Huw Irranca-Davies, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will celebrate bringing the nation one step closer to a round-England coastal path that will reach places currently out of bounds to the public. This follows the smooth passage of Coastal Access clauses of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill through the House of Commons last night. The bill will finish its remaining Commons stages later today.

Huw Irranca-Davies will collect his stick of ‘Coast for Most’ seaside rock, and meet ramblers outside Parliament, St Stephen’s entrance, on his way in to the session at 3.15pm.

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill contains plans for creating a continuous coastal path round England and Wales. Currently there is no satisfactory or legally secure access to 34% of the English coast. In the North West, this figure rises to over half the coast, 56%,. a shocking statistic when considered that no point in England is further than 72 miles from the coast.

Tom Franklin, Chief Executive of the Ramblers comments: “This bill is a positive step forward for the whole country, especially in these gloomy financial times. Walking is great news for the economy and the health of the nation.”

As well as enabling people to walk from one end of the English coast to the other without impediment, the Marine and Coastal Access Bill will also create a network of marine conservation zones; better management of fisheries; new marine planning and a new Marine Management Organisation