DOCSLIB.ORG

River Ehen SAC Conservation Objectives Supplementary Advice

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
River Ehen SAC Conservation Objectives Supplementary Advice European Site Conservation Objectives: Supplementary advice on conserving and restoring site features River Ehen Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Site code: UK0030057 Credit: Diane O’Leary, West Cumbria Rivers Trust Date of Publication: 7 March 2019 Page 1 of 36 About this document This document provides Natural England’s supplementary advice about the European Site Conservation Objectives relating to River Ehen SAC. This advice should therefore be read together with the SAC Conservation Objectives available here. This advice replaces a draft version dated 24 January 2019 following the receipt of comments from the site’s stakeholders. You should use the Conservation Objectives, this Supplementary Advice and any case-specific advice given by Natural England when developing, proposing or assessing an activity, plan or project that may affect this site. This Supplementary Advice to the Conservation Objectives presents attributes which are ecological characteristics of the designated species and habitats within a site. The listed attributes are considered to be those that best describe the site’s ecological integrity and which, if safeguarded, will enable achievement of the Conservation Objectives. Each attribute has a target which is either quantified or qualitative depending on the available evidence. The target identifies as far as possible the desired state to be achieved for the attribute. The tables provided below bring together the findings of the best available scientific evidence relating to the site’s qualifying features, which may be updated or supplemented in further publications from Natural England and other sources. The local evidence used in preparing this supplementary advice has been cited. The references to the national evidence used are available on request. Where evidence and references have not been indicated, Natural England has applied ecological knowledge and expert judgement. You may decide to use other additional sources of information. In many cases, the attribute targets shown in the tables indicate whether the current objective is to ‘maintain’ or ‘restore’ the attribute. This is based on the best available information, including that gathered during monitoring of the feature’s current condition. As new information on feature condition becomes available, this will be added so that the advice remains up to date. The targets given for each attribute do not represent thresholds to assess the significance of any given impact in Habitats Regulations Assessments. You will need to assess this on a case-by-case basis using the most current information available. Some, but not all, of these attributes can also be used for regular monitoring of the actual condition of the designated features. The attributes selected for monitoring the features, and the standards used to assess their condition, are listed in separate monitoring documents, which will be available from Natural England. These tables do not give advice about SSSI features or other legally protected species which may also be present within the European Site. If you have any comments or queries about this Supplementary Advice document please contact your local Natural England adviser or email [email protected] Page 2 of 36 About this site European Site information Name of European Site River Ehen Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Location Cumbria Site Map The designated boundary of this site can be viewed on the MAGIC website here. Designation Date 1 April 2005 Qualifying Features See section below Designation Area 24.39 ha Designation Changes Not applicable Feature Condition Status Details of the feature condition assessments made at this site can be found using Natural England’s Designated Sites System Names of component River Ehen (Ennerdale Water to Keekle Confluence) SSSI Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) Relationship with other n/a European or International Site designations Site background and geography The River Ehen is an oligotrophic river in west Cumbria, spanning the Cumbria High Fells and West Cumbria Coastal Plain National Character Areas (see here). Over half of the upper portion of this Site is either within or on the boundary of the Lake District National Park. The designated stretch of the river, between Ennerdale Water and the confluence with the River Keekle at Cleator Moor, meanders across a narrow floodplain with areas of riparian woodland and trees. Outside of the main urban areas of Ennerdale Bridge and Cleator Moor, the land is primarily agricultural, farmed mainly for sheep and cattle with associated hay/silage production for over-winter feed. This Site supports England’s largest population of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) which is listed on the IUCN Red List of Protected Species as critically endangered in Europe. Salmon (Salmo salar), whilst designated in its own right as a feature of this Site, is an important host for the larvae (glochidia) of M. margaritifera. Glochidia attach to juvenile salmon in late summer and over-winter in the fish’s gills. Juvenile mussels drop-off of their fish host in spring where they burrow in to the river gravels, where they remain for several years. This buried stage within the life cycle is particularly susceptible to changes in river flow regime, siltation, excess algal biomass and eutrophication. The river has shown some juvenile mussel recruitment within the last 20 years, but not at levels capable of sustaining the population. Above Ennerdale Bridge the catchment is largely composed of acidic rocks of the Borrowdale Series and Skiddaw Slates. Downstream from Ennerdale Bridge the river is slightly enriched by streams flowing from Limestones and Millstone Grits of the Carboniferous Series. This calcareous input has led to a Page 3 of 36 heavier shelled morph of M. margaritifera downstream of this input which grows faster and with a thicker shell, but is shorter-lived. Ennerdale Water is currently impounded by a weir which increases the capacity of Ennerdale Water for water storage for eventual abstraction for potable water supply. In 2012 it was determined that it could not be proven that these impoundment and abstraction activities were not having a detrimental effect on the integrity of