Footpath Closures - Foot and Mouth Update

Footpath Closures - Foot and Mouth Update

Surrey County Council has created an excellent interactive map where you can zoom in and clearly locate footpath closures and identify alternative walking routes that remain open. To find out more, click on Foot and Mouth footpath closures.

There is an almost constantly changing Protection Zone around the infected premises so if you are walking in the area it is worth checking out this new interactive map.

There is some positive news as domestic markets for sheep and cattle re-opened at midnight last night (in the FMD Low Risk Area outside the Bluetongue Protection and Control zones). Despite these movement restrictions being eased, the situation remains dire for many farmers (see earlier post).

Currently, there are eight Foot and Mouth disease infected premises in the Surrey area. On Bluetongue, there are currently 24 infected premises in the Suffolk area.

For the latest information, click on Foot and Mouth footpath closures.

Today's pub walk: The Three Horseshoes in Cockfield, Suffolk.

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Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Last week the government confirmed that it would legislate to give a legal right of access to the English coastline. This was a very welcome announcement at the Labour Party Conference and followed strong lobbying by Natural England, the Ramblers Association and many others.

The public consultation period only ended on 11 September (see earlier post) so this was an unexpectedly quick decision from the government and no doubt the timing of the conference had a helping hand in this. Whatever the reason though, this is very welcome news for anyone that gets real pleasure from our varied and dramatic coastline.

Read more at The Government Backs Coastal Access

Today's coastal pub walk: Sailor's Return in East Chaldon, Dorset.

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Farming Industry Devastated by New Foot and Mouth Outbreak

Farming Industry Devastated by New Foot and Mouth Outbreak

The diagnosis of a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease on a Surrey farm is a stunning blow for our farming community.

This comes just days after the Chief Medical Officer gave the all clear and lifted the Protection Zones put in place to control the August outbreak (see earlier post). It is a tragedy for British farmers just when meat prices were starting to recover.

According to this morning's Farming Today, the next 2 weeks are the busiest time of year for livestock farmers with most of the year's profit being made at the Autumn sales. It will also be very tough for them to cover the cost of winter feed for livestock that cannot be sold.

For the latest information on the outbreak and how it affects walkers, click on Foot and Mouth footpath closures.
See update...

Today's pub walk: The Dukes Head in Romsey, Hampshire.

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Coastal Access - Public Consultation Ends

Coastal Access - Public Consultation Ends

11 September marks the end of the public consultation period of proposals to open up an uninterrupted public access corridor around the English coast. I last wrote about this in June in my post Coastal Access - Right to Roam our English Coastline when the consultation process began.

According to The Ramblers Association, 94% of the English public support the wide-ranging proposals presented to the government by Natural England. Let's all just hope now that the government has been listening.

Read more at Coastal Access and the right to roam our English coastline
See update...

Today's Pub Walk: The George Inn in Middlezoy, Somerset.

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Foot and Mouth - Which Footpaths are Closed?

Foot and Mouth - Which Footpaths are Closed?

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) appear to have learnt some of the lessons of the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001. This time they are stressing that the countryside will generally remain open for business whilst footpaths and bridleways will only be closed if they present a real threat of spreading the disease.

Keeping up to date with this situation is important for walkers in affected areas but the position can change at short notice as press releases are being issued almost daily. For the latest news regarding footpath restrictions and countryside access, click on Foot and Mouth footpath closures.

Today's pub walk: The Mason's Arms in Marylebone, London.

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Coastal Access - Right to Roam our Coastline

Coastal Access - Right to Roam our English Coastline

Yesterday saw the start of the public consultation over coastal access. The question is whether the right to roam should be extended to grant uninterrupted public access along the length of the English coastline.

Natural England first presented their proposals to Defra earlier this year and I wrote about this then at Coastal Access is on its Way. Public support is very strong for a continual coastal corridor which would bring England into line with Scotland and shortly Wales. However it is strongly opposed by landowners and the battle is not yet won. Read more at Coastal Access and the right to roam our English coastline

To help maintain public and media focus on this initiative, MyFavouritePubWalks.com has decided to add a special "Favourite Coastal Pub Walk" category in its search for The Nation's Favourite Pub Walk. The additional prize will be a copy of "The Walkers Companion", published and donated by The Ramblers Association who have been strong campaigners for coastal access.

Today's participating pub: The Inn with the Well in Ogbourne St. George, Wiltshire.
Prizes offered: 1st - Meal for 2 with wine; 2nd - Bottle of Chianti or Pinot Grigio.

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