Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Gosport to Portsmouth (lengths GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5)
Updated 2 March 2022
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Introduction
On 20 June 2019 Natural England submitted a coastal access report relating to the stretch of land between Gosport and Portsmouth (“the coastal access report”) 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 only relates to length reports GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5. The proposals within length report GPM3 will be determined separately.
In reaching her determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
- a. Gosport to Portsmouth length reports GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 - part of Natural England’s coastal access report compendium for Gosport to Portsmouth submitted to the Secretary of State on 20th June 2019
- b. in accordance with paragraph 16(1)(a) of the Schedule, the objections which the appointed person determined to be admissible objections
- c. in accordance with paragraph 16(1)(b) of the Schedule, Natural England’s comments on the admissible objections which it sent to the Secretary of State
- d. 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 29 August 2019
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 asset out in the coastal access length reports GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 in relation to which no objections were made.
Where proposals are approved in full, 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 determined to approve with modification the proposal for the route and associated coastal margin as set out in the coastal access length report GPM1, in relation to which no objections were made.
Where proposals are approved with modification, the additional conclusions and observations of the Secretary of State in relation to the representations are set out at Annex B 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 October 2019
- c. Summary of other representations, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 15 October 2019
Natural England has also made available here:
- d. Gosport to Portsmouth - the coastal access report
Annex A: conclusions and observations on representations without modifications
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/GPM1/R/3/GPM0019
Name of representation: The Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S010 to GPM-1-S017
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Acknowledges that walkers can still make use of the permissive access to the site already in place when the area is not in use.
Representation No. MCA/GPM1/R/4/GPM0019
Name of representation: The Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S023 to GPM-1-S028
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Acknowledges that walkers can still make use of the route as part of the coastal margin.
Representation No. MCA/GPM1/R/3/GPM0019
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S023 to GPM-1-S029
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Acknowledges that walkers can still make use of the route as part of the coastal margin.
Representation No. MCA/GPM1/R/6/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S031 to GPM-1-S035
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes agreement between HCAF, Gosport Borough Council and Natural England to work together on ensuring future opportunities for improvements to the trail in this area are identified and acted upon.
Representation No. MCA/GPMStretch/R/1/GPM1792
Name of representation: The Solent Recreation Mitigation Partnership (Bird Aware Solent)
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole Stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes constructive engagement with Natural England and notes Natural England has worked closely with Bird Aware Solent during development of proposals.
Notes Natural England are satisfied that proposed mitigation measures will prevent disturbance to breeding and overwintering birds.
Encourages continued close working between Natural England and Bird Aware Solent during the implementation stage.
The decision to depict the coastal margin using a magenta coloured wash was taken by Ordnance Survey following detailed discussions with Natural England and a group of national stakeholders in 2014. Natural England are confident that this approach has been working well on the ground since 2014 and they have seen no evidence that depicting the coastal margin in this way is bringing home owners and walkers into conflict.
Representation No. MCA/GPMStretch/R/3/GPM0019
Name of representation: The Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole Stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes the Ramblers support for the proposed route alignment around Portsmouth Harbour.
Representation No. MCA/GPMStretch/R/4/GPM0019
Name of representation: The Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapters 1, 2 and 4
- GPM-1-S031 to GPM-1-S035
- GPM-2-S055 to GPM-2-S082
- GPM-4-S025 to GPM-4-S035
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Notes the Ramblers comments. Welcomes agreement with Natural England, Portsmouth City Council, Gosport Borough council and Fareham Borough Council on working towards future improvement to the route as set out in the report.
Representation No. MCA/GPMOverview/R/1/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole Stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes HCAF’s support of the decision to route the path around Portsmouth Harbour.
Notes the Forum’s desire to ensure future opportunities for improvements to the route are acted on.
Representation No. MCA/GPMOverview/R/2/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole Stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths GPM1, GPM2, GPM4 and GPM5 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: The decision to depict the coastal margin using a magenta coloured wash was taken by Ordnance Survey following detailed discussions with Natural England and a group of national stakeholders in 2014. Natural England are confident that this approach has been working well on the ground since 2014 and they have seen no evidence that depicting the coastal margin in this way is bringing home owners and walkers into conflict.
