Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

The Bill is largely welcome and has been significantly improved during its passage to date. We hope that during its remaining stages further improvements will be made and especially with respect to the coastal access provisions so that a ”fair balance“ is struck between the public interest in greater access and the rights of all those with an interest in affected land.Read our submission here.

The Countryside Alliance welcomes the considerable improvements to the Bill made during Committee and Report stages. However we remain concerned by the following issues, Definition of “relevant interest in affected land”, 3A orders, Infrastucture and Maintenance, Dogs, Compensation. Read our submission here.

The Countryside Alliance recognises the potential benefits to the public and to landowners of greater access to coastal areas. We welcome the fact that in implementing coastal access those responsible, Natural England and the Secretary of State, “must aim to strike a fair balance between the interests of the public in having access over land and the interests of any person with a relevant interest in the land”.

During Committee Stage a large number of amendments were tabled, a number of which sought to address concerns that the Bill as drafted did not “strike a fair balance” and while some assurances were received from the Government Minister a number of issues remain to be addressed before this part of the Bill could be considered equitable. Read our submission here.