Weymouth Bay looking to Weymouth and Portland Photo: DACP CC-BY-SA-2.0

Natural England has published detailed proposals for the first section of England’s Coast Path.

The 30km (19-mile) stretch in Dorset from Lulworth to Portland will include a 4m-wide trail throughout its length, with ‘spreading room’ at some locations along its route.

The cost of setting up the Weymouth Bay section is estimated by Natural England, the Government’s advisory body on outdoor matters, at £22,400, with an annual maintenance bill of £16,700.

The England Coast Path is being created as a result of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, one of the last pieces of outdoor access legislation produced by the last Labour Government. The aim of the act is to create a coastal corridor with public access along the whole length of England’s shore.

The act gives the public the right to walk, climb and take picnics within the coastal margin. Natural England also proposes to move the route of the South West Coast Path, England’s longest national trail, closer to the sea on some stretches of the Weymouth section.

The publication of the Natural England report to Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman marks the start of an eight-week period during which objections and formal representations can be made.

If owners and occupiers of affected land object to the proposals, these will be considered by a planning inspector.

The proposals also contain provisions for the coastal trail to be ‘rolled back’ inland without further ministerial consideration if coastal erosion affects the route.

Natural England said in a statement: “The new route will be ready in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing greater access for the many people expected to watch the Olympic sailing events that will be held around the Weymouth area.”

It said it will start work in April on the next five sections of the England Coast Path, in Cumbria, Kent, Norfolk, Somerset, and Durham, Hartlepool and Sunderland.

Natural England also said that, where people currently enjoy access to areas of beach, cliff and other coastal land on this part of the Purbeck Coast with the permission of the land owner, for the first time there would be secure statutory rights of public access.

Most of the cost of introducing the trail would be in improved signs and surfacing to the route.

Anyone can make representations to Natural England about the report and objections and comments will be considered up to midnight on Tuesday 17 May 2011.

Details of the report and forms for representations are on the Natural England website.