Representation No. MCA/GPM1/R/2/GPM1576
Name of representation: Private Individual
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S029
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Notes that the outcomes asked for by the individual are outside the scope of the England Coast Path project.
Representation No. MCA/GPMStretch/R/2/GPM0159
Name of representation: Gosport Borough Council
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapters 1 and 2
- GPM-1-S031 to GPM-1-S035, GPM-1-S027 to GPM-1-S033, GPM-2-S010 FW to GPM-2-S014, GPM-2-S037, GPM-2-S054 and GPM-2-S063, GPM-2-S066 to GPM-2-S082
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes the Council’s support for the decision to route the path around Portsmouth Harbour and their desire to ensure future opportunities for improvements to the route are acted on.
Encourages Natural England’s indication that they will work closely with the Borough Council on the content and design of interpretation panels as necessary.
Representation No. MCA/GPM2/R/1/GPM0019
Name of representation: The Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 2
- GPM-2-S025 to GPM-2-S030
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England. Notes that the existing informal arrangements will continue to be available to walkers.
Representation No. MCA/GPM2/R/2/GPM0019
Name of representation: Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 2
- GPM-2-S044 to GPM-2-S054, GPM-2-OA002 to GPM-2-OA005
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes the positive comments in support of the route on the foreshore as far as Quay Lane.
Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Notes that the public footpath would remain open for people as part of the spreading room.
Representation No. MCA/GPM2/R/3/GPM0019
Name of representation: Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 2
- GPM-2-S058 to GPM-2-S061
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Representation No. MCA/GPM2/R/4/GPM0019
Name of representation: Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 2
- GPM-2-S072
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes the representation. Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England.
Representation No. MCA/GPM4/R/1/GPM0019
Name of representation: Ramblers Association
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 4
- GPM-4-S001 to GPM-4-S024
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes Portsmouth City Council and Natural England’s intention to work together on future opportunities for improvements to the route.
Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England around Port Solent and Lakeside. Notes particularly that no concerns were raised at this location around Port Solent by the highways department in their road safety assessment reports and notes the presence of speed restrictions and dropped kerbs. Acknowledges the long-term local ambition to create a pedestrian link from Tipner to Horsea Island.
Representation No. MCA/GPM4/R/2/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 4
- GPM-4-S001 to GPM-4-S022
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes Portsmouth City Council and Natural England’s intention to work together on future opportunities for improvements to the route.
Notes the reasoning set out in response by Natural England and is satisfied that the most appropriate route has been proposed by Natural England, given there is no definitive start date for the proposed development at this point.
Representation No. MCA/GPM4/R/3/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 4
- GPM-4-S026 to GPM-4-S034
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes Portsmouth City Council and Natural England’s intention to work together on future opportunities for improvements to the route.
Representation No. MCA/GPM5/R/1/GPM1793
Name of representation: Hampshire Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 5
- GPM-5-S044 to GPM-5-S052
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes the Forum’s representation which is in support of the route around Camber Dockyard.
Notes that access to the dockyard will be managed and communicated through the provision of signage that makes the restrictions clear. Welcomes Natural England’s intention to work with both the Dockyard and the local Access Authority to devise this signage.
Notes Natural England’s expectation that full-scale closures of the Camber will be very minimal.
Representation No. MCA/GPM4/R/2/GPM1794
Name of representation: Solent Protection Society
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 5
- GPM-5-S042 to GPM-5-S057
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Welcomes the Society’s representation which is in support of the route around Camber Dockyard.
Notes that access to the dockyard will be managed and communicated through the provision of signage that makes the restrictions clear. Welcomes Natural England’s intention to work with both the Dockyard and the local Access Authority to devise this signage.
Notes Natural England’s expectation that full-scale closures of the Camber will be minimal. ## Annex B: conclusions and observations on representations with modifications
Representation No. MCA/GPM1/R/1/GPM1743
Name of representation: Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
Report Chapter and route section(s):
- Chapter 1
- GPM-1-S029
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Notes DIO’s intention to develop the Fort Road carpark, and Natural England’s support of the modification proposed by DIO. Notes details of the revised proposals are available on gov.uk, in the document containing representations received regarding Gosport to Portsmouth and Natural England’s comments on them.
In view of this, Secretary of State approves the proposals subject to modification in relation to route section GPM-1-S029.