Overview

This bill clarifies the definition of a coastal path in England, removing river estuaries from the definition under the 2009 Marine and Coastal Access Act. It mandates Natural England to create a new coastal access scheme within eight months, reflecting this change, and makes consequential amendments to related legislation.

Description

The Coastal Path (Definition) Bill primarily aims to amend the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Specifically, it removes the inclusion of river estuaries in the legal definition of a coastal path. This requires Natural England to prepare and submit a revised coastal access scheme to the Secretary of State within eight months of the bill becoming law. The bill also includes consequential amendments to other relevant acts, such as the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949, to ensure consistency. The Secretary of State is given power to create regulations for the smooth transition to this new definition.

Government Spending

The bill mandates that any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or government departments in implementing the Act, as well as any increase in expenditure under other Acts resulting from this bill, will be met from public funds. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Natural England: Responsible for creating the revised coastal access scheme, potentially increasing workload and resource requirements.
• The Secretary of State: Responsible for overseeing the scheme's implementation and managing any transitional challenges.
• Landowners and managers along the coast: The revised definition of coastal path may affect access rights and responsibilities along river estuaries and other coastal areas.
• The public: May experience changes to coastal access routes and opportunities.

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