Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, was yesterday elected as Honorary President of the North East Lancashire Ramblers.

Speaking at a packed meeting of Ramblers from all over East Lancashire at yesterday’s AGM in Burnley, the MP vowed to do all he could to get the new Marine and Coastal Access Bill on to the Statute Book as soon as possible.

“Only 70% of the coast around England and Wales has public access. Three miles out of every ten are out of bounds. I want people to have the right to walk on beaches, cliffs and dunes and to enjoy our coastline.”

The Bill before Parliament promises to create a coastal path around the coastline – with safeguards to exclude, for example, parks and gardens.

The Pendle MP has taken a close interest in countryside access issues for many years. His Right to Roam Bill in 1999 paved the way for the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which opened up thousands of acres of previously closed land.

(see www.ramblers.co.uk/groups/groupInfo.php?group=LN)