Decision

Coastal Access - Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea Island SWI4: Representations with Natural England’s comments

Updated 18 March 2021

Introduction

This document records the representations Natural England has received on the proposals in length report SWI4 from persons or bodies. It also sets out any Natural England comments on these representations.
Where representations were made that relate to the entire stretch for Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea Island they are included here in so far as they are relevant to length SWI4 only.

Background

Natural England’s compendium of reports setting out its proposals for improved access to the coast from Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea Island, comprising an overview and six separate length reports, was submitted to the Secretary of State on 16 October 2019. This began an eight-week period during which representations and objections about each constituent report could be made.

In total, Natural England received two representations pertaining to length report SWI4, of which one was made by organisations or individuals whose representations must be sent in full to the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph 8(1)(a) of Schedule 1A to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. This ‘full’ representation is reproduced in Section 3 in its entirety, together with Natural England’s comments. In Section 4 is a summary of the one representation made by other individuals or organisations, referred to as ‘other’ representations.

Record of ‘full’ representations and Natural England’s comments on them

Representation number:

MCA/SWI Stretch/R/9/SWI0019

Organisation/ person making representation:

[REDACTED], Ramblers Association

Route section(s) specific to this representation:

Whole stretch

Other reports within stretch to which this representation also relates:

SWI 1, SWI 2, SWI 3, SWI 5, SWI 6

Representation in full

We broadly welcome the proposals. We are pleased that some limited access to Wallasea Island is proposed, even if part of it will be seasonal. This will give new opportunities for walkers to explore the Essex coast.

We are disappointed that the proposed route passes the access slope onto Potton Island but the opportunity to create new access here could not be taken.

Natural England’s comments

We welcome the supportive comments received from [REDACTED] and the Ramblers Association and the positive engagement we had with them during the development process.

Reference is made to Potton Island which is land forming part of the wider MOD Shoeburyness site and is subject to a Military Byelaw. As such the island, although connected to the mainland by a bridge, is excepted from the coastal access rights under paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 of the CROW Act.

Natural England did consult with Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) during the early stages of development to explore opportunities for increasing public access to the MOD Shoeburyness site, but DIO concluded that increased access would not be compatible with the use of the site as a weapons testing facility for reasons of public safety and security.

Summary of ‘other’ representations making non-common points, and Natural England’s comments on them

Representation ID:

MCA/SWI Stretch/R/10/SWI0697

Organisation/ person making representation:

Disabled Ramblers, [REDACTED]

Name of site:

Whole Stretch

Report map reference:

Route sections on or adjacent to the land:

Other reports within stretch to which this representation also relates

SWI 1, SWI 2, SWI 3, SWI 5, SWI 6

Summary of representation:

The Disabled Ramblers urge Natural England to take fuller account of the needs of mobility scooter users.

The Disabled Ramblers make several general remarks on this theme:

• Natural England has not recognised that there is a significant and steadily increasing number of people with reduced mobility who use off-road mobility scooters and other mobility vehicles to enjoy routes on more rugged terrain including uneven grass and bare soil paths.
• Much of the trail along this stretch is on sea banks, which in most instances are sufficiently wide for use by riders of all-terrain mobility vehicles. Natural England assesses how this group of people will be able to access the sea banks along this stretch, and makes suitable adjustments to the proposals to achieve this, or where such adjustments are not possible Natural England should identify short diversions from the path to allow these users to reach alternative access points to the seawall
• Natural England should take all reasonable steps needed to make the trail as easy as possible for disabled people and those with reduced mobility and be mindful of British Standard BS5709: 2018 Gaps Gates and Stiles to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010.
• In doing so it should reconsider the suitability of new and existing infrastructure that it has indicated in the report should be retained because in many cases this may bar access for this group of people. There are places where a different choice of infrastructure will open up access to those with limited mobility to the England Coast Path.

Natural England’s comment:

We thank the Disabled Ramblers for their representations and in particular welcome the suggestions they have made for adjustments to allow for mobility scooter users.

The suggestions made by them concern the choice and design of existing and new structures along the proposed routes, should it be approved by the Secretary of State: they do not propose any modification of the proposed routes or the extent of the associated margin and the access rights within it.

We recognise that there have been recent innovations in the design of mobility scooters and that as a result mobility scooters are more versatile and capable of exploring routes on rugged terrain.

In finalising the schedule and specification of establishment works for any route approved by the Secretary of State, both Natural England and Essex County Council, the local access authority which will undertake the works, will take all reasonable steps needed to make the trail as accessible as possible for disabled people and those with reduced mobility, having regard to British Standard BS5709: 2018 Gaps Gates and Stiles.