Response from Natural England following KMTU email concerning Cornwall's coast paths

The below response from Natural England has been received in response to our email of 4th October, 2019. Other individuals and groups have also written to the said quango!

In accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, it is important that we stand up fully and clearly for our indigenous rights afforded us by the Convention.

Jackson, Tess <Tess.Jackson@naturalengland.org.uk> 8 October 2019 at 18:42

To: "kernowmatterstoyou@gmail.com" <kernowmatterstoyou@gmail.com>
Cc: "SM-NE-Enquiries (NE)" <enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk>, "nationaltrails@walk.co.uk" <nationaltrails@walk.co.uk>
 

Dear John, Teresa, Craig, Tony, Matt, Mike, Clive, Ronan, Alex, Rob & Mark,
(Elected Members of the KMTU Steering Group)

Thank you for your email to the Natural England Enquiries service and the National Trail website of the 4th October, which has been forwarded to me for response in my capacity as Trail Partnership Manager for the South West Coast Path(SWCP) National Trail.

Having discussed your concerns with colleagues I can advise that Natural England has and will continue to work closely with Cornwall Council and others in extending the use of Cornish as appropriate on new or replacement signage considered necessary as part of the creation of the Coast Path under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Where existing National Trail branding exists it will be retained and so the South West Coast Path in Cornwall (and elsewhere) will continue as now to be branded as the SWCP (or simply “Coast Path”) on the ground.

This will also be the approach where the proposal is to realign the route to better meet the criteria of the coastal access scheme.

Given the SWCP enjoys very strong brand recognition, with recent research indicating that it generates £175 million annually to the Cornish economy which supports over 4000 full time jobs, there are no plans to change this successful ‘brand’.

The depiction of the Coast Path on OS maps and related products is a matter for Ordnance Survey.

We believe they are likely to be content for Cornish sections of the coast path to continue to be branded on their Explorer maps as South West Coast Path, without any alternating reference to the Coast Path such as will occur in the future on maps for other coastal counties.

Current plans are to continue using the OS mapping on the National Trail website.

I’m hopeful the above addresses your concerns.

Kind Regards

Tess Jackson
Senior Advisor
Statutory Access Team (National Trails)

Postal Address:
Mail Hub,
Natural England
County Hall,
Spetchley Road,
Worcester. WR5 2NP

Tel: 01452 740295 Mob: 07900 608437

Teleconference Ready-Access Number : 0800 0730 694
International/Mobile Ready-Accesss Number: +44 (0) 3306 068 753
10-digit access code: 461 362 1922

_______________________________

KMTU Email sent:

Kernow
4 Mys Hedra 2019

In English

To: Natural England & National Trails

Dear Sirs and Mesdames

National Trails - 'England's Coast Path'

Our organisation has been given to understand that work is to be carried out on the coastal path, part of which surrounds our Cornish homeland.

You may be aware that a few years ago, signage along Cornwall's roads which bore reference to 'England', which displayed the Tudor Rose of England and the like were deleted by spray paint and some were actually removed by Cornish patriots. Eventually, the authorities were forced to replace the signage with symbols and words less offensive to the indigenous Cornish people.

The arrogance of many England based organisations is well known here in Cornwall and all are treated with the contempt they deserve.

We request that the proposed name of the “England Coast Path” not be used, under any circumstances, within the borders of Cornwall, where it should remain as the “Cornwall Coast Path (Hyns Arvor Kernow)”. We should also be assured that the name “England Coast Path” shall never appear on any map within Cornwall’s borders.

It is already well-known, and proven by legal experts in constitutional law, that Cornwall has never been de jure joindered with England, or annexed to it in any formal manner. Therefore, to apply this proposed name to the path within Cornwall will be in direct contravention of Article 5(2) (Prohibition of Acts of Assimilation), in particular, of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM); and also a breach of constitutional law.

We hope that in taking note of this message, any nauseousness in respect of your signage might be easily avoided by application of common respect and courtesy towards the Cornish people which embraces the wishes of the now recognised Cornish National Minority.

We look forward to your response with thanks.

John, Teresa, Craig, Tony, Matt, Mike, Clive, Ronan, Alex, Rob & Mark
Elected Members of the KMTU Steering Group.