The CLA Access Team is actively involved in the debate on the wide spectrum of public access issues, the CLA lobbies on behalf of the membership raising the concerns of landowners and rural business to all levels of government in England and Wales.
The CLA also offers an advisory service for members on public access issues, including Public Rights of Way, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Cross Compliance (GAEC8), voluntary access arrangements e.g. permissive paths, Higher Level Entry Scheme and Toll Rides.
Our lobbying efforts are based on the experience of the membership, if you have an issue or concern then contact a member of the CLA Access Team.
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Current Natural England proposals for providing a route for walkers all the way round the English coast will trample over the rights of private property owners and have a potentially disastrous impact on some coastal based businesses.
That's the no-nonsense message Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, President of the CLA, the rural economy experts, will be taking to the minister responsible for coastal access, Jonathan Shaw, next week."Who said spin was dead It appears as though the timetable of the Labour Party Conference is more important than the timetable for a public consultation process," said David Fursdon, president of the CLA.
"Have Hilary Benn and his colleagues at Defra even read the responses of the 753 individuals and organisations who have taken the time to respond to Defra's Coastal Access consultation It appears that the Secretary of State has already made up his mind which makes the consultation process a complete farce.
"No one's disputing that we need access to the coast. The question is identifying where there are problem areas and dealing with these rather than taking a broad brush approach otherwise this is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"Access for all might be a Labour value but I thought that this Labour Government was all about protecting the rights of individuals such as those businesses, farmers and landowners who stand to lose income and capital value as a result of this dogma.
"We dread to think how much an approach like this will cost unless of course the Government intends to ride roughshod over these legitimate business interests and refuse to pay them compensation that they would otherwise be due. An uninterrputed path around the English coast is not an easy task. Areas that are currently inaccessible are likely to be so for a good reason.
"This is clearly a case of 'smoke and mirrors'", concluded David Fursdon.
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A Chartered Surveyor with responsibility for CLA policy on public rights of way and access issues. Provides advice to members on issues arising from public access to the countryside. Also national adviser on arable policy issues including plant protection products and genetic modification.
Phone: 01335 347 739
Email andrew.shirley@cla.org.uk
A solicitor, advises on national and European public and administrative law issues including human rights, judicial review, planning and compulsory purchase, rating and council tax and various regulatory matters such as housing, food safety, animal welfare and firearms.
Phone: 020 7460 7953
FAX: 020 7235 4696
Email christopher.price@cla.org.uk
Covers Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Powys (Brecon & Radnor)
Phone: 01267 238 202
Email sarah.andrews@cla.org.uk
WALES AUDIT OFFICE STUDY into 'Public Access to the Countryside' was published by Wales Audit Office on 2nd November 2006.