Today the Marine and Coastal Access Bill was given Royal Assent and has become an Act of Parliament. I'm looking forward to reading the whole thing, but the really good news is right there in the objectives:
to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of an English coastal walking route and of rights of access to land near the English coast; to enable the making of Assembly Measures in relation to Welsh coastal routes for recreational journeys and rights of access to land near the Welsh coast
So with the legal framework in place, we can look forward to so many of the gaps I've come across being plugged. Natural England have a great set of maps showing the gaps in the current coast path. The thought that these will all be filled in makes me want to start the whole coast walk again.
But maybe it's too early to celebrate. The Country Land and Business Association are determined to fight its implementation, as are the NFU.
The Queen may will the act, but will the people? Let's hope so. In the meantime, anyone up for a walk? I still have 5,000 miles to go.
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