Following the publication of a report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee on the draft Marine Bill, BASC is concerned that no account has been taken of the impact on wildfowling or the damage to public safety on ‘spreading room’ over salt marshes and mud flats.
As the bill progresses BASC will be seeking assurances from the government that sensitive and dangerous areas of the foreshore will be “excepted” land. BASC will also continue to meet MPs with coastal constituencies to explain the association’s views on extended coastal access, how it would affect wildfowlers and BASC’s considerable concerns about public safety.
Land management policy officer for BASC, Dr Conor O’Gorman, said: “The government should not be legislating for automatic public access to saltmarshes and mudflats in England. We believe that the reverse should be the case – that only in exceptional cases would the public be given access rights to such a dangerous and sensitive environment.”
ENDS