Meeting documents

Environment Scrutiny Sub-Committee (DCC)
Monday 19 June 2006


            Meeting: Environment Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 19/06/2006 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A8 Review of the Access to the Durham Coast


         




Scrutiny Sub-Committee for Looking After the Environment

19 June 2006

Review of Access to the Durham Coast
Report of Access to the Coast Scrutiny Working Group


Purpose of Report


1. To review progress in implementation of the recommendations made by the Access to the Coast Scrutiny Working Group.

Background

2. The Access to the Coast Scrutiny Working Group report (August 2004) made a number of recommendations about how public access to the coast could be improved and the barriers to access overcome.

Current position

3. A review meeting took place on 7 April 2006 when Members received a presentation from Fiona Scully of the Heritage Coast Partnership about progress on each of the recommendations (a previous review had been undertaken on 30 August 2005). The original recommendations are summarised in the attached report, together with up to date responses from the Heritage Coast Partnership, to whom the majority of the recommendations were addressed.

4. The Working Group noted that further progress was being made in relation to its original recommendations, but a number of issues were highlighted in relation to the report:

  • There was some uncertainty about the position of the EU Life Nature funding application for the Horden Denes Project (which included the proposal for car park provision at Limekiln Gill) and was submitted by the lead partners to the Environment Agency in September 2005. This needs clarification.
  • It was hoped that funding might be provided by the County Durham Environmental Trust for the enhancements at the bottom of Deneholme.
  • There were proposals, as part of the development work being undertaken with schools, to encourage local schools to “adopt” stretches of coastline
  • There was an increasing emphasis nationally on use of coastline and National England had identified coastal issues as an area of priority.



Recommendation

5. The further progress in implementation of the Working Group recommendations is to be welcomed. Accordingly, the Working Group feels that there is no longer any requirement for any further comprehensive reviews. However, there are two specific areas which the Group feels do require further action. These are:
  • Car parking provision at Limekiln Gill - This is a matter of considerable importance to local people, which was strongly supported by members and was agreed by Cabinet. The Working Group was disappointed at the continuing lack of progress made in relation to this issue. Whilst here have been ongoing discussions between local members and officers from the Heritage Coast Partnership and Environment Service, there is a need to carefully monitor progress on this issue to ensure that the recommendation is implemented.
  • Publicity about Access to the Coast and Transport Routes - There appeared to be some misunderstanding about this recommendation. Members were clear that there should be publicity not just about attractions on the heritage coast, but also about the transport options (bus and rail routes) that were available to members of the public wishing to access the coast.
6. A further report on progress of the two issues outlined in paragraph 5 above should be brought to the September 2006 meeting of the Sub-Committee.
Contact: Tom Bolton Tel: 0191 3833149


Date of Meeting: 7 April 2006

Chairman: Councillor A Barker

Members Present: Councillors J Armstrong, Carroll, Fenwick, Lethbridge, Meir and Stradling

Co-opted Member : Michael Jones.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Fenwick, Nugent, Tennant and Stradling and Niall Benson.




Durham Heritage Coast - Submission to the review of the Access to the Durham Coast Scrutiny Project - April 2006


For ease of reference Durham Heritage Coast comments are in bold italics following the original recommendation from the report of 23 August 2003.


Motor Vehicle Access

12.2 (a) The County Council should promote, via the Heritage Coast Partnership, the creation of a car park at beach level at Limekiln Gill.

  • This proposal forms part of the wider Horden Denes project which is seeking greater and safer access to the coast east of the rail line at Horden. Urban and Rural Renaissance (URR) funding has already been assigned to this project. An EU Life Nature funding application was submitted by the lead partners the Environment Agency in September 2005. The outcome of this bid is expected in the near future.
  • The Coal Authority proposals for passive minewater treatment impacts on this project. The Heritage Coast management team have worked closely with partners and the Coal Authority to minimise the landscape impacts of proposals as well as maximising the contribution to expanding access opportunities in this area. The Coal Authority are expected to submit their planning application in early April.
  • Pending the outcome of the current funding applications and the content of the Coal Authority application the whole Horden Denes project can progress.
  • Following member representations an outline design extending the road at the bottom of Lime Kiln Gill for 20 metres and for the provision of a car park within County Council owned land at the bottom of the Gill has been costed and is currently subject to detailed design and costing. A site visit is being arranged to assess the revised proposals.
    b. We would ask English Nature and its partners to consider whether better facilities could be provided at the bottom of the Deneholme entrance to provide limited car parking for disabled drivers or anglers (including a turning area near beach level).
  • Following the previously reported consultation designs have been produced by County Council landscape architect. Discussions with funders have led to revising the proposals to produce more ambitious improvements. The long promised "dragon's teeth" boulder line to protect the coastal footpath from use by motor vehicles will shortly be in place.
    c. Although we support local people in their desire to retain vehicular access at Deneholme, we do have reservations about vehicular access to the beaches for recreational use in terms of its impact upon wildlife and conflicts with other users of the beach. Driving of vehicles off the highway is a contentious issue nationally and also in some other parts of County Durham. As the law currently stands, it is likely that the driving of vehicles off the highway could constitute an offence under the Road Traffic Acts.
  • Included in 12.2 (b)
    d. Although the proposals advanced by the National Trust for possible curfew closures on coastal accesses might have some impact in relation to issues such as fly tipping and burnt out cars, we feel there may be practical difficulties around implementation of this proposal.
  • As previously reported the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership understand that the National Trust do not have the required resource to further this proposal.
    e. The Heritage Coast Partnership should consider how better access to the coast can be developed for the disabled. We understand there are particular difficulties in at least one location south of Seaham Hall.
  • Facilities for disabled access were included in the improvements at Crimdon
  • The comments on disabled access at Seaham have been passed to the District of Easington council
  • The circular universal access at Easington Colliery provided through Groundwork and the National Trust has been completed and will be celebrated by a community event on Easter Sunday - an Easter Egg Hunt - members are cordially invited
  • Facilities for disabled access will be provided at Nose's Point, Dawdon as part of the £500,000 gateway improvement scheme currently being designed
  • A footpath connection from Seaham Hall northwards is currently being negotiated
  • An access audit of the Durham Section of the Heritage Coast has been undertaken by the County Council's Legal Service, Equality Team. This report is appended to this update.
    f. The current access at Warren House is along a track which is degraded and difficult to traverse at certain times of the year. The Heritage Coast Partnership should consider with its partners how the access route and car park can be improved.
  • The Horden Denes project addresses this recommendation.