the River Ehen SAC, and measures were put in place to find an alternative potable water supply. From mid-2012, compensation flows were increased to a minimum of 60 Ml/d (variable with lake level) in an attempt to improve flow conditions for mussels, and are now to a minimum of 80 Ml/day reducing to 60 Ml/day in line with Ennerdale lake level (Atkins & Gosselin, 2013). The current abstraction licence is due to be revoked in 2022 when a replacement water supply for West Cumbria is operational (the Thirlmere Transfer pipeline). There is over-riding public interest to continue to provide public water supply until the replacement source is fully connected. In accordance with Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, compensatory measures need to be secured because it cannot be concluded that continued abstraction will not lead to an adverse effect on site integrity. Additionally, in 2014 the natural course of Ben Gill was restored to just downstream of the weir on Ennerdale Water, restoring coarse sediment supply back in to the river. This was also beneficial to both the freshwater pearl mussel and salmon because the top portion of the river between Ennerdale Water and Ennerdale Bridge was starved of coarse sediments, leading to degraded habitat for both species. The current Compensatory Measures package for the River Ehen SAC (funded by United Utilities and in collaboration with partners including Natural England and the Environment Agency) continues to deliver projects benefitting wildlife within the SAC and in the immediate surrounding area. The SAC consists of two units: Unit 1 runs from the weir impounding Ennerdale to just below the confluence with Croasdale Beck. Unit 2 runs from this point just below the Croasdale Beck confluence to just before the confluence with the Keekle. Both units are currently Unfavourable Declining. Page 4 of 36 About the qualifying features of the SAC The following section gives you additional, site-specific information about this SAC’s qualifying features. These are the natural habitats and/or species for which this SAC has been designated. Qualifying habitats: Not applicable Qualifying Species: • S1029 Freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera The River Ehen supports the largest freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) population in England. The freshwater pearl mussel grows to around 150 mm in length and can live to be over 130 years old (Bauer, 1992; Skinner et al., 2003). M. margaritifera requires clean, fast flowing, highly oxygenated rivers and burrows into sand/gravel substrates, often between boulders and pebbles (Geist & Auerswald, 2007). The mussel requires a salmonid fish host for its larval (glochidial) stage; it is thought that the appropriate host fish in the Ehen is Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Glochidia are released into the water column by female mussels. If they encounter a juvenile salmonid, they attach to their gills, where they over-winter. Juvenile mussels drop-off of their fish host in spring and burrow in to the river gravels, where they remain for several years before emerging from the substrate to filter from the water column. As this species does not reach reproductive maturity until at least 12 years old and may live for over 130 years (Bauer
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ennerdale Weir, Egremont Cumbria
    Ennerdale Weir, Egremont Cumbria Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment Oxford Archaeology North December 2011 The Environment Agency Issue No: 2011-12/1237 OA North Job No: L10420 NGR: NY 01245 09833 Ennerdale Weir, Egremont, Cumbria: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment 1 CONTENTS SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. 3 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Circumstances of Project ................................................................................... 4 1.2 Location and Topography.................................................................................. 4 2. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Project Design................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Desk-Based Assessment .................................................................................... 5 2.3 Site Visit ........................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Archive ............................................................................................................. 6 3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Newman, C.E. 2014 V.1.Pdf
    Mapping the Late Medieval and Post Medieval Landscape of Cumbria Two Volumes Volume 1: Text Caron Egerton Newman Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of History, Classics and Archaeology Newcastle University Submitted: June 2014 Abstract This study is an analysis of the development of rural settlement patterns and field systems in Cumbria from the later medieval period through to the late eighteenth century. It uses documentary, cartographic and archaeological evidence. This evidence is interpreted utilising the techniques of historic landscape characterisation (HLC), map regression and maps created by the author, summarising and synthesising historical and archaeological data. The mapped settlement data, in particular, has been manipulated using tools of graphic analysis available within a Graphical Information System (GIS). The initial product is a digital map of Cumbria in the late eighteenth century, based on the county-scale maps of that period, enhanced with information taken from enclosure maps and awards, and other post medieval cartographic sources. From this baseline, an interpretation of the late medieval landscape was developed by adding information from other data sources, such as place names and documentary evidence. The approach was necessarily top-down and broad brush, in order to provide a landscape-scale, sub-regional view. This both addresses the deficiencies within the standard historical approach to landscape development, and complements such approaches. Standard historical approaches are strong on detail, but can be weak when conclusions based on localised examples are extrapolated and attributed to the wider landscape. The methodology adopted by this study allows those local analyses to be set within a broader landscape context, providing another tool to use alongside more traditional approaches to historic landscape studies.
