AONB MANAGEMENT PLANS 20042009

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AONB MANAGEMENT PLANS 2004-2009

• HOWARDIAN HILLS AND NIDDERDALE AONBs

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Context

• CRoW Act 2000
• Statutory Duty on Local Authorities to prepare
  new Plans
• Plans co-ordinated and prepared by the Joint
  Advisory Committees (JACs)
• CA guidance

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The Process

• Different in each AONB
• Public consultation
• Topic Groups
• Draft Plan
• Amendments
• Final Plan

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HOWARDIAN HILLS AONBKEY THEMES
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A living and working landscape

• Lowland agriculture
• 15 woodland (50 Ancient Woodland)
• c.20 designed parkland landscapes
• Whilst diversification of farm and Estate
  enterprises is necessary in order to maintain
  incomes, the continuation of a "traditional"
  agricultural infrastructure is considered to be
  critical to maintaining the social and
  environmental character of the area.

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Natural beauty and tranquillity

• People visiting the AONB experience a sense of
  'discovery', as the area is not heavily promoted
  and is not a major tourist destination.
• Enhancing the management of landscape,
  biodiversity and cultural heritage features is a
  high priority, achieved via sustainable farming
  and forestry.
• Recreational facilities such as car parks should
  be discreet but functional, whilst the Rights of
  Way network should be maintained to a high
  standard.

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Local communities

• Issues of major concern to local communities
  include speeding traffic, affordable housing,
  village services and isolation.
• Main responsibility of other agencies.
• Management Plan does however contain Objectives
  to help tackle these issues wherever possible,
  linked by the theme of sustainable rural
  development.

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NIDDERDALE AONBKEY THEMES
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Landscape quality

• Moorland plateau dominated by heather and
  pasture
• River valleys with a legacy of industry
• Pastoral vale fringes and designed landscapes

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Thriving rural communities?

• Key part of sustainable future
• Low unemployment
• Nidd Valley ward is in top 3 most deprived in
  the country
• 420 affordable houses needed by 2009

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Sustainable economic activity

• Tourism heritage
• Walking active recreation
• Grouse shooting
• 6 Regional Food Group members and dozens of
  others selling direct to local markets
• 1400 farmers, 840 farms and a handful of RES
  schemes

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Regional context

• The Management Plans help to translate regional
  guidance into action on the ground
• Fit into hierarchy of plans - regional down to
  local

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Links to Regional Guidance

• Advancing Together (Aim 12) - A bio-diverse and
  attractive environment
• RES (Objective 6) - Enhance and utilise the
  regions infrastructure of physical
  environmental assets
• SRIP (Theme 9) - Breakthrough Projects
  Proposals in the Ouse Catchment
• Regional Forestry Strategy (Theme 5) - Natural
  and cultural heritage

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Implementation

• Action Programmes
• Partnership
• Not just a Plan for the AONB Unit

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S.85 Duty

• In exercising or performing any functions in
  relation to, or so as to affect, land in an area
  of outstanding natural beauty, a relevant
  authority shall have regard to the purpose of
  conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of
  the area of outstanding natural beauty.
• DEFRA preparing a guidance note to inform those
  authorities it considers to be covered by S.85

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Why AONBs are important to YOU

• National designations with features of
  international importance
• Access to CA and LA resources to co-resource
  partnership working
• Local delivery mechanism