Annual Review 2009-2010

Annual Review Reveals Coast Path Progress

The South West Coast Path has made significant strides in the past year, as highlighted in its 2009-2010 Annual Review.

During the course of the year, a team restructure, brought about by the departure of two key members of staff, led to the appointment of Alex Green as Communications and Project Officer. Mark Owen took on the dual responsibility of continuing his role of Path Development as well as becoming the new National Trail Officer.

For most of the year, Mark was the only full time member of staff with the support of Elizabeth Robertson as Administration officer. Together they finalised the bid for £2.1m of European funding to increase the economic benefits of the Coast Path to the region. In February this year, the SW Regional Development Agency approved the bid and work on the project titled 'Unlocking our coastal Heritage' has begun.

The funding has been granted at a particularly difficult time for many Coast Path partners due to the impact of budget cuts. The overall aim of the project is to improve the quality of the Coast Path and enhance the experience for its users. This includes the conservation of 30 heritage sites along the coast, three route improvements and a series of Discovery Points along the path to raise awareness and provide inspirational interpretation at certain gateway sites.

There's been a great deal of positive publicity about the UK's longest and most popular National Trail and this looks likely to continue as the tourism season gets well underway and more people enjoy the benefits of a Coast Path walk.

Full details of the Team's achievements in the past year can be found in the Annual Review 2009-2010.

Click here to view the full document.