The beautiful coastline at St Lawrence can once again be enjoyed by walkers following the reopening of public footpaths V99 and the path providing access to Binnel Bay.
Both paths had been closed for many months as coastal erosion had made access unsafe.
The Isle of Wight Council has been working closely with Natural England and the local landowner to find a way to reopen public footpath V99 by creating a new link path which, along with the coastal public footpaths in this area, will be part of the route of the England Coast Path National Trail on the Island.
On the public footpath leading to the shore, new steps and boardwalks have been installed improving access on slopes and to the beach. Funding for beach access has come from the Isle of Wight AONB through their Defra Access Fund. Further flights of steps and landings have been funded by the England Coast Path Establishment Grant from Natural England.
John Brownscombe, the council’s rights of way officer (England Coast Path), has said:
“The England Coast Path grant funding and the cooperation of the landowner, has allowed us to create a realigned route inland from where it was eroded and made unsafe to use.
“This new route which is close to Binnel Bay, has been cleared and new steps, and a footbridge installed funded by the England Coast Path Establishment Grant from Natural England as it will, in the future, form part of the new promoted trail.
“Although the new National Trail won’t be formally opened until all the works on the length between Binnel Bay and Chilton Chine are completed, the landowner has kindly given their permission for the new alignment to be used now, so that we can reopen the rest of the public footpath and reconnect Binnel Bay and Woody Bay.
“The beach access has been improved making it safe and easier to use through Isle of Wight AONB Access Fund from Defra.”
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member responsible for rights of way, added:
“We are very grateful to the partners in this project which have helped us to achieve these improvements in the area for the public to enjoy and look forward to more positive changes to coastal access from the investment in the England Coast Path planned around the Island’s coastline.”
now we need luccombe steps fixed
I wouldn’t hold your breath
What would have been sensible is to have made the first three steps from Gabion cages made of stainless steel and filled with local rocks.
Then put the wooden steps above. That way the sea would not damage the steps and would wash through the heavy Gabion cages.
The top of the Gabion cages make a lovely safe, non slip steps when you have muddy wellies etc.
Cheap, long lasting, safe, moveable if we ever get huge destuctive tides, and cheap in the long run.
So, now wonder the council relied on cheap timber which will rot, be broken up by the sea or bbq fire wood searchers.
Gabion cages are the answer here and for many other projects.
Then Whale chine
More chance of getting a stairway to Heaven with this council who would sooner spend OUR council tax on spongers, nere do wells, and odd children and adults whose money is ring fenced to ensure they drain the pot before normal people who DO pay into the pot can have any small pleasures in life.
One expects the flimsy wooden steps will be battered by the Sou’westerly winds and tide and washed away in the next storm.
Why not make stone lower steps to prevent such damage?
A few reasons
-It’s an SSSI area
-Cost of stone steps at a remote location would be massive
-Rapid and constant erosion of coastline, stone steps might last but would be nowhere near the cliff face in 10 to 15 years
As Ivy suggested then, Gabion Cages, so using locally collected stones would not harm the SSSI, cost of carrying three empty stainless steel cages very reasonable, and as Ivy said, as the coast erodes the cages could be moved.
Like she also said, it is too sensible for our council to implement it.
I think Tim was taking the pee…..Gabion cages…..ect….lol.
In every other post by her…..yawn.
They couldn’t plan a cup of coffee.