Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Cleveleys to Pier Head, length CPH5
Updated 12 March 2026
Applies to England
Introduction
On 7 October 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Cleveleys and Pier Head to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (āthe 1949 Actā), pursuant to its duty under section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (āthe 2009 Actā).
This determination relates only to length CPH5. The proposals within length reports CPH1, CPH2, CPH3, CPH4 and CPH6 are to be determined separately.
In reaching a determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:
- a. Cleveleys to Pier Head length report CPH5 ā part of Natural Englandās compendium of coastal access reports submitted to the Secretary of State on 7 October 2020;
- b. in accordance with paragraph 16(1)(d) of the Schedule, representations made by a person within paragraph 2(2)(b) to (f) of the Schedule, and the summary of other representations made, and Natural Englandās comments on those representations which it sent to the Secretary of State on 21 January 2021.
In this notice ā
- (a) āobjectionā means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of the Schedule; and
- (b) ārepresentationā means a representation about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule.
Secretary of Stateās approval of coastal access proposals
The Secretary of State has determined to approve in full those proposals for the route and associated coastal margin as set out in the coastal access length report CPH5, in relation to which no objections were made.
The additional conclusions and observations of the Secretary of State in relation to the representations are set out at Annex A to this notice. Where proposals are approved with modification, the additional conclusions and observations of the Secretary of State in relation to the representations are set out at Annex B to this notice.
The Secretary of State has made available at www.gov.uk:
- a. a copy of this notice;
- b. Representations made by a person within paragraph 2(2)(b) to (f) of the Schedule, and Natural Englandās comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 21 January 2021; and
- c. Summary of other representations, and Natural Englandās comments on those representations, which it sent to the Secretary of State on 21 January 2021.
Natural England has also made available here:
- d. Cleveleys to Pier Head - the compendium of coastal access reports.
Annex A: conclusions and observations on representations
The Secretary of State has considered, in relation to the coastal access report, the following representations made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule.
Full Representations
Representation No. MCA/CPH(W)/R/1/1557
Name of representation:
Historic England
Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Historic Englandās confirmation that this length would have little or no impact on the historic environment.
Representation No. MCA/CPH(W)/R/2/1629
Name of representation:
The Ramblers
Length Report and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Natural Englandās reasoning for its use of directions. Considers that directions have been applied appropriately and with due consideration to walkers, wildlife and other interested parties.
Representation No. MCA/CPH/W/R/4/0016
Name of representation:
Open Spaces Society
Report chapter and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes Natural Englandās reasoning for its use of directions. Considers that directions have been applied appropriately and with due consideration to walkers, wildlife and other interested parties.
Other Representations
Representation No. MCA/CPH(W)/R/3/1678
Name of representation:
Cycling UK
Report chapter and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes that the provision of improved cycling infrastructure is outside the remit of the England Coast Path Project.
Representation No. MCA/CPH(W)/R/5/1681
Name of representation:
Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS)
Report chapter and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State welcomes the representation which is supportive of the conclusions of the Habitats Regulations Assessment undertaken by Natural England.
Representation No. MCA/CPH(W)/R/6/0305
Name of representation:
United Utilities
Report chapter and route section(s):
Whole stretch (Secretary of State comments pertain to length CPH5 only)
Secretary of Stateās conclusion and observation:
Secretary of State notes that there is no significant risk to United Utilitiesā assets or operations. Notes that the relevant Access Authorities will discuss establishment further with owners and occupiers.