What the Coastal Access measures will mean to horse riders

The Marine Bill's new restrictions on Coastal Access, will make access to England's beaches less clear for people with horses. In effect, the Bill makes horse riders into trespassers, where before they were not.

The restrictions for the new "Coastal Margin/Access Land" under the alterations that the Bill makes to the CROW Act 2000 are:

Crow Act 2000 - Restrictions: Schedule 2

Restrictions to be observed by persons exercising the right of access
1. Section 2 (1) does not entitle a person to be on any land if, in or on that land he,…

8.1. (c) has with him any animal other than a dog,

Crow act 2000 General restrictions

The right of access introduced by the CROW Act is for open air recreation on foot. Activities like bird watching, picnicking, climbing and running are included under the new right. Other activities, however, are covered by restrictions excluding them from the right of access. Unless the landowner or occupier gives their permission for these activities to be carried out, or they are included in the terms of other rights of access apart from the CROW Act, then anyone engaging in any of these activities on CROW access land will be trespassing.

The restrictions are:

• Riding a horse or bicycle .............