Written question asked by Helen Grant (Conservative) on Monday, 27 February 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 February 2012. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dogs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that dog owners have access to coastal paths.

Answer: Natural England will take full account of the needs of dog owners and walkers in its consultations as part of deciding the most sensible alignment of the coastal route under the coastal access provisions in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.Normally, people will be allowed to access coastal paths with a dog provided they keep it under "effective control" at all times. ““Effective control”” is defined in Schedule 2 to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. A person with a dog must also keep it on a short lead in the vicinity of livestock.Natural England may also restrict or exclude access for a person with a dog to a particular part of the coastal route if it is necessary to do so for land management or nature conservation reasons. Natural England will adopt an approach which recognises both the interests of those who own or use the land and the interests of people who wish to use the coastal route accompanied by a dog.

Secondary information