Access news at a glance
14 May 2012
The Paths for Communities grant scheme has now opened. Natural England is also carrying out three major consultations on long distance routes and the next steps for coastal access.
Paths for Communities (P4C)
Defra have asked Natural England to develop and run a new £2 million grant scheme called ‘Paths for Communities’ (P4C). With funding from the Rural Development Programme, the aim of the Scheme will be:
- to encourage and enable local communities to work with land owners to develop and enhance local public paths in ways that deliver a number of benefits; and
- to create a network with more appeal to visitors and tourists, that contributes to the rural economy through better support for local services such as shops, pubs, hotels, bed and breakfasts, equestrian and cycle businesses.
Groups applying for a P4C grant should consider how to secure:
- Improvements to existing Public Rights of Way that encourage use by a wider range of people with different needs (e.g. improved accessibility for wheelchairs and pushchairs, benches for elderly).
- Improvements to the network to increase the opportunity for access on foot, cycle or horse and to widen the appeal to visitors and residents.
- Promotion of the improved network to encourage more use and better support for local services such as shops, pubs, hotels, bed and breakfasts, attractions and cycle and equestrian businesses.
- Better integration with public transport services and links to popular destinations.
The scheme opened on Monday 14 May.
Coastal Access consultations in Durham and Cumbria
Natural England has been given responsibility to develop an England coast path which when completed, will be England’s longest National Trail.
The project is being delivered in stages – the first stretch of coastal access was approved in Weymouth earlier this year and will be open in time for people to view the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We are now looking at improving access in on five stretches in Cumbria, Durham, Somerset, Kent and Norfolk, where we have been working with farmers and landowners to look at where the route would go, joining up and using existing rights of way where possible.
In Cumbria and Durham we have reached the stage where we want to ask everyone for views on the proposed route. The consultations opened on Thursday 10 May and will last for 12 weeks.
Coastal Access – the next steps
Work will continue to develop coastal access routes in Durham, Cumbria, Kent, Somerset and Norfolk. Defra has now asked us to start preparations this year to deliver improved coastal access in these following areas.
- Cumbria – Whitehaven to Silecroft
- Dorset – Portland, Rufus Cove to Lyme Regis
- Kent – Folkstone to Camber
- Norfolk – Sea palling to Hopton on Sea
- Hartlepool – Hartlepool to Speeton
Further information on the Coastal Access programme
National Trails – a more flexible approach to their management
There are 13 National Trails in England, marked with the acorn symbol, which provide outstanding walking routes and many horseriding and cycling opportunities through our finest landscapes.
Natural England is contacting over 160 outdoor organisations and local authorities to ask their views about proposals to adjust the ways National Trails in England are looked after in the future.
The consultation - A family of unique trails: Natural England discussion paper on the future management of National Trails from 2013 - proposes a fairer and more flexible funding structure and a greater involvement for local groups and organisations in the ways in which trails are managed.
