Inequalities in access to blue coastal space: research report

6. Potential policy solutions

Key Points

• Participants in the qualitative research gave their views on five potential policy solutions that were presented to them. Overall, their support for different policy solutions linked with the specific barriers individuals faced to visiting the coast.
• Two key policy solutions felt to be important were improving transport links to the coast and making public transport to the coast more affordable. This reflected the importance of transport-related barriers.
• When asked to consider whether developing the area along the coast might encourage them to visit it more often, participants advocated for a balanced approach to developing the area along Scotland's coast. There was a desire to preserve the natural and peaceful feel of coastal spaces, particularly rural coastline. They were keen that any changes should be well thought-out, purposeful and take into account any impacts on the local community and the natural environment.
• Offering more groups or club activities at the coast was not generally felt to be a solution that would encourage them personally to visit the coast more often, although few drawbacks were identified. Stakeholders working with ethnic minority communities, however, felt that group trips led by members of these communities could be an important means of tackling the potential unease these individuals may feel when visiting the coast.
• Information provision and communication about visiting the coast was spontaneously mentioned as something that could help to encourage people to visit more often. Further suggestions were: improved cleanliness and maintenance of beaches including regular bin-emptying; the provision of facilities to make the experience of visiting more comfortable, such as beach furniture or showers or water fountains to wash off sand; facilities being more inclusive, for example cafes providing halal food options; and having dog-free areas.

This chapter explores which policy solutions and initiatives could encourage people who do not currently visit Scotland's coast, or do not visit it often, to make more use of the coast. Five policy solutions were selected for testing with infrequent users and non-users of the coast in the qualitative research on the basis of the literature review, and were chosen to ensure coverage of all three blue space policy types (personal actions; regional actions; societal actions) as identified by White et al (2020).

The solutions tested were:

• Improved transport links to the coast (e.g. more frequent train and bus services, running late-night services during summer, creating more direct services linking up areas across Scotland with the coast)
• Making public transport to the coast more affordable;
• Developing the area along the coast, such as creating waterfront promenades with benches and tables, more walking paths or cycle lanes, building viewpoints, or putting more lighting along the coast so that people can use beaches and coastal paths at night time;
• Offering more groups or club activities, such as walking groups, wild swimming clubs, community beach cleans, or water sports activities e.g. kayaking, rowing or fishing; and
• Improving the quality and cleanliness of water at the coast.

Before being prompted to discuss these five solutions, participants were also asked for their spontaneous views on what, if anything, would need to change to encourage them to visit the coast more often.

In terms of what would encourage them to visit the coast, participants generally could see the merits of the proposed policy solutions, even if they did not think that it would encourage them personally to visit the coast.

The factors which would encourage participants to visit the coast more often were primarily related to addressing the barriers they faced. This shaped their responses to the policy solutions presented. For example, those that did not have a car identified initiatives relating to improving public transport provision and affordability as important, reflecting that these were key barriers to them visiting the coast more often. Participants viewed certain policy solutions, such as developing the area along the coast through measures such as adding lighting and promenades, as 'nice to have', since they did not address the core reasons why they did not visit.

Improving public transport links

Generally, it was thought that improving transport links, such as increasing train or bus services, would encourage greater use of the coast. There was strong support for this idea in particular among those who relied on public transport to access the coast and for whom this could be a major barrier. For buses to the coast, extending the operating hours and expanding the coverage of the network was considered to be helpful for those for whom their last bus is at an inconvenient time or those who live in a rural area with limited transport options. Regarding the transport network, there was a specific suggestion that connecting different beaches would be helpful, so that if persons arrived at the beach and it was crowded or there were other issues that meant they were not keen to stay, they could easily visit another. While there were participants who felt their own likelihood of visiting the coast would not be influenced by better transport links, they nonetheless acknowledged it might benefit others and recognised that improved transport links could bring co-benefits, such as reducing pollution due to fewer car journeys.

However, others were more sceptical and identified potential drawbacks to this policy – such as longer journey times if more stations are added along routes. Further, others would still prefer to drive regardless of improved transport options, as they believed driving to be more cost-effective, especially when travelling in large groups.

Making public transport more affordable

There was general support for this policy solution, particularly among those who relied on public transport and did not already hold a free bus pass. However, cheaper transport was not thought to be a panacea as concerns remained about transport frequency and reliability.

There was a clear sense that transport to the coast should be affordable, especially for those who are on a tighter budget. Participants noted that this would particularly benefit families and people on low incomes, who may otherwise find it difficult to afford the cost of transport and associated expenses like food and ice-cream. Others suggested financial incentives such as deals for families, discounts for students, and free bus travel for children.

For participants who do not drive, the cost of transport can be a significant factor in their decision to not go to the coast and they felt that cheaper options would encourage them to visit more often.

Overall, more affordable transport was seen as an important factor in encouraging more people to visit the coast.

Developing the area along the coast

A further potential policy solution discussed with participants was coastal development. Examples of developments included creating waterfront promenades with benches and tables, more walking paths or cycle lanes, building viewpoints, or putting more lighting along the coast so that people can use beaches and coastal paths in the evening.

The importance of balancing development and environmental preservation was a central theme. Concerns were raised about preserving the natural beauty and wildness of the coast, while also acknowledging the need for some development and facilities to accommodate visitors. Examples were cited of places that were thought to have become overly developed for tourism and lost their charm as a result:

"You find a lot of the seaside towns can be really touristy and quite tacky and to me that's not what the beach is about."

(Disabled female participant, 65-74)

Participants also discussed the risks of gentrification of coastal areas, the potential wider impact of development on local communities and issues around anti-social behaviour.

