Coast path awards (From Falmouth Packet)

Coast path awards

3:54pm Tuesday 21st November 2006

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Teams from Devon and Cornwall have received the 2006 Coast Path Management Awards. The Most Improved Section was in North Cornwall. The two Oscars' for Best Maintained Sections (one for a highway authority and the other for the National Trust) have been won by the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service and National Trust's Bideford & Hartland property respectively.

The South West Coast Path Team presented the Awards at the annual Coast Path Managers Workshop to recognise the vital work carried out by the many rangers or wardens who look after Britain's longest and most popular National Trail.

The award results are based on an ongoing survey of all 630 miles of the Coast Path carried out by the South West Coast Path Team. The survey compares the standard of the Path and its furniture (for example signs, waymarks, gates, stiles and steps) with Natural England's National Trail Quality Standards. Across the Coast Path as a whole, the average percentage that met the Quality Standards has increased from 70% to 78.5% over the last three years.

Mark Owen, South West Coast Path Development Officer said, "The Awards have been running for five years now, and each year the condition of the whole Coast Path is steadily getting better. Wherever you are on the Coast Path you can expect the Path and its furniture to be in fine fettle."

Chris Monk received the Most Improved Section Award on behalf of Cornwall County Council's Environment & Heritage Service. Chris looks after the Coast Path between Marsland Mouth and Port Isaac and has achieved a 23.6% improvement over the last three years, bringing the total meeting the Quality Standards to 78%. He has made the Coast Path accessible for more people by replacing numerous stiles with kissing gates, and installed new signing to provide better information for Coast Path users. Chris is delighted to win the award " Working conditions on my stretch of the Coast Path are especially difficult as there are so many ups and downs, and it's great to know that all the hard work is appreciated. By keeping the Coast Path in good condition I can encourage more people to enjoy it, and that will benefit lots of small businesses in the area."

The National Trust's Bideford and Hartland property won the Award for the Best Maintained Section (National Trust) with 92.9% of the Coast Path and its furniture here meeting the Quality Standards. Even so they only just pipped the neighbouring Morte Estate, by 0.2%. Justin Seedhouse, National Trust Area Warden said: "A lot of hard work goes into looking after the Coast Path, and without our teams of volunteers to help us the task would be even greater. This award is great recognition for everyone who's' been involved."

Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service, hosted by Devon County Council, have been awarded the coveted Best Maintained Section (Highway Authorities) award, beating off stiff competition from elsewhere in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset with 89% of the coast Path and its furniture meeting the Quality Standards. Ben Totterdell, Countryside Officer with the Coast & Countryside Service said: "We are delighted to win this award, which reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers on the ground, and the co-operation of the many landowners through whose land the path passes. We are committed to further improving and enhancing the South West Coast Path National Trail, as it is such an important asset for local people and visitors, generating vital income for the area and providing an exciting range of recreational opportunities"

The management and maintenance of the Coast Path is funded by Natural England, and the Coast Path survey means that the available budget can be allocated according to need on the ground. Neil Constable, of the South West Regional Office, thinks the Awards are a great idea, "These Awards are an excellent way of giving recognition to the wardens and rangers who do so much to maintain and improve the Coast Path. We spend around £500,000 every year looking after the Coast Path, and the high standards being achieved show that it's money well-spent."

The South West Coast Path is a National Trail created and mainly funded by the Natural England and managed by highway authorities and the National Trust. It follows the coast for 630 miles (1014 km) from Minehead in Somerset to the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset and is looked after by approximately 65 dedicated on-the-ground managers, who work to provide a route that meets National Trail Quality Standards.

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