- Background and Government Response to DEFRA Consultation and Pre-legislative Scrutiny of Part 9 Draft Marine Bill [Guidance notes] [7 October 2008] Proposals to improve Access to the English Coast [Consultation response archive] [17 September 2007] |
A Chartered Surveyor, Andrew advises CLA members on a range of topics including planning, rights of way and access, compulsory purchase, tenancies, and Network Rail.
Previously with Carter Jonas in Hereford andADAS/MAFF, Andrew has been with the CLA for 15 years, covering Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire before becoming national arable adviser and recently, acting regional director in the East Midlands.
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