People who enjoy walking in the New Forest may be interested
to note that a report published yesterday (August 1st) suggests
that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
may consider axing the country’s proposed new coastal path in a bid
to save money.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat alliance recently stated that
all governmental departments must reduce their spending bills by
around 40 per cent in the coming months as it seeks to implement
austerity measures to cut the nation’s fiscal budget deficit, which
is estimated to stand at more than £140 billion.

And according to journalist Jim Pickard, who was writing for the
Financial Times’ Westminster blog, the proposed £50 million outlay
on a 30-foot wide and 2,500-mile long walking path around the
country which was introduced by the former administration last year
could be targeted.

Mr Pickard wrote: “I asked a former Defra minister last week
what the easiest cut in his old department would be. The answer:
the new coastal path.”