Comment

A CLA campaign to win fundamental changes to Government proposals for a right of access to the English coast have been given a major boost by a House of Commons Select Committee.

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report into coastal access, has identified what it describes as fundamental weaknesses in the current proposals - particularly relating to an appeals procedure and compensation - two key lobbying areas for the CLA, the rural economy experts.

The CLA in the South West has been at the forefront of the campaign to demonstrate the potential financial, environmental and personal damage the Government's proposals could inflict on private householders and businesses. CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said:" The Select Committee has accepted pretty much every argument we have put forward and basically recommended that the Government should think again. That's a terrific result for every coastal landowner in England not least in the recognition of the need to allow compensation in the face of demonstrable loss and that the concept of appeal is recognised."

The EFRA committee has recommended a third party independent appeals process with a minimum cost to appellants, proposed that the Government should give Natural England the power to offer compensation to owners and occupiers who can demonstrate financial loss and called for a commitment from Government to look at the issue of owners' liability as it relates to animals.

The report also recommends that the legislation needs to be amended and modified before it can be described as sensible and fair - and backs CLA concerns that the Government have placed too much trust on Natural England to get it right.

"There are also questions about the cost - we have said all along that Natural England's estimate of a £50million cost is hopelessly wide of the mark - about the long term maintenance, about the vagueness of the proposals as they relate to estuaries and the need for the whole project to be properly mapped.

"The CLA has fought very hard to win these arguments and everyone with an interest in coastal access has made a huge investment in terms of time and cost in submitting evidence to this Committee. The important point is that a Select Committee represents the whole spectrum of political opinion in the House of Commons, it is a key stage of pre-legislative scrutiny which presents a genuinely balanced view - we can only hope that the minister accepts and acts on these recommendations," said Mr Mortimer.

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