July 23, 2006
MP hits out at plans for nationwide coastal path
West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has asked for a formal meeting over plans to build a new coastal path around the whole of Britain.
The Countryside Agency is proposing that a path be constructed 100 yards inland right around the coastline so that people can have unbroken access to the foreshore.
But there is concern locally that such a path would guide walkers into areas with dangerous mud or protected bird sancturies such as Steart, as pictured above.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said the coast path had not been properly thought through. “It’s a stupid idea. It would mean public access right along the coast where, at the moment, the only places that are not already accessible are those where people could harm themselves.”
“Such a path would go through bird sanctuaries, quicksand and high crumbling cliffs – all sorts of places where people shouldn’t or wouldn’t want to be.”
