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Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

I hope that the noble Baroness appreciates that we are talking about coastal paths, not coastal highways. I do not have a romantic notion of Gypsy caravans being hauled up and down the coastal path and parking where they wish. That will certainly not be possible if the caravans are drawn by cars or trucks. Hikers with gear on their backs camping where they should not is a different matter, but I think that the noble Baroness is more concerned about those to whom her noble friend Lord Taylor referred—namely those who occupy land and park caravans when they have no right to be. However, that will not apply to coastal paths. I am entirely with the noble Baroness on her first point. As regards the balance of interests, like her I would be shocked if that concerned only ownership of the land. I could not agree with her more that we also have to balance the interests of those who live and work on the land. When a balance is struck, however, their interests may be considered paramount as the disadvantage they would suffer would outweigh a particular feature of the path. I very much agree with her comments on that.