Minutes:
Matt Upton, United Utilities, updated the Committee on work that had been ongoing in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It was looking a promising year with hen harriers and birds of prey. Peregrines were also looking favourable too.
Repairs had been carried out on Salter Fell Track and some further work was proposed. Comments were raised with regards the filling of the track when it was not a public road and only accessible by motorbikes and that United Utilities should let people know who keyholders were in case of emergencies.
Resolved: That Matt Upton, United Utilities would look into the possibilities of keyholder details being shared.
Matt also reported that there was lots of planning taking place around wildfire prevention following last year's heatwave and moorland fires and people were proactively involved alongside the Fire Service.
Nicky Nook had been very busy and Matt was looking for connections between United Utilities and the Council. There were some useful contacts and these needed to be shared.
Resolved: That Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council and Matt Upton, United Utilities, would discuss the sharing of useful contacts.
Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council reported on work that the River Wyre Partnership had been doing on the river works to protect the river embankment and that they were currently working on an Integrated Catchment Draft Plan. Defra and the Environment Agency were developing an Integrated Catchment Management Plan and were working with Wyre Borough Council and United Utilities on this.
Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager reported that the Integrated Catchment Plan had been reflected in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan.
Alison also informed the Committee that various volunteer days, public events and the walking festival had boosted visitor economy, health and wellbeing and raised awareness of the environment.
Councillor Ian Thompson reported that within the Craven area, there was currently a trial being carried out with North Yorkshire Countryside Access Service now having the authority to carry out any minor repair works to footpaths and if it was found to be anything other than a minor repair, then to report it to the landowner to correct and then Craven District Council would go back to inspect the work carried out by the Landowner.
Resolved: That Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager would pass this information on to Sarah Dornan to make her aware of the trial being carried out by Craven District Council.
David Porter, Lancaster City Council, informed the Committee that the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Development Plan had been adopted by South Lakeland District Council at a meeting on 28 March 2019. It came into effect from that date and forms part of the South Lakeland District Council Development Plan. Hopefully through publicity the plan would also reach other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for them to replicate within their areas. A copy of the plan can be found here.
David also reported that as part of the Glover Review of Designated Landscapes, Julian Glover who was leading the review had visited the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the previous week.