§ 4 and 5. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources (1) why he has issued instructions that new coastal footpaths should be made in North Devon where none have existed before;
(2) on what evidence he decided that the proposed new coastal footpaths in the Hartland area would be to the convenience and enjoyment of a substantial section of the public or add to the convenience of residents in that area.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (Mr. Arthur Skeffington)These footpaths are required to complete the line of the Somerset and North Devon coastal footpath recommended by the National Parks Commission and approved by the Minister of Housing and Local Government as long ago as January, 1961.
§ Mr. MillsI welcome the use of these footpaths, but why is it necessary for new footpaths to be made at great cost and considerable inconvenience to many farmers in the area? What evidence is there of need for these new coastal footpaths?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonOn the hon. Gentleman's last point, the idea of coastal footpaths has long been accepted by all parties in the House as being extremely desirable in affording public access to some of the most beautiful parts of the coastline. I think—or at least I hope—that there is no difficulty about that.
On the first point, the hon. Gentleman will realise that, in the normal case rights of way and footpaths do no go along the coast; they have usually gone from point to point where people have passed in the normal course. For leisure purposes, on the other hand, it has been necessary to create the new footpaths. This has been outstanding for a very long time now, and I had hoped that the House would be glad that we were getting a move on with it.