Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Bamburgh to the Scottish border, lengths BBS1, BBS2 and BBS4
Updated 11 November 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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Introduction
On 15 January 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Bamburgh and the Scottish Border 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 lengths BBS1, BBS2 and BBS4. The proposals within length report BBS3 will be determined separately.
In reaching a determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
- a. Bamburgh to the Scottish Border - Natural England’s compendium of coastal access reports submitted to the Secretary of State on 27 February 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 24 June 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 reports BBS1, BBS2 and BBS4, 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 15 May 2020
- c. Summary of other representations, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 15 May 2020
Natural England has also made available here:
- d. Bamburgh to the Scottish Border - 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.
Representation No. MCA/Overview/R/1/BBS0552
Name of representation: (Lichfields on behalf of Bourne Leisure)
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Overview document with reference to BBS-4-S009
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s commitment to consult with Bourne Leisure if there was a need to roll back the path onto their land.
Recognises that this is due to Bourne Leisure being a landowner and ‘relevant interest’ under the Marine and Coastal Access at 2009 section 297(4).
Agrees with Natural England that the wording of the Overview does not need to be amended to reflect this.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/2/BBS0741
Name of representation: Northumberland Joint Local Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1: BBS-1-S033 to S053, and S058 to S063
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State is content with the ongoing engagement between Natural England, the AONB and the Local Authority on the issue of appropriate signage.
Welcomes the creation of a working group to oversee this issue in the establishment stage.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/3/BBS0021
Name of representation: RSPB
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Full route and alternative route
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes the introduction of a working group to oversee the issue of appropriate signage on the trail. Encourages both Natural England and the future Trail Partnership to monitor impacts in this area and continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in responding to any issues arising.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/4/BBS0459
Name of representation: Private Individual
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1: BBS-1-S039 to S050
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State note the clarification provided by Natural England on various points raised in the representation. Notes the detail on infrastructure considerations at various points along the route provided in the representation, and encourages Natural England’s assurance they will take into account landowner requirements and public safety considerations in establishing the path with the County Council.
Welcomes Natural England’s plans to ensure all signage in the area is appropriate and considered, including around the alternative route and in relation to restrictions along the route.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/6/BBS0532
Name of representation: Historic England
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1: BBS-1-S069 to BBS-1-S073
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State encourages the ongoing engagement with Historic England and Northumberland County council on the issue of fencing at the scheduled monument “Monastic Grange at Fenham”.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/7/BBS0554
Name of representation: The Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1: Whole report including alternative route
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/8/BBS0742
Name of representation: Berwick Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1: BBS-1-S001 to BBS-1-S077
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed. Welcomes Natural England’s commitment to engage actively on signage during establishment.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/1/BBS0629
Name of representation: Private Individual
Report Chapter and route section(s):
Report 1: BBS-1-S033 to BBS-1-S053 and BBS-1-S058 to BBS-1-S063
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed.
Representation No. MCA/BBS1/R/5/BBS0008
Name of representation: Disabled Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 1
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes ongoing engagement between Natural England, Northumberland County Council and the Disabled Ramblers on the issue of accessibility. Encourages that, where practical, the accessibility of the route is maximised in the establishment of the path.
Representation No. MCA/BBS2/R/2/BBS0554
Name of representation: The Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 2
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes the representation from the Ramblers, which is supportive of the proposals.
Representation No. MCA/BBS2/R/1/BBS0008
Name of representation: The Disabled Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 2
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes ongoing engagement between Natural England, Northumberland County Council and the Disabled Ramblers on the issue of accessibility. Encourages that, where practical, the accessibility of the route is maximised in the establishment of the path.
Representation No. MCA/BBS4/R/2/BBS0554
Name of representation: The Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 4
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes the representation from the Ramblers, which is supportive of the proposals.
Representation No. MCA/BBS4/R/1/BBS0008
Name of representation: The Disabled Ramblers
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Report 4
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes ongoing engagement between Natural England, Northumberland County Council and the Disabled Ramblers on the issue of accessibility. Encourages that, where practical, the accessibility of the route is maximised in the establishment of the path. Expects Natural England to consider signage in relation to more accessible routes with the County Council where appropriate.