Appley Steps in Shanklin are to be permanently closed as it has been deemed repairs to the coastal path route are ‘unviable’, with changes also proposed further down the coast in Luccombe.
Last week, Natural England submitted a modification to the England Coast Path to re-route the coastal path inland, which reveals for the 1st time the current thoughts on the beach access from Popham Road.
The King Charles III England Coast Path is a new walking route that will follow the entire coast of England. For the first time, people will have the right of access all of the open coast. This includes – where appropriate – any land, other than the trail itself, which forms part of the Coastal Margin.
It was back in November 2020 that Appley Steps – which run between the beach and Popham Road – closed as a result of subsidence caused by erosion and coastal processes. Having been shut for almost 2 years the footpath reopened in July 2022 after a new staircase was installed, but just 3 months later, in November, the steps were closed again.
Fast forward to Summer 2023 and it has now been confirmed that work to repair the steps will not take place due to the need to conduct a complex investigation, as well as the financial outlay to rectify the problem once and for all. Instead, a new proposal will divert people inland and through Shanklin Old Village, some distance from the coast.
The route will now divert via Chine Avenue, Everton Lane, Church Road, Chine Hollow and Popham Road.
The new proposal is aligned along existing public footways and roads meaning that expenditure to get the route up and running will be reduced. The original estimated cost of the work was £3,750, but the new works will cost around £2,000, a reduction of nearly half.
Given the current closure of Chine Hollow, as previously reported Island Echo, there is a further diversion for anyone heading toward the Esplanade with walkers having to head along Church Road to access the route from Priory Road. Chine Hollow could be closed until February 2024.
The proposed new route via Chine Avenue is the only viable option that avoids using Shanklin Chine as a thoroughfare, given it’s a paid-for tourist attraction.
Elsewhere, further along the coast at Luccombe Village, there is another proposed change to the England Coast Path which will once again see users of the route diverted inland by some distance.
The current coastal path runs along the Luccombe Cliff Path from Ash Grove along to the coast at Dunnose Cottage, taking in views of Luccombe Bay, Luccombe Chine and Knuckle Cliff. However, following a period of heavy rainfall and cliff movement, the route had to be closed back in January of this year.
Inspections have found that the route is considered too unstable and works to secure the route for public use is not be sustainable. It has been decided by the Isle of Wight Council to permanently close the footpath.
The new proposed coastal path will follow the existing public footpath along sections of the route before heading over a newly established trail across National Trust Land before joining the original trail. It is stated by Natural England that there are still views to be enjoyed on the route despite the inland diversion.
In terms of the financial impact of the changes, it is estimated that around £15,580 will be saved from the original £20,000 budget.
The period for making representations and objections about both path diversions closes at midnight on Wednesday 4th October 2023.
Yet millions of pounds are found to feed , treat and house dinghies full of unwanted daily.
Disgusting
I totally agree , i used to enjoy climbing those steps to the small garden cafe at the top until that closed down . Things are just closed instead of being repaired and invested in this woke day and age.
Grand View Tea Gardens closed due to the steps being closed and the lessee being unable to make a living from the massively reduced footfall, despite us granting a year rent free to them. The reason there was a second cliff fall resulting in the current closure of the replacement steps was that the work carried out was substandard and did not accommodate any drainage in the project. I stood and watched as water ran down the original upper steps and across the new landing they had built. This along with rainwater running off the footpath above washed away the steep bank either side of the new section of steps that they had left unterraced and just with bare earth with no support.
Such a shame, landslides are very common on the Island and around the
UK Coastline.
I cannot believe after all these years The Hideaway Cafe is still there.
I thought years ago it was on borrowed time.
Let’s pray Luccombe Hotel and establishments such as The Hideaway Cafe are with us
forever.
It is such a shame the Council never attempted to re-open the Undercliff nr Niton,
The Island as not been the same since.
Let’s hope the flat monstrosity goes before anything else.
Seems money from this council can easily be spent on the nere do wells, be it joey children, or freshly washed up flotsam, yet they can’t spend OUR money on providing some decent steps to local beauty spots.
All WOKE and funding the takers in society, and stuff those of us who pay the council tax, just give to those who never have and never will pay.
Vote them out next chance.
What happened to the budgies? That was my highlight.
Or, maybe if we had a few more migrants there would be enough people to fix things?
Why does everything have to come back to immigration, everyone with an ounce of intelligence knows it is a problem yet people commenting here on completely unrelated articles have to keep bashing the same drum! Just fuels the fires which is something we do not want to do when you consider the IQ of most people commenting!
You get the feeling the powers that be don’t care about the Island.
A small fortune for the functioning Ryde interchange to get new paving .Probably just a fraction to get the steps repaired.
You only have to look at the number of publicly owned buildings and structures on Shanklin Esplanade that are derelict to realise that yes, the powers that be don’t care. They thrown up a few hanging baskets of flowers every year and somehow we should be grateful, because as we all know, pretty flowers make everything okay.
You forgot the palm trees that we all wanted and no doubt the council won’t look after.
It’s almost impossible to imagine that once Shanklin’s Appley Beach was a thriving popular beach, beach huts for hire each end, Café in the middle, deckchairs for hire, jam packed full of families enjoying its more peaceful unspoilt aspect.
This council are a disgrace. They ask for more every year and we are paying a ludicrous amount for nothing other than our bins being emptied. Sack the lot of them and start again.
Here Here. I am fed up paying these Cowboys £2,000.00+ a year to have my
Bins emptied once a week.
We know who the real crooks are!
Any organisation run by the Government are money grabbing B’stards
Agreed – just look at the Council wages and their claimed expenses, so much money thrown away when it could be invested in the Island.
It certainly won’t stop me walking those beautiful steps, Bastard Council all run by F Tories.
Why can this council never employ competent builders or structural engineers? Like others here, I am totally fed up paying a fortune in council tax each month and getting less and less in return. Daylight robbery
Can we start a Go Fund me for Appley Steps please?
No one’s dying but it’s the closest route for my dogs to get to the beach
Such a shame more funding isn’t used to care for our environment.
Off you go then Penny, start the appeal!
No one’s stopping you, then when you’ve raised enough money get the steps fixed!
All done. Let’s see if we can get enough support ourselves to get this fixed. Please share.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/repair-reopen-shanklin-appley-dog-beach-stairs?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_cp_guide_do&member=28790429