To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.
Minutes:
Submitted
– the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager presenting the amended draft
AONB Management Plan for the attention of the Joint Committee in accordance
with the decision made at the previous meeting to discuss it before holding a
public consultation.
It was explained that
chapters Part 1 and 2 of the plan had appeared before the Joint Committee for
observations over a number of meetings. The complete amended plan before the
joint committee included the Action Plan, namely the actions and detailed
projects intended to be delivered over the coming years.
The Joint Committee was asked to consider the draft
amended Management Plan, suggest changes or improvements and accept the draft
amended plan as the basis for public consultation.
It was noted that following the public consultation
the intention was to return to the Joint Committee with details of the
responses received and recommendations to change the Plan.
Members were given the opportunity to make observations. individual members noted the following main
points:
·
The need to update information in the Plan;
·
A member enquired about the lifespan of the Plan,
noting that it was a plan for the period from 2015 to 2020; but that it would
not be adopted until 2017;
·
Including photographs and graphs in the Plan would
liven it up and make it easier to read;
·
In terms of tourism figures, the 2011 STEAM figures
had been included but the 2015 figures were available. Attention had been drawn
at the previous meeting to the fact that the figures were misleading as such a
detailed analysis could not be obtained;
·
That consideration should be given to making more
reference to the Coast Path; it attracted more people to the area and referring
to the path would place pressure on the need to invest in other paths, e.g.
circular paths;
·
That the references made in the Plan to the Joint
Local Development Plan (JLDP) should be increased and that reference should be
made to Policy AMG1 which referred to the AONB Management Plan;
·
Reference was made to a number of studies in the
Plan, would it be possible to include a bibliography?
·
Botwnnog had not been included on the AONB map;
·
It should be noted when wind turbines were
discussed that the JLDP placed a 15 metre height restriction and a summary
should be included of the number of wind turbines that had been granted
planning permission;
·
In terms of invasive plants, had Himalayan Balsam
(Jumping Jack) been identified?
·
Concern about the cumulative impact of demolishing
and building a new house as such planning applications were submitted often.
Would it be possible for the Plan to refer to the need to protect houses from
being demolished in places such as Abersoch?
·
Concern about the cumulative impact of developments
and the need to discuss with caravan park owners the way forward in the context of screening
and being in-keeping with the area before they ruined the draw that attracted
visitors to the area;
·
That the Rollback Rights as exist in England should
be explored in the context of coast paths falling into the sea - the current
process in Wales was long-winded and an all-important resource was being lost.
Need to pressurise Welsh Government;
·
There was a need to be careful in respect of
extending Welsh Government's rights in enforcement on coastal land because of
the impact on landowners, including the implications of the responsibilities of
accountability and the impact of dogs disturbing stock;
·
In the context of policy CP 6 “Promote new affordable
homes to meet proven local need, as long as schemes, designs and materials are
in-keeping with the AONB's environment”, the Council should ensure that the
income received as a result of the tax premium on second homes in the area
stays in Pen Llŷn to provide affordable housing and provide assistance to
young people to buy a house in the area.
In
response to the above, the officers noted:
·
The content would be updated before the draft plan
was released for public consultation;
·
That Welsh Government was eager for AONB plans to
run in parallel but enquiries would be made about the lifespan of the
plan;
·
Photographs would be added to the Plan to make it a
lighter read and possibly there would be an opportunity to draw-up a concise
and easier to read document;
·
After receiving observations at the previous
meeting, a few changes had been made in terms of tourism figures. The warning
about the figures was noted and the information would be updated with the 2015
figures;
·
A bibliography would be included;
·
That potential projects had been included in the
action plan under BP 6 “Target indigenous and non-indigenous invasive species
and raise awareness and methods of treatment and eradication”. There was a
responsibility on landowners to prevent them from spreading; Himalayan Balsam
was not included in the Weeds Act 1959;
·
That the chapter "Historic Environment"
dealt with the need to maintain and protect historic buildings and protect the
design and use of suitable materials.
Planning permissions were a matter for the Planning Service;
·
That the need to carry out research in terms of the
cumulative impact of developments could be included in the action plan;
·
An action could be noted in the action plan in
order to investigate 'Rollback Rights' and contact Welsh Government. Welsh
Government was currently undertaking a consultation where reference was made to
the coast and extending open land to the coast. As part of the Council's
response to the consultation, it was noted that England's experience in the
field should be looked at;
·
The Joint Committee’s request, that the Council use
the income received as a result of the tax premium on second homes in the area
should be kept in Pen Llŷn to provide affordable housing and assistance
for young people to buy a house in the area, would be noted as an action.
The representative of
the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales noted that he had further
observations on the Management Plan and that he would forward them to the Llŷn
AONB Service Manager. In response, the Llŷn AONB Service Manager noted
that he would appreciate receiving further observations and he thanked the
National Trust Representative for the observations already received.
RESOLVED:
(i)
that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager incorporates
the observations of members and further observations of the Campaign for the
Protection of Rural Wales Representative in the draft amended Management
Plan;
(ii)
to accept the draft amended Plan as a basis for the public consultation.
Supporting documents: