Decision

Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge lengths HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4

Updated 10 August 2022

Applies to England

Introduction

On 25 November 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Hunstanton and Sutton Bridge 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 HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4. The proposals within length report HSB2 will be determined separately.

In reaching a determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:

a. Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge length reports HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4 – part of Natural England’s coastal access report compendium for Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge submitted to the Secretary of State on 25 November 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 25 May and 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 HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4, 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 25 May and 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 25 May and 4 June 2021.

Natural England has also made available here:

d. Hunstanton to Sutton Bridge - 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/HSB1/R/4/HSB0824

Name of representation: Ramblers Association

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, HSB-1-S001 to HSB-1-S033, HSB-1-S034 to HSB-1-S039 and HSB-1-S040 to HSB-1-S042

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes reasoning set out by Natural England and is satisfied the proposed route is appropriate.

Representation No MCA/HSB1/R/5/HSB0673

Name of representation: RSPB

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, HSB-1-S031 to HSB-1-S042

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes representation and Natural England’s comments. Is satisfied Natural England has fully considered effects on sensitive wildlife and as a result has proposed appropriate measures to minimise additional disturbance. Encourages Natural England to continue working closely with the RSPB, Norfolk County Council and others to monitor the situation and ensure appropriate measures remain in place to protect sensitive wildlife.

Representation No MCA/HSB Stretch/R/1/HSB0834

Name of representation: British Horse Society

Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (note Secretary of State’s comments pertain to lengths HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4 only)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the scope of the England Coast Path legislation extends to granting pedestrian access rights only.

Representation No MCA/HSB Stretch/R/2/HSB0822

Name of representation: Water Management Alliance (Internal Drainage Board)

Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (note Secretary of State comments pertain to lengths HSB1, HSB3 and HSB4 only)

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State encourages Natural England’s ongoing cooperation with the Internal Drainage Board.

Representation No MCA/HSB1/R/3/HSB0836 and MCA/HSB3/R/2/HSB0836

Name of representation: Cycling UK

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Reports 1 and 3, HSB-1-S001 to HSB-1-S042 and HSB-3-S001 to HSB-3-S051

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the scope of the England Coast Path legislation extends to granting pedestrian access rights only.

Representation No MCA/HSB1/R/2/HSB0482

Name of representation: Heacham South Beach Owners Association

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, HSB-1-S034 to HSB-1-S039

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.

Representation No MCA/HSB1/R/1/HSB0369

Name of representation: Private individual

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 1, HSB-1-S001 to HSB-1-S042

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/10/HSB0823 and MCA/HSB4/R/7/HSB0823

Name of representation: Country Land and Business Association

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Reports 3 and 4, HSB-3-S001 to HSB-3-S051 and HSB-4-S001 to HSB-4-S025

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s confirmation the trail will not affect future flood bank maintenance. Encourages Natural England to work closely with the highways authority and landowners and occupiers to facilitate any necessary works once coastal access rights have come into effect.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/7/HSB0839 and MCA/HSB4/R/5/HSB0839

Name of representation: National Farmers Union

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Reports 3 and 4, HSB-3-S001 to HSB-3-S051 and HSB-4-S001 to HSB-4-S025

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s confirmation the trail will not affect future flood bank maintenance. Encourages Natural England to work closely with the highways authority and landowners and occupiers to facilitate any necessary works once coastal access rights have come into effect.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/6/HSB0840 and MCA/HSB4/R/4/HSB0840

Name of representation: National Farmers Union, East Midlands

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Reports 3 and 4, HSB-3-S001 to HSB-3-S051 and HSB-4-S001 to HSB-4-S025

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s confirmation the trail will not affect future flood bank maintenance. Encourages Natural England to work closely with the highways authority and landowners and occupiers to facilitate any necessary works once coastal access rights have come into effect.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/4/HSB0824

Name of representation: Ramblers Association

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, HSB-3-S001 to HSB-3-S051 and a route that would replace HSB-3-S002 to HSB-3-S020

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the desirability of a riverside route but is satisfied Natural England has proposed the most appropriate route regarding the safety of walkers on the National Trail. Notes the riverside byway would remain available to walkers within the coastal margin.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/3/HSB0799

Name of representation: Local Access Forum

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, a route that would replace HSB-3-S002 to HSB-3-S020

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the desirability of a riverside route but is satisfied Natural England has proposed the most appropriate route regarding the safety of walkers on the National Trail. Notes the riverside byway would remain available to walkers within the coastal margin.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/8/HSB0008

Name of representation: Disabled Ramblers

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, all route sections, specifically HSB-3-S001 and HSB-3-S002 and HSB-3-S047 to HSB-3-S051

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State 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. Encourages Natural England and the access authority to explore signposting an informal accessible route in West Lynn if barriers on the main trail are unavoidable.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/9/HSB0286

Name of representation: Private individual

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, HSB-3-S002 to HSB-3-S020

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes representation and considers the proposals in this area are appropriate.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/1/HSB0369

Name of representation: Private individual

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 3, HSB3-S001 to HSB-3-S051

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes support for Natural England’s proposals.

Representation No MCA/HSB3/R/5/HSB0837 and MCA/HSB4/R/3/HSB0837

Name of representation: Wash Frontages Group

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Reports 3 and 4, HSB3-S001 to HSB-3-S051 and HSB-4-S001 to HSB-4-S025

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes Natural England’s confirmation the trail will not affect future flood bank maintenance. Encourages Natural England to work closely with the highways authority and landowners and occupiers to facilitate any necessary works once coastal access rights have come into effect.

Representation No MCA/HSB4/R/6/HSB0008

Name of representation: Disabled Ramblers

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 4, all route sections, specifically HSB-4-S001, HSB-4-S004, HSB-4-S006, HSB-4-S007, HSB-4-S009 and HSB-4-S015

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State 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. Encourages Natural England and the access authority to explore signposting an informal accessible route in West Lynn if barriers on the main trail are unavoidable.

Representation No MCA/HSB4/R/2/HSB0835

Name of representation: Private individual

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 4, HSB-4-S002 to HSB-4-S015

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes no new access rights will be created landward of the sea bank and welcomes Natural England’s comments clarifying management of existing access.

Representation No MCA/HSB4/R/1/HSB0831

Name of representation: Swavesey Bridleways Group

Length Report and route section(s):
Length Report 4, HSB-4-S005 to HSB-4-S009

Secretary of State’s conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes the scope of the England Coast Path legislation extends to granting pedestrian access rights only.