ENVIRONMENT Secretary David Miliband is in Kent today to launch plans to open up the whole of England's coastline to the public for the first time.

Parts of the English coastline are currently out of bounds to walkers who find their routes blocked and are forced to make long detours inland.

Ministers favour a strip allowing access along the full length of the coast (see option four below), as well as access to headland, coves and beaches so that a continuous route will always be available as close to the coast as possible.

Mr Miliband is due at Dover's Langdon Cliffs this afternoon to launch the consultation. He said: "We are an island nation. The coast is our birthright and everyone should be able to enjoy it.

"Improving public access will enrich people's enjoyment and understanding of the varied seaside landscapes and environments around the country."

The consultation seeks views on four options:

1) Use existing rights of way legislation to create a footpath all round the coast;

2) Extend open access using the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to give access to types of land which are considered coastal;

3) Voluntary agreements with landowners using existing mechanisms, such as those for agri-environment schemes;

4) New legislation to allow Natural England to designate a coastal corridor providing a continuous route along which people can enjoy access to the coast.

Deadline for responses to the public consultation is September 11.