Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Penzance to St Mawes, lengths PSM1 to PSM6
Updated 7 July 2021
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Introduction
On 18 September 2019 Natural England submitted a coastal access report relating to the stretch of land between Penzance and St Mawes (“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 relates only to lengths PSM1 to PSM6. The proposals within length reports PSM7 to PSM9 will be determined separately.
In reaching his determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
- a. Penzance to St Mawes - Natural England’s coastal access report submitted to the Secretary of State on 18 September 2019
- 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 30 January 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 PSM1 to PSM6, 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 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 30 January 2020; and
c. Summary of other representations, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 30 January 2020.
Natural England has also made available here:
d. Penzance to St Mawes - the coastal access report.
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/PSM1/R/1/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 1, PSM-1-S001 to PSM-1-S002
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM1/R/2/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 1, PSM-1-S014 to PSM-1-S015
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and notes reasons additional information panels will not be installed.
Representation No. MCA/PSM1/R/1/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 1, Directions Map PSM 1A: St Michael’s Mount
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s reasoning for the proposed access exclusion in this area.
Representation No. MCA/PSM Stretch/R/2/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths PSM1 to PSM6 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes that Natural England’s route improvements will either maintain or enhance access to mobility scooters where the surrounding nature of the route makes this feasible. Encourages Natural England’s commitment to increase the accessibility of the trail to mobility scooters where possible.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/2/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S003 to PSM-2-S007
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/3/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S040 to PSM-2-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/6/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S003 to PSM-2-S007
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s proposed diversion maintains sea views and is supported by other stakeholders. Notes Natural England’s future plans to reinstate the original South West Coast Path route along the beach when it becomes safe to do so.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/7/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S032 to PSM-2-S035
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s reasoning for following the South West Coast Path in this area. Notes Cormac and Natural England consider that a cliff top route would not be safe.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/8/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, Map PSM2d - Coastal margin landward of the path
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals. Notes landward coastal margin is included because it is land of a coastal type.
Representation No. MCA/PSM3/R/1/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 3, PSM-3-S013 to PSM-3-S018
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM4/R/1/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 4, Map PSM4c
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals. Notes landward coastal margin is included because it is land of a coastal type, and that the golf course at Mullion Cove will be excepted from access.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/1/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S006
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/2/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S037
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s clarification that the proposed route is seaward of the existing hedge.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/3/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S039 to PSM-6-S041
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/4/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S048
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals. Notes Natural England’s confirmation that appropriate waymarking will be installed at path junctions.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/5/PSM2205
Name of representation: Cornwall Countryside Access Forum
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S091 to PSM-6-S101
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes that clear signage directing walkers to the less challenging inland route is already in place.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/6/PSM2216
Name of representation: Ramblers Association, Cornwall
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S006
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM1/R/3/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 1, PSM-1-S001 and PSM-1-S002
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM1/R/4/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 1, PSM-1-S014 and PSM-1-S015
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and notes reasons additional information panels will not be installed.
Representation No. MCA/PSM Stretch/R/1/PSM2424
Name of representation: Private individual
Report Chapter and route section(s): Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths PSM1 to PSM6 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes that local trail names, including the South West Coast Path, will continue to be used on the ground.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/1/PSM2411
Name of representation: [Redacted], Stephens Scown LLP
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S034 to PSM-2-S037
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:Secretary of State notes Natural England’s confirmation that the memorial bench is included within the landward coastal margin of the trail.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/4/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S003 to PSM-2-S007
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM2/R/5/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 2, PSM-2-S040 to PSM-2-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM3/R/2/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 3, PSM-3-S013 to PSM-3-S018
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/6/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S006
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/7/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S037
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s clarification that the proposed route is seaward of the existing hedge.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/8/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S039 to PSM-6-S041
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/9/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S048
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals. Notes Natural England’s confirmation that appropriate waymarking will be installed at path junctions.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/10/PSM2425
Name of representation: South West Coast Path Association
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, PSM-6-S091 to PSM-6-S101
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes that clear signage directing walkers to the less challenging inland route is already in place.
Representation No. MCA/PSM6/R/12/PSM2430
Name of representation: Private individual
Report Chapter and route section(s): Chapter 6, Approximately PSM-6-S104 to PSM-6-S105
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation: Secretary of State notes Natural England’s commitment to pass the representation on to Cormac and the landowner.