More bus services are to be encouraged in a bid to attract more people on to the newly opened King Charles III footpath which goes through some of the remotest parts of South Holland.
As well as walkers, it’s hoped the round England coastal path will attract more bird watchers to Lincolnshire, a meeting was told last week.
In order to achieve the goal, more buses are needed along the path.
The path aims to open up the entirety of England’s coastline, and includes sections that haven’t been open to the public before, including in and around Sutton Bridge.
“We’re expecting quite a lot of use,” David Rodger, national trails officer at Lincolnlshire County Council told last week’s Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum. “We’ve kept our birding offer quite secret in Lincolnshire and this path will create quite an opportunity for bird watchers especially to appreciate the entire coastline of Lincolnshire.
“I think a lot of visitors will begin to get interested in the England Coast Path if we keep it clear and accessible and provide amenities all the way along the section.”
When asked about busses he continued: We’re developing circular bus routes off the coast path so you can walk a section and then on a map go back to a bus route.
“We’re encouraging buses and taxi firms to provide a baggage transport service so if people are doing over night stays they can take their baggage to a designated area.
“We’ll be developing links with bus companies such as Call Connect to make people aware there will be additional foot traffic along the coast path.”
Mr Rodgers described the views around Sutton Bridge and RAF Holbech as ‘fantastic skyscapes’.
Some of the challenges he outlined included cattle that graze the sea bank.
He also stressed that the path was being designed as carefully as possible with the poential of coastal erosion in mind.
Mr Rodgers also explained more gates are currently being put up around the Sutton Bridge stretch of the path.
“They’re going to be long lasting and good for accessibility,” he said, “We’re getting rid of the rotten, heavy wooden gates on the sea banks and making it more accessible.
“In total, when it’s finished it’s going to be 2,700 miles long and part of the longest managed coastal path in the world.
The path was initially conceived to celebrate the coroncation of King Charles III.
“This amazing new National Trail will take people through some of the finest landscapes in England,” a spokesman for the path said.
