Isle of Wight Ramblers have voiced their concerns about the proposed King Charles III England Coast Path being diverted away from the coastline and onto the main roads in the section between East Cowes and Wootton.
The new Island Coast Path is gradually being implemented. Natural England published reports for sections 2-10 in April 2020. They have not yet published a report for section 1 which is the East Cowes to Wootton route.
Natural England has a primary objective to secure a route around the whole of the English Coast which adheres to the periphery of the coast. However, Isle of Wight Ramblers understands that Natural England intends to publish a route which circumvents the Osborne and Barton estates. This would involve a 5km diversion away from the coast with 1.5km of walking on the main road.
There appear to be concerns raised by landowners south of Osborne. The ramblers’ concerns are detailed on their website: www.iowramblers.com.
A spokesperson for Isle of Wight Ramblers has said:
“We know that there are considerable economic and health impacts of walking on coastal paths. The benefits to residents and tourists will be significant. We do feel strongly that the residents of East Cowes deserve to have their first Right of Way to the countryside.
“The Osborne estate was given to the nation by Edward VII on his coronation day in 1902. It is only right that a National Trail should follow a short section of the coast at Osborne Bay.
“We are concerned by the length of time that negotiations are taking. The report should be issued now showing a truly coastal route.”
Article continues below this advertisement
Proposed coastal path routes shown below:
Nobody asked IW residents if we want this metropolitan s..t trampling over the Island. Just a left wing pressure group who need to be told to f off. You are not welcome.
You have obviously never met the Isle of Wight Ramblers! All of whom are island residents, would laugh uproariously at the idea of being a left wing pressure group and who work tirelessly for the rights of all residents to enjoy their own island to the full.
Yeah, cause people from IoW don’t take walks on the weekend at all and don’t want to enjoy nature, lol.
Pikey your a plonker
The elites 1 – Normal people 0, when is a coastal route not a coastal route? When the tories are in charge. Write to Seeley, oh maybe don’t as he will probably welcome this. Or maybe the drugs will be brought ashore at the coast there, what a great cover.
What a beautiful walk to have with your kids: breathe in all the car fumes and hope none of the elderly drivers have a “medical incident” and kill you all. Enjoy the views of concrete and gas station. The best IoW has to offer!
England 2023: pleb doesn’t even deserve a nice route for WALKING.
The fully coast route could be an opertunity to have the landslip cleared to allow access again round to “old castle point”. There would need to have a means to get past the wall at the point and it would need the new owners of Norris to repair the current seawall as they have indicated their intention to do. There would be a lot of benefit to be had for ordinary local people.
Being able to walk along the coast would be brilliant..the alternative inland route is not fit for purpose, being neither coastal nor a footpath. Just one of the busiest routes in the island when a red funnel car ferry loads or unloads
The Ramblers have not highlighted concerns for wildlife in what is an extraordinarily valuable ecological area. People want to see Wildlife but wildlife doesn’t want to see people. Natural England, as the name suggests, has a primary role to protect nature, not, as suggested by this article, to back the Ramblers right to roam agenda.
Me think Sue doth protest too loudly.
Suddenly caring for creatures yet likely hunts such ‘for fun’ , no sorry , to help the Farmers, as oh so caring people…. Not
And yet when they step up to reinstate steps so we as Islanders can get down to our beaches that’s not right? Jog on Sue your talking out the back of your “pack a Mac”!
I think you missed this bit: “Natural England has a primary objective to secure a route around the whole of the English Coast which adheres to the periphery of the coast”. But it appears their primary objectives are conveniently shelved when faced with landed gentry!
I’m sure the land owners of Osbourne, Kings Quay and alike will get there way. Bit like the council. Money talks, the average Joe ignored