To receive a presentation from Mr Kevin Haugh (Lead Advisor Coastal Access), Kent and Sussex, Natural England about coastal access.

Questions from members of the public are welcome.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Kevin Haugh and Mr Rob Carver from the Coastal Access Team, Natural England.

Mr Carver gave a presentation on The England Coast Path.  He explained that the government funded project would be completed by 2020 and created a long-distance walking route around the English coast which should be accessible  to public on foot.  The path would be 2,700 miles the longest in the world and would be a great resource for all.

Mr Carver outlined the key benefits of the coast path which included: secure, continuous, clearly way-marked, well managed route; boost to the local economy and reduced liability on coastal access land.  Mr Carver explained that Natural England would be carrying out an Access and Sensitive Features Appraisal looking at the impact on sensitive wildlife sites and undertake a Habitat Regulations Assessment.  They would seek to align mitigation measures with any strategic access plans and noted that the Swale Special Protection Area would be affected but would work with the relevant officers to ensure impacts to wildlife were minimal.

Mr Carver reported that they had started to consult local landowners about development of the coast plan from Whitstable to Iwade and starting work on the route from Iwade to the Isle of Grain end of 2015.  He spoke about roll-back and repositioning of the trail due to coastal processes and that the Saxon Shore Way was being used, and outlined the different stages of development of the Coast Path.  Mr Carver advised that the path on the Isle of Sheppey would be started in 2016-17 and completed by 2019.  59 stretches were being delivered nationally. 

In response to queries, Mr Haugh,  advised that ferry crossings could be used at places like Dartford.  With regard to Faversham nothing was finalised but it could possibly come to the west side of Faversham Creek, across the swing bridge and through Oare marshes. 

Members raised the following points: good opportunity for local businesses; need to ensure local leisure facilities were ready for the coast path; concern that taxpayers money has been spent without them being consulted about it; may have economic  benefits but very generic costs provided, would have preferred a proper breakdown of the costs involved; welcome any economic benefits to the borough; would prefer to see the Isle of Sheppey completed before Iwade; concern that maintenance of the coast path would fall to local authorities; need to ensure that a proper consultation was carried out; landowners were aware of the process via the Natural Farmers Union; and would need to ensure that all those affected were engaged.

In response to queries, Mr Haugh advised that funding was available for signage mitigation but not for general publication of the scheme.   Restrictions could be made to stop cyclists from using the path.  Information about reduced liability was available and all statutory reports about the final proposes for submission to the Secretary of State could be viewed on their website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

In response to a suggestion from a Member, the Head of Economy and Communities agreed to liaise with Kieren Mansfield and Lyn Newton SBC’s Economy and Community Services Managers and update the Swale Rural Forum about how the Council planned to publicise the scheme and what officers were doing to engage with Swale’s tourism industry about the project. 

Resolved:  That an update from SBC officers be provided about how the Council could publicise the coast path and also what the Council were doing to involve Swale’s tourism industry.