IT HAS long been a dream for ramblers – a footpath around the entire coastline of England.

Now cash has been approved that will link Hampshire’s coast with the rest of England in a 2,700 mile footpath around the entire country.

Despite 2015 budget cuts of £20billion, DEFRA Minister Rory Stewart has confirmed that funding to complete the long-awaited England Coast Path will be protected.

Around 65 per cent of England’s coast is already publicly accessible (both nationally and in Hampshire), but the aim is to make all of England’s coastline accessible by foot by 2020.

If that happens it could mean a massive cash injection for the county.

It is estimated that the South West Coast Path, which covers 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, generated an incredible £436m for its four counties in 2012 alone.

The number of visitors between October 2012 and September 2013 reached 2.8million.

Natural England has started work on the first Hampshire stretch between Chewton Bunny and Calshot Castle.

This section will be 35 miles (57km) long.

With the starting and finishing points now identified the next task is to contact landowners, and with as many as 1,500 in this area alone that is sure to be a challenge.

Tom Marshall-Lord, Natural England’s Team Leader for Coastal Access South and South East said: “There are a lot of different challenges and a number of private landowners.

“Our job is to make sure the entire coast is accessible by foot and we’re working on those parts that don’t have access.”

Asked about potential objections to the plans, Mr Marshall-Lord said: “We are just starting off and haven’t spoken to landowners yet. It’s really difficult to know reactions until we actually speak to people. If our proposals are objected to then there are a set of procedures that we will go through, and after that the planning inspectorate steps in.”

Other challenges include coastal erosion, with Barton-on-Sea an obvious example.

Mr Marshall-Lord said: “Our footpath will be along the top of the path and will be a safe distance away,” adding that agreements with landowners will allow for re-routing in case of erosion.

As well as the potential for disappearing pathways, much of Hampshire’s coast is crucial nesting ground for birds migrating south.

John Durnell, Head of Estates at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “The trust has a very particular point of view. We don’t in principle have an objection but we have some concerns which we’re hoping will be addressed.

“Those areas that are currently inaccessible are most valuable for wildlife for example the Beaulieu, Exbury and Cadland Estates.

“Birds who nest on the ground in particular will be disturbed but I’m confident that Natural England will work around that.

“Most of our coastline is of international importance for breeding.

“Migratory birds winter on our coast but if they’re disturbed they can really struggle.

“But we are optimistic that Natural England will take that into account when planning the route.”

Aldred Drummond, owner of the Cadland Estate, said: “There are places where it’s very difficult to put the path.

“There’s a lot of sensitive ground, and flooding. It is a national nature reserve and there are lots of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

“There’s a good reason why a national nature reserve exists here – there’s a stark difference between beaches that have access and those that don’t.

“There are so few places left in England that we’ve got to be very, very careful.

“It’s the last bit of protected beach in England but we’ve got to work with Natural England to find an appropriate route.”

“I don’t think it will give an economic boost. There are already 350,000 visitors a year to Lepe so I think that’s a government misnomer.

“I’m not seeing it as an economic advantage but it’s something we have to work with.

“We have a very controlled and rigorous management programme across the estate and we will work within that.”

So how will this normally cost-free activity be funded?

Mr Marshall-Lord, who is from Lymington, said: “Natural England will be paying for any access infrastructure and will also be paying an amount to Hampshire County Council or the relevant highways authority to maintain that trail in perpetuity.”

A spokesperson for British walking charity The Ramblers said: “The Ramblers have been the driving force behind the campaign to open up the coast for everyone to enjoy.

“In 2009, we won the right to walk along the coast and explore our stunning beaches but development on the ground was slow."

Nicky Philpott, Ramblers Director of Advocacy and Engagement, said: “We’re delighted that the government has stuck by its commitment to fund Natural England to complete the England Coast Path by 2020 — a longstanding Ramblers dream. There is huge public love for our coast and we’ve been leading the campaign for many years to open up the coastline for everyone to enjoy.

Speaking in 2015 she said: “It’s particularly fitting that this news comes as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000), which gave people rights to walk over mapped areas of open green space in England.”

The Ramblers’ organisation has a number of volunteers who currently maintain public footpaths.

Alan Marlow, 72, from Winchester, volunteers for Hampshire Ramblers as Footpath and Access Officer, and said: “My wife and I have always enjoyed walking and helping to promote walking.

“The Ramblers do quite a lot to help the council keep paths in good nick.

“It’s not clear what practical work we might end up doing. Each group has a footpath secretary and across the county there are six to eight teams who clear undergrowth. Other people report on the status of the paths. Its straightforward maintenance work that the county council can’t afford to do these days.

An experienced walker, he added: “I have done the South West Coast Path and it really does give you an interesting walk. I think it’s something most people would like to be able to do. In Scotland the legislation is different but it does mean that eventually you will be able to walk round the whole of the UK.”

Asked whether the Ramblers will be called in to help with maintaining the path, Mr Marshall-Lord said: “There is no formal agreement set up as far as I know, but it may be that the maintaining authority (Hampshire County Council) will engage with the Ramblers in future.”

The Highcliffe to Calshot route is expected to be ready in 2018 with work starting on Calshot to Gosport later this year.