By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 15:00, Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Public interest should not outweigh the rights of farmers when Cumbria’s coastal access route is created.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says Natural England must take heed of criticisms laid against it when a similar path was created in Weymouth.

A review has been launched into the first three years of the Coastal Access Scheme, which will see a path linking Allonby and Whitehaven.

Dorothy Fairburn, director of CLA in the north, said: “This review is an opportunity for Natural England to take into account landowners’ concerns about the impact of coastal access on their land and businesses, which were raised as part of the recent consultations in the North East and North West.

“It is unreasonable to expect private landowners to bear the cost for the maintenance of large swathes of land, including important features such as steps to beaches, when the benefit is for the public.”

Natural England will work with Cumbria County Council to establish the 36km stretch of path.

Defra has called for all future paths to rely heavily on existing walkways and has advised Natural England that the interests of the public in having access to land should not outweigh the interests of farmers.

Three main areas of concern were raised including the extent of spreading room of the path onto valuable farmland, the targeting of coastal access, and the costs of the future programme.

There will be areas of so-called ‘spreading room’ where walkers can wander at will and sit and have picnics.

The trail will be four metres wide and may have implications for farmers keeping certain livestock on affected land. Draft proposals for the route were open for public consultation and copies of the plans are available at www.naturalengland.org.uk/coastalaccess and in libraries.

The route will eventually be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk