Minutes:
The statutory management plan of an AONB carries weight in the planning process although the AONB is not a planning authority. The AONB works jointly with local authorities.
The current consultation on the Management Plans is open to stakeholder groups and the contribution of the DCAF would be valued.
South Devon is a coastal AONB with additional areas up the Avonwick and Dart estuaries, nearly as far as Totnes. It did not quite satisfy the grade to be designated as a National Park. The AONB is impacted by the growth of Plymouth, Torbay and Sherford. Some parts of the South Hams, not in the AONB, are seen as being of similar landscape value which can be confusing. The AONB works across a wider scale on some aspects, for example; with the National Park on river catchments; with fishing interests on access and egress points; heritage coast policies extend off-shore for 2-3 miles; and some farms have land parcels which extend from the coast to the National Park.
The South Devon AONB was designated in August 1960. It has no specific citation or list of damaging operations. Its clear purpose is the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty. The AONB has to deliver givens around health and well-being, land management and quiet recreation to achieve its purpose.
The expectation is that the Management Plans, now in their fourth iteration, will have a light touch review. One question is where access and recreation will fit in with Post Brexit agriculture. Some tweaks around the edges are anticipated.
There are some key areas of work AONBs should focus on collectively or individually. Initially the five AONB documents were very different but now try to share a common layout. South Devon has the most complicated landscape. The Management Plans are now shorter, with additional information included as annexes.
The access, recreation and tourism theme includes some generic words and phrases but has a local flavour. The DCAF position statement was useful in past reviews.
The key statutory body is Natural England which carries out assessments. It identified access, recreation and the economy as policies which could have an effect. Money from developers has been used to fund information boards along the Yealm Estuary. The AONB aims to spot recreational impacts and try to achieve these within the delivery plan.
Stripping back the Management Plan chapters to one or two key objectives is challenging but sets the framework for initiatives and campaigning.
The events and activities programme is a well visited part of the website and on social media.
Proactive projects include the realignment of the South West Coast Path at Strete. The South West Outdoor Festival had just taken place, in partnership with the National Trust, to get people involved and inspired by the landscape. The idea is that the festival will grow and be taken to different locations. The AONB is involved with Connecting Actively to Nature, focussing on the over 55s, grandparents and grandchildren and WI groups.
The Protected Landscapes Review is currently taking place, with a review panel chaired by Julian Glover. Lord Cameron of Dillington is the most local member. He has met with members of the National Association of AONBs and the call for evidence is likely to be launched at the end of October. It is an important opportunity to represent individual interests and those of organisations such as the DCAF. The review is not seeking to diminish the extent of protected landscapes or to cut funding but to put them on a sounder footing. The review is also exploring how places can put a case for designation. The South Devon AONB is working up its own response.
A discussion took place.
In answer to a question about whether achieving sustainability alongside the promotion of recreational assets could be self-defeating, Roger said that the AONB worked with landowners and other land managers to direct pressure to other areas and to improve the coastal infrastructure where required. South Milton was a success story and had become too popular. Promotional material had been taken to other areas.
The improving technology of mobility scooters was raised. The importance of accessible gates and removing barriers to improve accessibility were mentioned, along with wheelchair accessible toilets.
An example was raised of a planning application in the North Devon Coast AONB which had been approved by the Secretary of State, despite opposition, and which had led to light pollution. Roger said this was the type of example to raise in the Review.
Roger confirmed that aspects of climate change were included in the section on natural resources which looked at mitigation and collaborative work. Concern was expressed about the landscape being devoid of wildlife and that there should be planning for wildlife/conservation alongside protection for specialist species. Roger said this was an area of work that the Review Panel and Defra are keen on. A number of tests and trials for the Environmental Land Management Scheme had been carried out at a landscape scale. A facilitation group in the Avon Valley was achieving good results. All AONB partnerships in Devon also had a level of engagement with the Devon Wildlife Trust.
The Devon AONBs would be meeting in November and it was agreed there was scope for the DCAF to feed in its views.