CABINET – 12TH FEBRUARY 2002

PROPOSAL FOR THE FORMAL DESIGNATION OF NATURE RESERVE AS A LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

REPORT OF THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION

PART A

Purpose of the Report

1. The purpose of this report is to consider the proposal that New Lount Nature Reserve be formally designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

Recommendation

2. It is RECOMMENDED that the formal designation of New Lount Nature Reserve as a Local Nature Reserve be approved.

Reasons for Recommendation

3. The site fulfils the necessary requirements to become a Local Nature Reserve, and with designation it would be protected from development or damage of any kind in the future. The County Council, in the Nature Conservation Strategy, is committed to a programme of Local Nature Reserve designations. This fits into the national framework set out in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which states that “The government and the agencies working with local authorities will encourage the designation of more Local Nature Reserves.”

Timetable for Decision including Scrutiny

4. Designation will follow formal approval by Cabinet.

Policy Framework and Previous Decisions

5. The Leicestershire Structure Plan 1991-2006, Explanatory Memorandum (1994) includes a Statement of Intent that the County Council will “promote the establishment of Local Nature Reserves on its land and encourage District Councils to do likewise”.

1 D:\moderngov\data\Published\Intranet\C00000135\M00000646\AI00003371\Lount0.doc 6. The Leicestershire, and Rutland Structure Plan 1996 – 2016 Deposit Draft states that “Measures will be taken to promote natural biodiversity; protect, conserve and manage sites of ecological importance and protected species and their habitats; and enhance the wider ecological value of the environment.” The designation of Local Nature Reserves supports this.

7. Policy Nc9 (Local Nature Reserves) of the Leicestershire Nature Conservation Strategy (May 1994) states that “Leicestershire County Council will, in consultation with English Nature, use the powers available to it under The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to declare suitable sites as Local Nature Reserves.”

8. It is stipulated in Policy Nc9 of the Leicestershire Nature Conservation Strategy that the County Council will prepare management plans for all proposed Local Nature Reserves as part of the designation process. A management plan has been prepared for the New Lount site in conjunction with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

9. The site is a Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve and has been allocated for nature conservation and casual recreation in the North West Leicestershire Local Plan (Deposit Draft) February 1995. The freehold is owned by the County Council and the site is leased to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

Resources Implications

10. No significant additional implication. The lease and management agreement with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust covers the work required in the Site Management Plan. English Nature may provide some grant aid (up to 50%) towards management costs following designation of the site.

11. The County Treasurer has been consulted on the Resource Implications section of this report.

Circulation under Sensitive Issues Procedure

Mr. N. J. Rushton – 6th February 2002

Officer to Contact

Peter Williams, Environmental Management Group Manager. Tel. (0116) 265 7080.

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Background

12. New Lount is a former colliery and tip site that closed in 1968. After the mine was closed the colliery buildings were demolished leaving areas of hardstanding, stretches of mineral railway, shale tracks, abandoned mineshafts and piles of rubble and rubbish. Many of these areas have since developed a rich flora. The colliery tip was subject to a basic restoration scheme by British Coal. This was prior to further work on the whole site which was carried out by the County Council after it acquired the site in 1997, using funding from the European Union and the East Midlands Development Agency.

13. New Lount Nature Reserve covers an area of 19.7 hectares. The site has free open access for pedestrians with pedestrian trails provided throughout. The site has been designed in part to provide access for people with disabilities and includes a car park.

14. The County Council, in consultation with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust prepared a Management Plan for the site in December 2000. The site is now managed by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, which is responsible for implementing the management plan, and associated work programme. This work programme includes scrub and birch clearance to stop ecological succession occurring, path clearance and maintenance, relocation and improvement of waymarkers and the removal of selected trees to improve the views from the top of the tip.

15. At present Grange is the County Council’s only formally designated Local Nature Reserve. The declaration of Lount Colliery and Tip as a Local Nature Reserve will help enable the County Council to meet the above commitments. It will also ensure that the habitats and species at the site are properly conserved and use of the site for education, public enjoyment and interpretation and scientific research is optimised in accordance with the Site Management Plan.

16. The requirements for Local Nature Reserve declaration vary. The site may be of special ecological or geological value, provide opportunities for education and research or allow informal enjoyment of nature by the public. New Lount fulfils all of these various criteria set out by English Nature.

17. The site has a number of different habitats in close proximity; this provides ecological and educational value (this educational value is further enhanced by the provision of a pond dipping platform and a formal path network). The site also allows informal enjoyment of nature by the public. It has free open public access for pedestrians, is situated close to settlements, and has vehicle access and parking facilities. The site fulfils all of the various criteria required by English Nature to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

3 D:\moderngov\data\Published\Intranet\C00000135\M00000646\AI00003371\Lount0.doc 18. In conclusion the site is suitable to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve. With the joint financial and managerial interest between Leicestershire County Council and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, the site’s maintenance and development as a site of conservation interest is secured.

Consultations

19. English Nature has been consulted and has welcomed the proposal of the County Council to declare the site as a Local Nature Reserve.

Equal Opportunities Implications

20. Local Nature Reserves give those members of the public unable to travel long distances to visit sites of conservation interest, the opportunity to experience nature without having to travel far.

Background Papers

Leicestershire Nature Conservation Strategy, May 1994. Letter received from Helen Powell, Conservation Officer for English Nature on 9th February 2001. New Lount Nature Reserve Management Plan, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, December 2000. Biodiversity; the UK Action Plan, January 1994. Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Structure Plan 1991 – 2016, Explanatory Memorandum, 1994. Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Structure Plan 1996 – 2016, May 2000.

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Not to Scale

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