The nearly-complete England Coast Path has come under fire from landowners’ leaders in East Anglia, who have suggested the project is a waste of money.

The Government announced earlier this month that all of the 2,700 mile path is now either being worked on or complete, enabling the public to walk along new and improved routes along the entire length of English coastline, while taking in some breath-taking views. So far Natural England has opened just over 300 miles of coastline.

But Country Land and Business Association (CLA) East regional surveyor Tim Woodward said there was already access to 84% of the coastline before the project began. “It is disappointing that the Government is spending so much time and public money unnecessarily on a project which largely replicates existing access to the coast. The money is being spent to solve a problem which didn’t exist in the first place,” he said.