More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Plans to open up a 40-mile stretch of coast between Grain and Iwade near Sittingbourne have been unveiled.
The proposal from Natural England will create a continuous walk around the Medway Estuary for the first time.
The planned route will take in Riverside Country Park in Lower Rainham, a 110-hectare site with its extensive wildlife, mudflats, salt marshes and ponds.
Walkers will also be able to enjoy Medway’s rich naval, military and maritime history with views of decaying barges and artillery forts as well as the opportunity to visit Chatham Historic Dockyard and Rochester with its castle and cathedral.
There is now an eight-week public consultation period on the trail which forms part of 2,700-mile England Coast Path, which is being developed around the entire English coast.
Jim Seymour, Natural England’s area manager for Kent and Sussex, said: “We have had discussions with landowners and key organisations along the proposed route and their input has been essential and helped shape the proposals.
“Over the next eight weeks, we are inviting all organisations, farmers, local residents, visitors and businesses to have their say and we look forward to hearing people’s views.”
As well as connecting the Medway Towns, the introduction of the coast path will link the remote village of Grain on the edge of the estuary.
The proposed route would take ramblers along the river past Hoo and over the bridge at Rochester and along the banks through Upchurch and Lower Halstow before eventually arriving at Iwade.
National Grid has already invested in the creation of a new section of walkway along the busy Grain Road to support the England Coast Plan. In addition, this new footway will be extended which will mean the village will now be connected to the wider estuary.
If approved by the Secretary of State, work could start by the end of the year.
Kent has 66 miles of England Coast Path already open to the public between Camber,East Sussex to Ramsgate. Work on the final section in the county, around the Isle of Sheppey, will be published later this month.
All representations and objections must be received by Natural England no later than midnight on March 11.
Guidance on how to make representations can be found here. The full reports and all the forms and guidance on how to make a representation or objection within the next eight weeks are also available here.
