The National
Disability Strategy was launched last week and
will see new initiatives introduced to transform the
everyday lives of disabled people. Under the
proposals is a new 182-mile accessible Coast to Coast
footpath which will help more people from all parts
of society access Britain’s beautiful landscapes.
The existing trail is maintained by landowners,
national parks and local authorities. However,
granting the footpath National Trail status would
unlock Government funding to not only maintain the
trail but also to ensure that it is more accessible
to those with disabilities. This could include
replacing stiles with gates and ensuring that paths
are designed to meet specific needs.
Natural England will complete a full audit of the
existing route and will assess any improvements that
may be needed to bring it up to National Trail
Quality Standards. In the longer term, if the
Government approves the proposal the project will aim
to realise the full environmental, social and
economic benefits that a new National Trail will
bring by boosting the number of walkers on the trail
and helping to link up villages, towns and cities via
footpaths.
The proposals will include a map, detailed
information about the route, costs of creation and
maintenance, as well as proposals for the provision
of accommodation, meals and refreshments across the
Coast to Coast trail.
,
Director for People and Nature at Natural England
said:
We know now more than ever just how important it is
to get outdoors and active in green spaces to help
boost our physical health and mental wellbeing.
We are delighted to be working closely with the
North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District
National Parks and other partners to develop a
proposal for this exciting new route. It will not
only improve accessibility for everyone but will
also help to boost our engagement with our
beautiful natural landscapes.
The work to develop this proposal will be taking
place over the course of this year with a view to
presenting a formal proposal early in Spring 2022.
As part of its Landscapes
Review, Natural England recently announced that
Yorkshire Wolds and Cheshire Sandstone Ridge will be
considered for status as Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB), alongside extensions to the Surrey
Hills and Chilterns AONBs..
The proposals follow the independent
review led by
which called for action to make our protected
landscapes greener, more beautiful and open to
everyone. The government will respond to the review’s
recommendations in full later this year.
At 5,000km when completed, the England Coast Path,
will be the longest waymarked and maintained coastal
walking route in the world and will allow people to
walk around the entire English coast. The project
will link up the best existing coastal paths and will
create entirely new ones for people to enjoy. There
will also be new public rights of access to areas of
coastal land such as beaches, cliffs and foreshore.