"[Developments] bring a lot more people and a lot more problems […] like littering."

(Disabled male participant, 55-64, rural area)

Overall, participants advocated for a balanced approach to developing the area along Scotland's coast and wanted any changes to be well thought-out, purposeful and take into account any impacts on the local community and the natural environment.

Participants felt differently about this policy solution when it came to urban as opposed to rural coastal areas. Interviewees expressed concerns about developing rural coastal areas, for fears of spoiling the area; whereas development in urban coastal spaces was thought to be permissible so long as local communities were consulted. In cases where participants were open to development in rural coastal areas, they stipulated that it should be in keeping with what is already there in the surrounding local environment. Relatedly, there was a view that light pollution could be more of an issue in rural areas though this would be more acceptable in urban areas.

Among those who felt they would use them, there was a view that facilities such as cycle lanes, benches, and lighting would make coastal spaces easier and safer spaces to access, which could be helpful in encouraging more people to visit the coast. There was also a sense that providing more facilities can encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more money locally.

Group activities

Overall, participants responded positively to the idea of having more activities at the coast through initiatives such as sports groups and community-based events. There was broad, spontaneous agreement that organisations such as universities, churches and community groups (Black Scottish Adventurers were mentioned specifically) should actively facilitate trips to the coast. There was a view that activities at the coast already exist, but that the main barrier was knowing about them and having the necessary information about what was on and where. However, participants also noted that some considerations need to be taken into account, such as ensuring the safety of groups engaging in water-based activities.

A stakeholder highlighted the benefits of group activities for people with disabilities; however, there were concerns raised among disabled participants that people with a disability might not be able to commit to regular group activities due to numerous barriers such as the difficulty of using a wheelchair on soft sand, the lack of accessible toilets or simply their state of health worsening.

Others did not feel that they personally would take part in such activities, since they preferred individual activities over group events. The idea of having all coastal activities under a single website or platform was proposed in order to improve the overall experience for visitors.

One factor seen as important was offering a diverse range of activities and catering to different needs and preferences, particularly for ethnic minority groups. One stakeholder who works with people in ethnic minority communities felt that group trips and clubs led by members of these communities could be an important means of tackling the potential unease that people from ethnic minorities may feel when visiting the coast. Ethnic minority participants pointed out that while there are many well-known community groups offering trips into nature, these are typically focused on green spaces as opposed to blue spaces. It was felt to be important that group trips can cater to a broad range of interests and offer 'something for everyone'.

Overall, the policy suggestion was not regarded as something that would inspire more visits to the coast to the same extent as other policy solutions such as improving public transport or developing the area along the coast. More group activities were thought of as a nice thing to have, but were not seen as fundamental to participants' decisions to visit or not. Nonetheless, this policy solution was still seen as important in terms of making coastal areas more inclusive spaces for ethnic minority communities.

Improved water quality

Participants had not typically thought much about water quality at the coast. Of those that had considered it, they said it had not previously factored into their decision to visit. In general, the groups felt that water quality in Scotland was already of sufficient quality, and so did not regard this policy solution as one that would significantly encourage people to visit the coast more often. However, participants could see the positive environmental impacts of improved water quality of this policy solution, even if they did not anticipate they would be personally impacted by it.

Unprompted ideas for what would encourage people to visit the coast

Participants shared their views on solutions that they felt would encourage them and others around them to visit the coast more often. Suggested solutions included: providing more information about different coastal areas that are accessible via public transport; better cleanliness and maintenance of beaches (including regular bin-emptying); providing facilities such as beach furniture or showers or water fountains to wash off sand, for greater comfort and convenience; making the coast more inclusive for ethnic minority communities, for example by offering halal food options; and having schools run more trips to the coast. In addition, having dog-free areas was mentioned as a way to accommodate those with a fear of dogs.

Regarding information provision, participants expressed a desire for more information about the coast which included guidance on things to do and activities in and around the coast, as well as having a clear way of booking such activities in advance where needed. For example, they suggested easily available information about which facilities were available in coastal areas, such as restaurants and shops, would be helpful in planning their visit. Participants were also keen to see further information about the different coastal areas that are accessible via public transport.

They highlighted the importance of ensuring the accessibility of this information through inclusive communication. One suggestion from a Pakistani participant was that advertisements and information about the coast could be provided in different languages to cater to the older generation within the Scottish-Pakistani community, as many of this group do not speak English. Channelling communications through radio stations such as Awaz FM was also suggested as a way of raising awareness of different coastal areas among ethnic minorities.

Participants suggested that the cleanliness and maintenance of the beaches and surrounding areas were important factors in attracting visitors. They highlighted the need for regular emptying of bins to maintain cleanliness.

Having better facilities at the coast was seen as something that would make visiting more convenient – for example, showers to help wash off sand and to cool down – and would encourage them or others to go to the coast more. Participants also mentioned that cafes could help provide shelter in bad weather.

Muslim participants identified that beaches could be made more inclusive spaces, for example by halal food options being available or spaces available that were suitable for prayer. While they felt these changes would make visits to the coast more convenient, they did not necessarily feel that they would make a significant difference to their likelihood to visit, for example because the lack of halal options has meant that they and others around them are used to bringing their own food anyway.

Early exposure to the coast on school visits was another factor participants mentioned could encourage participation. They felt that trips to the coast early in children's lives may encourage an interest in the coast that will sustain into adulthood.

Lastly, dog-free zones on beaches or having dog-free times of the day or year could make a difference to the likelihood to visit these spaces for those with a dislike or fear of dogs.