Bridleway and Cycle Issues

12.3 (a) The provision of better access for horses and their riders and cyclists along the coast as identified in the recent feasibility study should be supported. This will open up opportunities for recreational use of the coast and the development of equestrian based businesses in the County.
  • Durham Heritage Coast management team are working with DCC Rights of Way section. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan will look at how better footpath links can be provided. Gap analysis is progressing. DEFRA's Rural Development Service has funded expansion of one equine business adjacent to the coast and the infrastructure improvements are being progresses as the opportunity arises e.g. through the Nose's Point, Dawdon scheme.
(b) The Heritage Coast Partnership should consider how better access by cyclists can be promoted both along and to the coast. We heard that many of the existing inland links fell far short of the coast (i.e. at Peterlee).
  • Enhancements to the network form part of both the Deneholme proposals and the Heritage Coast led, District Council hosted, Coast and Cycleway Rangers project that is funded through ODPM Liveability and ERDF sources. This is a successful scheme that is raising awareness of the access network, raising the maintenance standard accepted in communities as well as developing a volunteer network in the area. This project is to be highlighted through IDeA in its annual review. Critically the project assists in enhancing partnership working "on the ground". This project has secured funding for an additional two years prior to potential mainstreaming by the District of Easington
  • An externally funded Audience Development Officer has been recruited to directly support the rangers in their work. This post is fixed term terminating on December 31 st 2006.

Footpath Issues

12.3 (a) There is a need to enhance the footpath network which links into the coastal footpath. There are also particular issues in some locations, such as at Noses Point at Seaham, where access to the beach for anglers and others is difficult and needs to be addressed. The County Council, via the Rights of Way Improvement Plan, and the Heritage Coast Partnership, should consider how better footpath links can be provided.
  • Additional paths have been provided in the general infrastructure improvements at Nose's Point, including the provision of a footbridge and an enhanced car park.
  • The issue of access onto the beach in this area has not been resolved
  • Funding totalling £500,000 has been secured for further access works at Nose's Point, including interpretation, signage and seating principally from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Aggregates Levy Sustainability
  • The Heritage Coast Partnership is assisting the Countryside Agency/English Nature/DEFRA confederation as one of four national pilots for policy development work ahead of the expected provision of the English National Coastal Trail, critically this initiative is not simply about the provision of a path but about the added benefits that can be gained in the wider benefits corridor. More information on this initiative can be accessed on the internet at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/accessopen/accesscoast.htm
(b) The County Council should review the existing arrangements for the Parish Paths Partnership along the coast and consider what can be done to positively encourage the involvement of Parish Councils and other local community groups in the scheme.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

12.5
(a) The Police have an important partnership role to play in tackling the anti-social behaviour, which currently acts as a disincentive to enhanced access to the Durham coast. The Durham Heritage Coast Partnership should consider inviting Durham Constabulary to join the Partnership in recognition of this and establish closer links with the police to enable strategies to be developed to tackle these issues.
(b) Effective action has been taken in some other areas of the County to tackle crime (Farmwatch in the rural west of the County is a good example of this). The Heritage Coast Partnership may wish to explore with the police whether opportunities exist to promote a similar scheme along the Durham Coast (“Coastwatch”), involving the partners, the police and local community groups to help prevent criminal activity and deter anti-social behaviour.
(c) More needs to be done to educate and inform local people about the benefits of the coastline and the detrimental impact that anti-social behaviour has on access to the coast and upon wildlife. The Heritage Coast Partnership should consider what could be done in local schools and in working with communities on the Durham coast to promote this agenda. Improved community access would also enable local communities to self-police and deter through physical presence/natural surveillance.


Transport Issues

12.6
(a) The County Council should consider (with its partners, where appropriate) whether opportunities exist for:
(b) The County Council should continue to press for the provision of rail halts on the coastal railway line. The provision of rail halts would not only open up opportunities for both local people and visitors to access the coastline, but would also broaden opportunities for local people to access employment opportunities in neighbouring towns and cities.

Litter and Dog Fouling

12.7
(a) Although we recognise that our recommendation in relation to this issue could have resource implications, we feel that consideration should be given to whether opportunities exist for beach clean ups to be carried out on a more frequent basis than the existing twice yearly regime.
(b) Consideration should be given as to whether there is a need for byelaws banning dogs on sections of the beaches at Seaham (and possibly Crimdon) during the summer months and also whether those beaches should be designated under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act.

Education and Publicity

12.8
(a) The County Council should support in principle the National Trust in its proposals to develop White Lea Farm near Easington.
Health

12.9
The Durham Heritage Coast Partnership should consider how links can be built with the local health economy, and in particular, Easington Primary Care Trust, to develop the opportunities afforded by the coast for the promotion of healthier lifestyles and exercise.



Attachments


 Access to Coast Working Group report env scrutiny 19 jun 2005.doc