More than 5,000 waterside homes in England could be forced to open up to ramblers under new laws being considered by MPs.

The move is part of a plan to create a 2,500-mile coastal path around England, one of the central planks of the draft Marine Bill currently undergoing parliamentary scrutiny.

Homeowners’ groups fear that the plans could devalue their homes by up to 20 per cent and they are determined to fight them.

Under the Countryside Rights of Way Act, which came into force in 2001 and opened up moorland, mountains and downs, the sanctity of private land is safeguarded. But Natural England, the Government’s landscape advisers, disclosed to MPs last week that it would seek to scrap the provision to ensure walkers would not be forced to divert inland from the coast.

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While the Government has earmarked £50 million for the path scheme over the next ten years, no money has been put aside to compensate landowners.

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Natural England said rural property owners would “just have to trust them” on being fair in how it went about drawing up the coastal path.

But Sir Henry added: “It is impossible to trust Natural England on this after it has repeatedly said the new right would not affect private gardens.”

Read the full story by Aislinn Simpson on the Telegraph website similar story on the Times website