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We are supporting the Hamble River Valley Forum (HRVF) in Hampshire in its bid to secure the best possible route for the England Coast Path.
Natural England is identifying the route of the coastal path in stages and is currently looking at the stretch between Calshot and Gosport. Once the route is set, there will be spreading room for the public to enjoy between the path and the sea and inland to the first sensible boundary.
Natural England is inclined to take the route across the Hamble estuary using the Hamble-Warsash ferry. The HRVF and the OSS argue that as an alternative the route should be identified along both sides of the Hamble estuary, with a crossing using the footway on the A27 road bridge at Bursledon.
The view from the potential new path at Bursledon
The organisations consider that the public is fortunate to have the Hamble-Warsash Ferry, and it is a pleasant way to cross the river, but it is not available at all the times that walkers would wish to use the England Coast Path. Also, it has no timetable.
Warsash
The HRVF has identified an attractive route on both sides of the river between the ferry and the bridge, in part using the existing coastal walk, with lovely views and opportunities for bird watching. It will benefit the local economy to encourage walkers to use these paths.
We firmly believe that the route should use the A27 bridge, thereby enabling residents and visitors to enjoy the beautiful Hamble valley and ensuring they have a safe and usable crossing throughout the year. We congratulate the HRVF for all the work it has done to plot this excellent path.
The path at Swanwick