Agenda item

To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.

The Llŷn AONB Service Manager submitted the report, stating that in the meeting of the Joint Committee on 6 September 2017 a decision had been made to accept the amended draft of the AONB Management Plan as a basis for public consultation. He reported that the public consultation had taken place between 2 October and 10 November.

 

The members were guided through Appendix 1 of the report which contained a summary of the main observations received, the observations of the AONB Service and a recommendation to change the plan or not.

 

Individual members noted the main observations below in relation to the observations received as part of the public consultation:

·         Would it be possible to use a different wording from Brexit, either 'leaving the European Union' or a Welsh spelling?

·         6.3 - That the fence at Bwlch yr Eifl was visually impacting the AONB. It was in an open access area and went directly to the Tre'r Ceiri defensive wall. Did not understand how a fence was allowed to be installed;

·         6.3 - That reference should be made to the work of installing cables underground that had already been completed at Bwlch yr Eifl in the Plan;

·         6.7 - That touring caravan sites were overpopulating their sites and, because of a shortage of enforcement staff at the Council, it was difficult to police. The need to screen caravan sites to reduce the visual impact;

·         12.2 - With regards to extending the tourism season in the area whilst being environmentally sustainable and protecting the environment, the need for promotion that was sustainable to the Welsh language, and making the language a selling point for the area. It had to be acknowledged that tourism, albeit a positive thing, had had a negative impact on the Welsh language in the area;

·         12.6 - That signs should direct people to the AONB from the A55 as part of the Wales Roads Programme to make people aware of the area;

·         12.6 - It should be ensured that Ffordd y Glannau that would begin at Aberdaron and end in St David's as part of the Wales Roads Programme was not promoted to the detriment of other parts of Pen Llŷn;

·         13 - The multi-use access-for-all path from Nefyn to Nefyn Headland needed to be promoted;

·         13.3 - Would it be possible to state what was noted in the Council's Rights of Way Improvement Plan in the Management Plan to reinforce paragraph 13.11.2 especially in relation to priorities;

·         13.4 - That the observation by Natural Resources Wales was fairly negative towards a group of volunteers carrying out the work, stating that it would not be sufficient to prevent the loss of important parts of the network. It should be noted that the work of volunteers further benefited the network not only from a health and Welsh language perspective;

·         Would it be possible to include a more detailed map of the AONB in the Plan?

 

In response to the above, the officers noted:

·         It would be possible to not use the word Brexit in the Welsh version;

·         As regards the fence on Bwlch yr Eifl, enquiries had been made to Natural Resources Wales and further enquiries would be made;

·         In accordance with the recommendation, more information would be provided about laying cables underground in paragraph 6.92 of the Management Plan, and a reference to the fence would be added;

·         It was suggested in the Plan that a survey of the area's caravan parks be carried out in 2019 and that monitoring needed to be strengthened;

·         Attention to be given to the Welsh language matters raised in a Welsh language study intended to be conducted in 2019;

·         That the Wales Roads Programme include new signs as part of the Plan;

·         It was recommended that information be included about the Wales Roads Programme in the Plan rather than promoting it. The matter could be a possible item in the agenda for a future Joint Committee meeting in order to present more information;

·         It was recommended that an additional action be included, which would refer to the creation of new link pathways to open access land and raising awareness digitally and through Llygad Llŷn;

·         Information was included to reinforce what was noted in the Council's Rights Of Way Improvement Plan in paragraph 13.11.2 of the Plan;

·         That consideration should be given to including a more detailed map of the AONB in the Plan.

 

A member enquired as to the latest with the Landscapes of the Future review and the funds mentioned that would be available to the AONB. In response, the Llŷn AONB Service Manager noted that collaboration had taken place between the National Parks and AONB, areas of work had been identified and some money put aside but no action had so far been taken.

 

The member stated that a letter should be sent to Welsh Government to seek confirmation of the situation.

 

A member noted that he would raise the matter at a meeting in January, which Visit Wales would attend. A member added, if a letter were to be sent, a copy should be sent to Siân Gwenllïan AM who was a member of the Assembly's Environment Committee.

 

The Llŷn AONB Service Manager confirmed that he would send a letter on behalf of the Joint Committee.

 

The Llŷn AONB Service Manager stated that a succinct version of the Plan would be submitted to the Joint Committee for members to provide observations. He stated that observations had been received from the Council's Leadership Team after the agenda was distributed, noting that "... there was a need to add a note to the plan stating that this could be completed within the current resources but that, if the situation were to change, it would have to be revisited". It was recommended that a sentence be added under actioning to state that success in carrying out the Plan depended on budget and that the situation could change.

 

The Chair expressed her appreciation of the work of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager and the Llŷn AONB Project Officer in relation to the Plan.

 

RESOLVED:

(i)     that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager incorporates the observations of Members, and recommendations noted in Appendix 1 and the observations of the Leadership team in the Management Plan;

(ii)    to submit the Management Plan for the attention of the Cabinet Member for the Environment, recommending that the Council adopt it.