Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Eastbourne to Camber, lengths EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6
Updated 28 March 2024
Applies to England
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Introduction
On 27 February 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Eastbourne and Camber 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 EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6. The proposals within length reports EBC2 and EBC7 will be determined separately.
In reaching a determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
a. Eastbourne to Camber length reports EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6 – part of Natural England’s coastal access report compendium for Eastbourne to Camber 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 4 June 2021.
In this notice –
(a) “objection” means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of Schedule 20 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; and
(b) “representation” means a representation about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 7 of Schedule 20 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
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 length reports EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6, 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.
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 4 June 2021; and
c. Summary of other representations, and Natural England’s comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 4 June 2021.
Natural England has also made available here:
d. Eastbourne to Camber - the compendium of coastal access reports.
Annex A: conclusions and observations on representations
Representation No MCA/EBC Stretch/R/2/EBC1939
Name of representation: Historic England
Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (note that Secretary of State’s comments pertain to lengths EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s assurance the access authority will liaise with relevant officers as appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC1/R/3/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, map EBC 1c
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and notes assurance the alternative route will be clearly signed with relevant information provided for walkers.
Representation No MCA/EBC1/R/2/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, map EBC 1c
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and notes assurance the alternative route will be clearly signed and relevant information provided for walkers.
Representation No MCA/EBC Stretch/R/3/EBC2338 and MCA/EBCStretch/R/1/EBC2336
Name of representation: Two private individuals
Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (note that Secretary of State’s comments pertain to lengths EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and notes existing cycling facilities will be retained.
Representation No MCA/EBC Stretch/R/4/EBC008
Name of representation: Disabled Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch, with specific comments on map EBC 1c (note Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6 only)
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes confirmation the optional alternative route in EBC1 will be signed as accessible. Encourages Natural England’s commitment to work with the access authority to increase the accessibility of the trail where possible and avoid infrastructure being the limiting factor for users with mobility issues. Notes Natural England’s specific comments setting out its approach for each length report.
Representation No MCA/EBC1/R/1/EBC1995
Name of representation: Private individual
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, map EBC 1c
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s assurance the alternative route will be clearly signed and relevant information provided for walkers.
Representation No MCA/EBC3/R/2/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasons set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC3/R/1/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, EBC-3-S050 to EBC-3-S069
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasons set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC4/R/3/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 4, maps EBC 4e and 4g
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes confirmation that clear signage will be provided at the locations indicated. Notes Natural England will update its route status records where necessary.
Representation No MCA/EBC4/R/1/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 4, EBC-4-S001 to EBC-4-S006; EBC-4-S010; EBC-4-S022 to EBC-4-S023, EBC-4-S024; EBC-4-S02; EBC-4-S051
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes confirmation that clear signage will be provided at the locations indicated. Notes Natural England will update its route status records where necessary.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/13/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5-S001 to EBC-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes new byelaws restricting public access within the park were confirmed on 8 January 2021 and that the discretionary landward coastal margin has been modified accordingly (see Annex B to this notice). Is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/12/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5 S006 to EBC-5-S-020 and EBC-5-S052 to EBC-5-S056 EBC-5-S001 to EBC-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Natural England’s discussions with East Sussex County Council regarding drainage issues and welcomes proposals to improve the path surface between EBC-5-S052 and EBC-5-S056. Is satisfied Natural England’s proposals at Ecclesbourne Glen are appropriate and notes Natural England may review the alignment should the closed Saxon Shore Way path reopen in future.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/10/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, Map 5f coastal margin EBC-5-S001 to EBC-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes new byelaws restricting public access within the park were confirmed on 8 January 2021 and that the discretionary landward coastal margin has been modified accordingly (see Annex B to this notice). Is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/9/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5-S006 to EBC-5-S018
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasoning set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate. Notes Natural England may review the alignment should the closed Saxon Shore Way path reopen in future.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/11/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5 S006 to EBC-5-S020 and EBC-5-S052 to EBC-5-S056
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Natural England’s discussions with East Sussex County Council regarding drainage issues and welcomes proposals to improve the path surface between EBC-5-S052 and EBC-5-S056. Is satisfied Natural England’s proposals at Ecclesbourne Glen are appropriate and notes Natural England may review the alignment should the closed Saxon Shore Way path reopen in future.
Representation No (i) MCA/EBC5/R/4/EBC1953, (ii) MCA/EBC5/R/5/EBC2028 and (iii) MCA/EBC5/R/1/EBC2339
Name of representation: (i) Save Ecclesbourne Glen Group, (ii) The Friends of Hastings Country Park and (iii) private individual
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5-S006 to EBC-5-S019 and ECB-5-S001 to ECB-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes new byelaws restricting public access within the park were confirmed on 8 January 2021 and that the discretionary landward coastal margin has been modified accordingly (see Annex B to this notice). Is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No (i) MCA/EBC5/R/4/EBC1953 , (ii) MCA/EBC5/R/5/EBC2028, (iii) MCA/EBC5/R/2/EBC2341 and (iv) MCA/EBC5/R/7/EBC2342
Name of representation: (i) Save Ecclesbourne Glen Group, (ii) The Friends of Hastings Country Park, (iii) private individual and (iv) Saturday Walkers Club
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5-S006 to EBC-5-S019 and ECB-5-S001 to ECB-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasoning set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate. Notes Natural England may review the alignment should the closed Saxon Shore Way path reopen in future.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/6/EBC2342
Name of representation: Saturday Walkers Club
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5 S050 to EBC-5-S062
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasons set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate.
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/7/EBC2342
Name of representation: Saturday Walkers Club
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, EBC-5 S006 to EBC-5-S019
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasoning set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposals are appropriate. Notes Natural England may review the alignment should the closed Saxon Shore Way path reopen in future.
Representation No MCA/EBC3/R/2/EBC0015
Name of representation: Open Spaces Society
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 6
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and the improvements that will be implemented as part of works to establish the trail. Is satisfied the proposed signage at Pett level Road will ensure the route is safe for walkers.
Representation No MCA/EBC6/R/1/EBC0018
Name of representation: Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 6, EBC-6-S001 to EBC-6-S012 and EBC-6-S020 to EBC-6-S029
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals and the improvements that will be implemented as part of works to establish the trail. Is satisfied the proposed signage at Pett level Road will ensure the route is safe for walkers.
Annex B: conclusions and observations on representations with modifications
Representation No MCA/EBC5/R/3/EBC0075
Name of representation: Hastings Borough Council
Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 5, landward coastal margin EBC-5-S001 to EBC-5-S043
Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Natural England and Hastings Borough Council have agreed revised proposals for the landward coastal margin within Hastings Country Park.
In view of this, Secretary of State approves the proposals subject to modification to the landward coastal margin at route sections EBS-5-S001 to EBC-5-S043 (as specified in the revised table and maps in the document ‘Coastal Access – Eastbourne to Camber lengths EBC1 and EBC3 to EBC6 Representations with Natural England’s comments’ available on gov.uk). The modification is to remove landward coastal margin from areas of grazing land with no public access due to the new byelaws. Notes this will not affect the proposed route of the trail.