Legislation to help climbers rocky road to new law NEW coastal access rights will guarantee the use of a wealth of Portland rock faces for climbers, a senior member of an outdoor sports body has said.

Scott Titt, president of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), has praised the legislation, which is now in force in Weymouth and on parts of Portland ahead of anywhere else in the country.

Mr Titt said the cliffs at East Weare, north of Church Ope Cove are ‘a major player in the climbing scene of Britain’ and are home to ‘the most popular non-granite stone crags in the British Isles’.

The BMC is a national body which campaigns for access and represents hill walkers, climbers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, members of the public have been granted access to the ‘coastal margin’, also known as ‘spreading room’, meaning land, including cliffs, to the side of the coastal path.

Mr Titt, from Swanage, said: “Portland is already incredibly popular with climbers, including myself, and has more than 1,000 routes, ranging in their level of difficulty. This means it’s an exciting place to have been chosen to be the first part of the country to benefit.”

He added: “I hope the people of Portland take advantage of this concept of spreading room, because it means you can explore some of the land to the side of the coastal path.

“This part of the country is so lovely for looking at wildflowers and picnicking.”

BMC access and conservation officer, Dr Catherine Flitcroft, said the legislation is the first time the public have statutory access to the coast. She added: “People have been able to climb here before, as landowners have been good about access.

“But because of spreading room, which is in place to the top of the cliff, climbers now have a statutory right of access.”

Around East Weare, this includes the land between the sea and the coastal path, which is a popular area for bouldering.

Mr Titt added: “You never know what will happen in the future, so it is so important that this is now in place, not only to safeguard access to the coast for climbers, but also for walkers and anyone who is interested in the outdoors.”

He emphasised that climbers have a personal responsibility for their own safety.

“Climbers have always looked out for themselves and the legislation has embraced that.

“The person who has the ultimate responsibility for their own safety is the climber,” he said.

Access rights guaranteed

THE Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 came into force in Weymouth Bay in June, before anywhere else in the country.

Amongst other rights, the act guarantees the public the right to access the coast, and work is now underway to create a dedicated coast path around the whole of England.

This has already been completed in the first section, with the existing path being moved closer to the sea at Bowleaze Cove and Hamm Beach.

The path has been designed to ‘roll back’ as cliffs subside.