Jurassic Coast doing well ...BUT

In a survey by National Geographic magazine, the Jurassic Coast was voted 70th best preserved site out of 830. That's good isn't it? Well, not quite. Here is the text of the summary of their report on our Jurassic Coast:

United Kingdom: Jurassic Coast of Dorset and East Devon
Score: 70/830

"Well managed, although the popularity of the coastal walks leads to severe erosion of the cliffs and 'people pollution.' At busy times there are convoys of walkers. The information is good when you can find it. Unusually effective visitor centers."

"Creatively responding to the challenge of blending WHS designation (owing to outstanding geology) with a traditional seaside tourist destination, through encouraging sustainable access and exploration, for instance through themed walks and events."

"The new visitor centers at Charmouth and Lulworth are good, although there could be more emphasis on environmental protection. Surrounding towns and villages clearly benefit from the level of visitors, but there is a great deal of congestion in summer, as in Lyme Regis. Some of the tourism development seems inappropriate (e.g., cliff-top caravan parks)."

"WHS is still at a relatively early stage of management and has a complex set of stakeholders and historical tourism issues. Under the circumstances, the steering committee is doing an excellent job and gradually improving the area's image and sense of unity."

So, we have to be aware of "inappropriate tourist development". Does a World Heritage Coast Visitors Centre and Mega-Marsh with NO tourist accommodation at all come into this category? Well, yes it does if you have to drive 20 or 30 miles before or after you have visited it to get to your hotel and everything around you in Seaton is just shops and housing estates.

What sort of "sustainable access" do you have if you have to walk through a supermarket car park to get to the Visitors Centre or the Marshes? And, if there should be more emphasis on environmental protection - who is going to protect the area AROUND the Marshes?

We have seen NOTHING AT ALL on sustainability in the developer's plans. Does East Devon District Council care about this? We shall see .....