Agenda item

To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.

Submitted – the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager providing an update on the work of updating and reviewing the AONB Management Plan. Members were guided through two draft chapters of Section 2 of the management plan namely 'Landscape and Coast' and 'Access, Enjoyment and Contribution' that were an appendix to the report.  It was noted that the aim was to bring the remainder of the chapters in Section 2 of the revised plan before the next meeting of the Joint Committee in the Autumn.

Members were given an opportunity to give their observations and the Llŷn AONB Service Manager responded as follows:

·        That the reference to lead and manganese works had been included in another section of the plan however a reference to the works would be added under the heading 'Special Features' in the chapter 'Landscape and Coast';

·        Under highway matters the need to undertake minor improvements to the A4417 between Nefyn and Llanaelhaearn that would be sympathetic to the landscape under the heading 'Contentious Issues' was further expanded upon in the chapter 'Landscape and Coast';    

·        That Tre'r Ceiri would be added under the list of hill forts under the heading 'Character of the Landscape' in the chapter 'Landscape and Coast';

·        That there was a link between the Joint Local Development Plan and that the Joint Planning Policy Unit now accepted the need for a reference to the AONB Management Plan in the joint plan.  References would be added in the Joint Local Development Plan to the management plan in order to make it stronger;

·        That the information included regarding wind turbines under policy TP8 was intentionally open-ended in order to be able to deal with planning applications individually. It was noted that it would be Gwynedd Council that would adopt the Management Plan and it would have to comply with the Joint Local Development Plan, however, the contents would be adapted to reflect the comments made in the context of the joint plan referring to the statement of the Joint Committee in the context of planning applications for wind turbines; 

·        That the option of revising the format of the plan would be looked at in terms of placing the background information together to be more low-key under the policies.

·        The Welsh and English versions would be harmonised in terms of language use and to use the word 'oppose' in English when 'gwrthsefyll' is used in Welsh;

·        Regarding policy TP3, the wording would be revised to note that new significant developments that have a detrimental impact on the AONB will be opposed;

·        Reference was made to the need for the Welsh Government to act on the automatic rights to roam included in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 or to create a new act in terms of access rights under the heading 'Contentious Issues' in the chapter 'Access, Enjoyment and Contribution' where the impact of coastal erosion on the Coastal Path is expanded upon;

·        A reference will be added on the potential of having volunteers to undertake work on paths under the heading 'Contentious Issues' in the chapter 'Access, Enjoyment and Contribution';

·        A specific reference is noted regarding the need to have a cycle path between Pwllheli-Llanbedrog-Abersoch in the chapter 'Access, Enjoyment and Contribution';

·        That confirmation was expected regarding the number of users of the Coastal Path from the Coastal Path Project Officer in order to note these in the plan. 

Members referred to the financial cuts approved by the Council. It was noted that it was necessary to draw attention to financial cuts in the Maritime Service and the impact on the AONB. Attention was drawn to the fact that financial cuts meant that there would be no care and management of Nefyn beach following the current year and this caused concern.  In addition it was noted that the closure of public toilets would have a negative impact on tourism in the area.

RESOLVED:

(i)     to accept the report;

(ii)    that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager amends the draft chapters in accordance with the comments of the Joint Committee.