Walk This Way Please, But Not On The Isle Of Wight

There seems to be a difference of opinion on the Isle of Wight between two well respected groups as to the best way forward to include the Isle of Wight in the UK's Coastal Path. The protagonists are the the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the Isle of Wight Rambler's Association.

There has been a consultation process instigated by the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and CLA responded to this by saying that there was an opportunity for the Island to provide coastal access in a better way rather than the slow and expensive duplication process currently taking place in the rest of England.

Isle of Wight CLA regional director Belinda Walters said: "The Isle of Wight already has an excellent coastal path, recognised to provide very extensive access to its coastal areas.

"It is difficult to see how this could be improved, given that any areas which are currently inaccessible are likely to remain so.

"Most inland diversions are for reasons of public safety, for significant environmental reasons or because of the presence of homes, private parks and gardens, hotels, caravan parks or other land that would be exempted under the Act.

"In Wales — where the Marine and Coastal Access Act does not apply — an 870-mile path has been completed in the same time it has taken to duplicate some 20 miles of the South West Coast Path in Weymouth."

The Ramblers Association claimed that a completed coastal path could be worth about £35 million a year to the Island's economy, although Isle of Wight CLA chairman John Harrison said: "Claims there will be significant economic gain following increased coastal access are very much overstated.

"Wildlife organisations and the CLA have huge concerns about the impact that bringing access to sensitive wildlife areas might have on the very special environments on the Island," he said.

With the government launched consultation period having recently ended, we await developments in due course.