Access to the English Coast: The Solway estuary

Gerry RusbridgeSenior Advisor – Cumbria Coastal Access Delivery Team

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

• Duty for Natural England to propose a route for the

England Coast Path, around the entire open coast of

England

• Government now expecting the path to be completed by

2020

The Approved Scheme

• Revised in 2013

• Existing paths wherever they meet criteria

• Coastal Margin

• Fair balance

Stretch 3 – Solway: Issues & Opportunities

• 100km long• Variable existing access (lots of room for improvement!)• Existing Hadrian’s Wall national trail• Estuaries within an estuary• One end of our complete England Coast Path• Very little infrastructure/few services• SPA/SAC/Ramsar – lots of birds

How it all happens

• Stage 1: Prepare (April ‘14)

• Stage 2: Develop (October ‘14)

• Stage 3: Propose (Aiming for early ‘16)

• Stage 4: Determine (Perhaps Autumn ‘16)

• Stage 5: Open (Spring ‘17?)

…and when we’ve finished our bit

• Roll-back, variation

• Reduced liability

• Maintenance

• Restrictions/management measures

For further information:

• Regular e-mail updates to partners and stakeholders at key stages of the project

• Our web pages – now on gov.uk

• Specific e-mail address for queries:– Cumbria.coastalaccess@naturalengland.org.uk

• Twitter:– @NaturalEngland #coastalaccess

Questions?