Country property: Could house prices be affected by forcing access to private beaches?

Added: (Tue Aug 12 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Owners of country property with private beaches may have to open up their shorelines to ramblers, daytrippers and the plain nosy under proposed new legislation.


If the British government’s draft Marine and Coastal Access Bill is passed the right to roam will be extended to the coastline.


Saskia Arthur from lawyers Boodle Hatfield said: “It will be very upsetting if you own a lovely coastal property and you're forced to allow strangers onto your land. You could be liable for their safety.”


In 2000, the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act was introduced to allow the public to walk on open country (mainly mountains, moors, heath and downland), and the government is still mapping relevant areas for a new Rights of Way Act.


Landowners can deny access in certain circumstances, such as when land is designated a nature preserve or there are safety issues. A high-profile case involved pop icon Madonna objecting to the public wandering on her 1,200-acre Wiltshire estate.


To read Cheryl Markosky’s full article, and for the latest country houses for sale see the August 6th issue of Country Life or visit Country Life.


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