Plans to improve public access to the coast as part of the England Coast Path have been unveiled today (3 October) by Natural England. The proposals cover a 48.5-mile stretch of coast between South Hayling in Hampshire and East Head in West Sussex.

Natural England aims to improve and link up existing access routes, to create a continuous signposted walking route around the estuary system of Chichester Harbour for the first time. This route completes the proposed England Coast Path route around Hayling Island, building upon the plans put forward for the west side of the Island as part of the Portsmouth to South Hayling stretch.

Chichester Harbour is a rich haven for wildlife, particularly for the common seal and a wide variety of bird species. The path provides walkers with great views of coastal wildlife, habitats and maritime pursuits, passing through remote and tranquil areas, in addition to some historic urban and rural communities.

The proposed route also invites walkers to use a ferry crossing between Bosham and Itchenor which provides a unique perspective of Chichester Harbour.

There is now a period of eight weeks for the public to have their say on the England Coast Path proposals. If approved, this route will become part of the England Coast Path – the 2,700 mile long distance walking route and England’s newest National Trail currently being developed around the entire English coast by Natural England.

Launching the plans, Andrew Smith, Natural England’s Area Manager for Hampshire, said:

We have had discussions with many landowners and key organisations along the proposed South Hayling to East Head route. Their input has been essential and helped shape the proposals, and we thank everyone for their time and input so far.

This special route promises to offer walkers a rich experience taking in coastal views, wildlife, and a patchwork of historic and rural landscapes. Over the next eight weeks, we are inviting all organisations, farmers, local residents, visitors and businesses to have their say. It’s important that all responses are taken into account and we look forward to hearing people’s views.

The plans include improvements to access, particularly along the Solent Way east of Emsworth. In this location Natural England has worked with local user groups and has set out proposals to improve the current bridge and walkway. This means that a route previously inundated by high tides could in future be available for use at all times.

This is the fifth stretch of the England Coast Path to be developed in Hampshire and third stretch of the England Coast Path to be developed in West Sussex.

Anyone can have their say about the report during the eight week period. Owners and occupiers of affected land can make objections about the report on specified grounds, which will be considered by a Planning Inspector before the Secretary of State makes a final decision.

All representations and objections must be received by Natural England no later than midnight on Thursday 28th of November. Copies of the reports can be viewed in local libraries. The full reports and all the forms and guidance on how to make a representation or objection within the next eight weeks are also available on the GOV.UK website

Additional information

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 places a duty on the Secretary of State and Natural England to secure a long distance walking trail around the open coast of England, together with public access rights to a wider area of land along the way for people to enjoy.

Natural England is working on the entire coastal route, with new sections also opened in Cumbria, Norfolk, Dorset, Kent, Somerset, Yorkshire, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Lincolnshire.

A map showing a timetable for the work is here.

• The England Coast Path will be our longest, newest and most challenging National Trail, passing through some of our finest countryside and coastal locations.
• It will secure legal rights of public access for the first time to typical coastal land including foreshore, beaches, dunes and cliffs.

As well as recommending new sections to the route, the proposals outline improvements to existing access to the coastline, with proposals:

• to identify a clear and continuous way-marked walking route along this part of the coast, bringing some sections of the existing coastal footpath closer to the sea and linking some places together for the first time;
• to allow the route to ‘roll back’ if the coastline erodes or slips, solving the long-standing difficulties of maintaining a continuous route along the coast;

About Natural England

Established in 2006, Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

• We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.
• We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and advising widely on their conservation.
• We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
• We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
• We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them. For more information, visit Natural England’s England Coast Path pages or twitter @NaturalEngland

Our report on the grounding of the Netherlands registered general cargo vessel Priscilla, on Pentland Skerries in the Pentland Firth on 18 July 2018, is now published.

The report contains details of what happened, the subsequent actions taken and the recommendation made: read more.

The United Kingdom welcomes the statements of the governments of Ukraine and Russia underlining their commitment to achieving peace in eastern Ukraine, and welcomes a further disengagement between Ukrainian and Russian-backed separatist military forces.

The “Steinmeier Formula” sets out a process for granting special self-governing status to eastern Ukraine, following local elections, which must be held in accordance with Ukrainian electoral law and be deemed to be free and fair by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

FCO Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Christopher Pincher said:

I welcome this encouraging step forwards in bringing peace to eastern Ukraine and commend President Zelenskyy’s clear commitment to finding a diplomatic solution.

The United Kingdom shares the view of the Ukrainian Government that local elections in eastern Ukraine can only take place under proper conditions. These include a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of foreign troops and unhindered access for international election observers and media.

Russia must now play its part to end the conflict by immediately ending its support for the separatists and upholding the commitments it signed up to in the Minsk Agreements.

The Prime Minister has been consistently clear that he wants to set out a fresh legislative programme in a Queen’s Speech. He therefore intends to request that the current session of Parliament be prorogued from the evening of Tuesday 8 October, with a Queen’s Speech on Monday 14 October.

The Government will seek to strengthen public services, improve infrastructure and connectivity across the country, tackle crime and enhance the integrity of the criminal justice system, while protecting our natural environment for the long-term.

The Prime Minister has today set out a fair and reasonable compromise for replacing the backstop and securing the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union with a deal. If a deal can be agreed at European Council, a central feature of the legislative programme will be to introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to secure its passage before 31 October.

These timings would mean Parliament is prorogued for the shortest time possible to enable all the necessary logistical preparations for a State Opening to be undertaken, including those done by the House Authorities.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:

I want to deliver on the people’s priorities.

Through a Queen’s Speech, the Government will set out its plans for the NHS, schools, tackling crime, investing in infrastructure and building a strong economy. We will get Brexit done on 31 October and continue delivering on these vital issues.

The funding will go to 5 research partnerships between the UK and Argentina.

It has been awarded through the Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF) and will be matched in staff and lab resources by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) in Argentina.

British and Argentinian researchers are launching the ‘Tools to tackle AMR in the environment’ programme in Buenos Aires this week.

The partnerships receiving the award are:

The research will benefit low- and middle-income countries, which are disproportionately impacted by AMR.

The programme will be delivered on behalf of GAMRIF by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in the UK and by CONICET in Argentina.

The use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock production is a primary contributor to the development and spread of AMR. Drug-resistant microbes can be transmitted from animals to humans via direct contact or through the food chain and the environment, which poses a potential significant threat to human health.

Mark Kent, the UK Ambassador to the Argentine Republic, said:

Today’s announcement is further evidence that the UK is committed to working with Argentina to help tackle global issues. Antimicrobial resistance is a threat which is killing hundreds of thousands of people across the world each year.

The research programme represents the best of British and Argentinian technical abilities, and will have an international impact. Tackling antimicrobial resistance is a global priority, and investigating AMR in agriculture and the environment is crucial.

This partnership is exciting, not only because it is good for UK and Argentinian science, but because the benefits could be shared with developing and emerging economies around the world.

Dr Jorge Tezon, Director of Scientific Development at CONICET, said:

High-quality research is needed to increase our ability to effectively treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. That’s why CONICET has decided to partner with DHSC, BBSRC and NERC and promote joint research projects.

At the national level, Argentina promotes interdisciplinary work with different actors focused on the concept of ‘one health’. This research programme is particularly important as it involves interaction between national stakeholders on AMR.

We also expect that this could benefit other countries and regions around the world which are disproportionately affected by AMR and help them improve food security and the associated economics.