Guidelines for the Identification and Selection of Local Geological Sites in West Yorkshire April 2011 CONTENTS Introduction 1 Purpose of Local Geological Site Notification 2 Background to Identification and Selection of Local Geological Sites 3 Criteria for the Selection of Local Geological Sites 4 The Local Geological Sites Panel 5 Survey Methodology 6 Management and Review of Local Geological Sites 7 Designation Process 7 Condition Monitoring 8 Glossary 11 References 12 APPENDIX 1 – Example of a LGS designation sheet 13 APPENDIX 2 – List of LGS and their condition in December 2010 15 APPENDIX 3 – Table to show stratigraphic representation of LGS 17 APPENDIX 4 – Condition Monitoring Form 19 APPENDIX 5 – WYGT Field Survey Site Assessment Form 21 INTRODUCTION This document describes the process for identifying and gaining recognition for sites of geological and geomorphological value in West Yorkshire. The selection process described will ensure recognition of sites: they may then be afforded protection through the planning system and be targeted with grants and other resources to assist their conservation and management. This guidance is consistent with Local Sites – Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management (Defra, 2006) and should be read in conjunction with that publication and Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (ODPM, 2005) and Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice (ODPM, 2006). 1 PURPOSE OF LOCAL GEOLOGICAL SITE SELECTION The purpose of selection of Local Geological Sites (LGS) is to ensure that the geodiversity value of these sites is recognised so that informed decisions may be made on their future management. The Defra guidance on Local Sites (Defra, 2006) describes the legislative and policy context for LGS. Reference is made to Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation; Planning Policy Guidance Note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation , with regard to rock areas (e.g., cliffs, quarries and pits); the relationship between local Biodiversity Action Plans and Community Strategies; the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Section 74) with regard to protected landscapes, geological and physiographical features; and the Biodiversity Strategy for England. Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological conservation (ODPM, 2005) states that ‘local development frameworks should: - indicate the location of designated sites of importance for biodiversity and geodiversity, making clear distinctions between the hierarchy of international, national, regional and locally designated sites’. It also states 'Sites of regional and local biodiversity and geological interest, which include Regionally Important Geological Sites, Local Nature Reserves and Local Sites, have a fundamental role to play in meeting overall national biodiversity targets; contributing to the quality of life and the wellbeing of the community; and in supporting research and education. Criteria-based policies should be established in local development documents against which proposals for any development on, or affecting, such sites will be judged.' In Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning (ODPM, 2008) 'areas of protection, such as nationally protected landscape and internationally, nationally and locally designated areas and sites' are cited for inclusion on adopted proposals maps. LGS notification provides landowners/managers with information on the geodiversity value of their land to assist them in making choices on management. In prioritising allocation of grants, such as payments through the Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme, agencies will be able to target grants towards LGS. Other bodies will be able to channel resources to provide advice and practical assistance with management. Practical links may be made with Community Strategies, such as local group help with conservation management of appropriate sites. The condition of LGS provides a measure of Geodiversity Action Plan achievements at local, regional and national levels. The West Yorkshire Geodiversity Action Plan (2008) identified the priorities for geodiversity conservation and enhancement within the county and suggested ways in which the sites might be used to inform the general public about the importance of geodiversity. Local authorities are required to provide reports on local geodiversity to regional government offices through their Annual Monitoring Report, as part of the assessment of the effectiveness of their planning policies. Local Development Framework Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide (ODPM, 2005) makes specific reference to monitoring areas designated for their local significance for geodiversity. The New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators published in October 2007 includes NI 197: Improved Local Biodiversity – proportion of Local Sites where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented. This requires up-to-date information on the management being carried out on Local Geological Sites (see Condition monitoring form - Annex 4). 2 BACKGROUND TO SELECTION AND DESIGNATION OF GEOLOGICAL SITES Designation procedure for geological sites from 1995 to 2010 was carried out by the West Yorkshire RIGS Group, later known as the West Yorkshire Geology Trust. The group was established during the early 1990s and a group of volunteers, mostly amateur geology enthusiasts, surveyed the districts of West Yorkshire to find the most suitable sites to designate as RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites), which are now known as Local Geological Sites. Sites were selected on the basis of various criteria, generally related to their suitability for educational use, their accessibility and their scientific value. At that time, there were no national guidelines for designation. The surveying took place district by district during the late 1990s, finishing in 2000, with a total of 69 RIGS spread across the five districts. The process of designation of sites during that period consisted of informing the relevant district planning authority that the site had been assessed and judged to be suitable to be designated as a RIGS. A designation sheet with a boundary map was sent to the relevant planning authority. An example of a RIGS/LGS designation sheet is shown in Appendix 1. Information was also sent to the local environmental or countryside services section of each local authority. It was hoped that this would enable the RIGS to be included in the relevant Unitary Development Plan (now Local Development Framework). The designation sheet contained location information, including grid references, appropriate Ordnance Survey and British Geological Survey maps. A location map was drawn using a 1:10,000 map which was usually obtained from a local reference library. The information included a brief geological summary of the interest at the site, with several photos which showed the overall view and some interesting features. There were also sections on historical interest, aesthetic value, educational value and suggestions about possible management for the future. These categories are very similar to the national model for RIGS/LGS designation, which is used widely at present. The process of digitisation of the RIGS records took place in 2003/2004 and digital copies were then circulated to the local authorities. It was decided in September 2007 to change the name of the organisation to West Yorkshire Geology Trust (WYGT), which would be more readily understood by the general public. Work has continued on the RIGS/LGS data base and the designation sheets are updated on a regular basis. A. list of the LGS in West Yorkshire is attached in Appendix 2 One of the most significant changes has been the addition of ownerships of sites. Establishing ownership had not been attempted in the early stages of surveying of RIGS, so work was done in 2009 to see if this information could be obtained. At present, ownership of 63 LGS is known, 7 are unknown and 3 sites have multiple ownerships, the details of which have not been obtained. The Government’s publication of Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity and Geological Conservation in August 2005 introduced the term Local Site and guidance was issued the year after on how to proceed at a local level in identifying and protecting Local Sites especially through the new Local Development Frameworks that planning authorities were now required to produce. As local sites for wildlife conservation have now been called Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), the geological locations are being called Local Geological Sites (LGS). Four more LGS were designated during 2008/2009 to bring the total in March 2010 to 73 LGS in West Yorkshire. In May 2009, the West Yorkshire Local Sites Partnership met for the first time. It was unanimously agreed that there should be one Local Sites System for West Yorkshire, not five District systems. It 3 was also agreed that the terms to be used for the sites would be Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and Local Geological Site (LGS) and collectively they would be called Local Sites. It was agreed that it would be the Local Sites Partnership (LSP) which ultimately takes the decision to designate local sites. It was recognised that a West Yorkshire LSP was needed to take responsibility for decision making within the system, but that the detailed actions for some areas of work would