Decision

Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch, length WIB1

Updated 6 March 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coastal-access-section-52-notice-for-wallasea-island-to-burnham-on-crouch/notice-by-the-secretary-of-state-under-section-52-of-the-national-parks-and-access-to-the-countryside-act-1949-wallasea-island-to-burnham-on-crouch

Introduction

On 29 January 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Wallasea Island and Burnham-on-Crouch to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (“the 1949 Act”), pursuant to its duty under section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).

This determination relates only to length WIB1. The proposals within length reports WIB2, WIB3, WIB4 and WIB5 are to be determined separately.

In reaching a determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:

  • a. Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch length report WIB1 – part of Natural England’s compendium of coastal access reports submitted to the Secretary of State on 29 January 2020;
  • b. in accordance with paragraph 16(1)(d) of the Schedule, representations made by a person within paragraph 2(2)(b) to (f) of the Schedule, and the summary of other representations made, and Natural England’s comments on those representations which it sent to the Secretary of State on 3 April 2020.

In this notice –

  • (a) “objection” means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of the Schedule; and
  • (b) “representation” means a representation about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule.

Secretary of State’s approval of coastal access proposals

The Secretary of State has determined to approve in full those proposals for the route and associated coastal margin as set out in the coastal access length report WIB1, in relation to which no objections were made.

The additional conclusions and observations of the Secretary of State in relation to the representations are set out at Annex A to this notice.

The Secretary of State has made available at www.gov.uk:

  • a. a copy of this notice;
  • b. Representations made by a person within paragraph 2(2)(b) to (f) of the Schedule, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 3 April 2020; and
  • c. Summary of other representations, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 3 April 2020.

Natural England has also made available here:

  • d. Wallasea Island to Burnham-on-Crouch - the compendium of coastal access reports.

Annex A: conclusions and observations on representations

The Secretary of State has considered, in relation to the coastal access report, the following representations made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule.

Full Representations

Representation No. MCA/WIBstretch/R/1/WIB0662

Name of representation:

Ramblers Association

Length report and route section(s):

Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length WIB1 only)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:

Secretary of State welcomes the Ramblers Association’s representation which is supportive of the proposals.

Representation No. MCA/WIB1/R/3/WIB0638

Name of representation:

Essex County Council

Length Report and route section(s):

Report WIB 1: Map WIB E1b, Sections WIB-1- S013 to WIB-1-S025)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:

Secretary of State welcomes Essex County Council’s representation which is broadly in favour of the proposals.

Encourages Natural England’s commitment to work with the Council to ensure the appropriate exclusions are put in place during the establishment of the path and the public can access clear and accurate information about safety and access.

Other Representations

Representation No. MCA/WIBstretch/R/2/WIB0008

Name of representation:

Disabled Ramblers

Length report and route section(s):

Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length WIB1 only)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:

Secretary of State encourages Natural England to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that all path users are considered during the establishment phase and that the route is as accessible as is feasible.

Representation No. MCA/WIB1/R/2/WIB0663

Name of representation:

Ashingdon Parish Council

Length report and route section(s):

Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length WIB1 only)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:

Secretary of State welcomes Ashingdon Parish Council’s representation which is supportive of the proposals.

Representation No. MCA/WIB1/R/1/WIB0066

Name of representation:

Crouch Coastal Community Team (for which Rochford District Council is the Accountable Body)

Length report and route section(s):

Report WIB1 - Maps WIB 1a to WIB 1h

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:

Secretary of State welcomes the Crouch Coastal Community Team’s representation which is supportive of the proposals.

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