Agenda item

To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.

Submitted – the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager, noting the latest situation in terms of the Welsh Government’s review of Designated Landscapes.

It was reported that the response to Stage 2 of the review had been sent to the review Panel by Gwynedd Council as an organisation.

Attention was drawn to a letter received from Professor Terry Marsden, Chairman of the Review of Designated Landscapes in Wales, introducing Stage 2 of the review and was giving organisations an opportunity to submit evidence in writing regarding designated landscape governance arrangements. The specific questions posed were highlighted to assist the Review in identifying and gathering the necessary evidence to come to a conclusion on Stage 2.

Members were given an opportunity to offer observations. During the discussion the following main points were noted:

·         In the current financial climate, it would be more cost-effective to have one body to decide on planning applications, namely Gwynedd Council;

·         There was a lack of awareness of the AONB and there was a need to ensure stronger planning arrangements to safeguard the AONB when deciding on planning applications;

·         There was need for a better balance between beauty and the economy as so many young people were leaving the area;

·         Tourists visited the area because of its beauty and there was a need to balance the value of economic development with conservation. This meant that developments which were not in-keeping with the natural beauty had to be refused, especially because of the duty to secure/protect the beauty of the area under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000;  

·         Raising awareness of the AONB to a similar level as the National Parks would encourage more people to come to the AONB;

·         A member expressed her concern that if the National Parks and AONBs were governed under the same system, the AONB would be swallowed by the Park;

·         There was a lack of resources and a low profile within the Council and Gwynedd as a whole;

·         The AONB should receive resources/support that was similar to the level of National Parks and keep its local independence.  

A member noted that the Crown Estate received a substantial amount of money from Wales on an annual basis and this was inequitable.

A member drew attention to a local quality assurance plan in the Lake District where an additional fee was charged on visitors and the money was used for marketing and maintaining the area and the member was in contact with the Council with a view to establishing a similar system in Gwynedd. He noted that establishing a pilot scheme would take some time but it would be of considerable value to the area.

In response, the Llŷn AONB Service Manager noted that he had been in contact with the Tourism, Marketing and Customer Care Unit and they were looking into establishing a similar system. The Countryside and Access Manager added that it was a complicated matter and there was a need for resources to establish and administrate such a system and it would have to be independent from the Council.

RESOLVED:

(i)     to accept the report;

(ii)    that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager summarises the discussion and sends it to the Panel.