Part 9Coastal access
The coastal access duty
297General provision about the coastal access duty
1
In discharging the coastal access duty, Natural England and the Secretary of State must comply with the requirements of this section.
2
They must have regard to—
a
the safety and convenience of those using the English coastal route,
b
the desirability of that route adhering to the periphery of the coast and providing views of the sea, and
c
the desirability of ensuring that so far as reasonably practicable interruptions to that route are kept to a minimum.
3
They must aim to strike a fair balance between the interests of the public in having rights of access over land and the interests of any person with a relevant interest in the land.
4
For this purpose a person has a relevant interest in land if the person—
a
holds an estate in fee simple absolute in possession in the land,
b
holds a term of years absolute in the land, or
c
is in lawful occupation of the land.