    [Show full text]
  • THIS West Cumbria Water Supplies Project
    THIS West Cumbria Water Supplies Project - Thirlmere Transfer United Utilities Environmental Statement Volume 1 Non-Technical Summary Revision | 0 24 March 2016 Envir onmental Impact A ssessment United U tilities Environmental Statement Volume 1 Non Technical Summary West Cumbria Water Supplies Project - Thirlmere Transfer Project no: B2707061 Document title: Environmental Statement Volume 1 Non Technical Summary Revision: Revision 0 Date: 24 March 2016 Client name: United Utilities plc Jacobs U.K. Limited 5 First Street Manchester M15 4GU United Kingdom T +44 (0)161 235 6000 F +44 (0)161 235 6001 www.jacobs.com © Copyright 2016 Jacobs U.K. Limited. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Jacobs. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs constitutes an infringement of copyright. Limitation: This report has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ Client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs and the Client. Jacobs accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this report by any third party. i Environmental Statement Volume 1 Non Technical Summary Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cumbria Historic Landscape Characterisation ? Final Report (Part 2)
    A Guide to the Cumbria Historic Landscape Characterisation Programme Version 1 July 2009 15. Dunnerdale and Broughton Low Fells Bounded by Coniston Water to the east, and the Central Fells to the north and west, this character area is bisected by the Lake District National Park boundary. It is dominated by the valley running from the Duddon estuary up to Coniston Water, with Coniston village at the north end and the market village of Broughton-in-Furness at the centre and the industrial town of Millom at the south. The topographical context of the character area is the same either side of the park boundary and all the area shares a similar history of woodland industries and minerals extraction and processing. The valleys were important communications routes for the slate and metal ore extractive industries around Coniston, Torver and the Langdale Valleys. Past industries including medieval iron smelting, post-medieval copper mining, 18th- 20th century textiles manufacture and 19th and 20th century iron works have all left their mark and are a major characteristic of the area. The western part of the character area, outside the park, experienced more development from the later 19th century, however, especially at Millom. The exclusion of the southern part of the character area from the park has exacerbated difference in recent years with a concentration of quarrying and the development of wind farms as on Kirkby Moor. Like the Allithwaite and Underbarrow Low Fells, this area is characterised by low hills that were previously common waste and which were subject to planned enclosure in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Ehen & Calder Catchment Action Plan
    Ehen & Calder Catchment Action Plan Action Required Issues being addressed Priority Links to ongoing Locations Projects Improving wastewater pollution • Water Quality – Pollution from waste water Seascale bathing waters, Cleator Waste water Reducing impacts of sewage treatment • Engagement – Access to rivers/opportunities to Newmill beck, Pow beck, Treatment Works works on river and coastal water enjoy and learn about rivers Lowca beck, Disington improvement quality beck, River Keekle Reducing minewater pollution • Water Quality – Heavy metal pollution Reducing inputs of heavy metals • Biodiversity – SAC failure (Decline in salmonids, River Keekle Keekle restoration pilot and freshwater pearl mussels) River Restoration • Flood risk – to properties Restoring natural river courses and • Biodiversity – Poor in-stream habitat River Keekle Keekle restoration pilot functioning • Biodiversity – SAC failure (Decline in salmonids) Natural Flood Management • Flood risk – to properties St. Bees, Ennerdale Wild Ennerdale; Adopt a Suite of measures to ‘slow the flow’ • Biodiversity – Poor habitat in wider catchment bridge, Calder bridge, beck Black beck/Kirk beck and hold water in the landscape • Water Quality – Diffuse water pollution from Beckermet, Cleator, agriculture Cleator moor, Middletown, Seascale Strengthening Flood Defences • Flood risk – to properties Harrington, Whitehaven, Ongoing appraisal works Engineered defences and infrastructure Egremont, Cleator moor, and investigations improvements to reduce flood risk to Frizington, Moresby
    [Show full text]
  • River Ehen Conservation Actions for FWPM
    PROTECTED LIFE+ 11 NAT UK 000383 Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Action A3: Conservation Actions for the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the River Ehen, Cumbria September 2013-2016 © Ian Killeen LIFE 11 NAT/UK/383 ______________________________________________________________________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pearls in Peril is an interesting and exciting project that captures the imagination and I hope that the delivery of this management plan will significantly improve the conditions for the freshwater pearl mussels in the River Ehen. I wish to acknowledge and extend my thanks to the people who have taken a lot of time and effort to contributing to this document, ensuring that it is an effective one! Special thanks to Ian Creighton at West Cumbria Rivers Trust; Jackie Webley, Scottish Natural Heritage; Charlie Poate, GIS Volunteer; Ian Killeen and Evelyn Moorkens, Macalogical Services; colleagues at the Environment Agency - Mike Farrell, Steve Emery, Gail Butterill, Andy Gowans, Chris Addy, Jane Atkins and Helen Reid; Grace Martin and John Gorst from United Utilities; John Garner, Natural England; Rachel Oakley, Wild Ennerdale; Gareth Browning, Forestry Commission; and Sam Laird, Wath Brow Angling Association. DOCUMENT CONTROL Please note that part of the document has been redacted and the appendices are not included due to sensitive information Version Final (The Action Plan will remain a working document throughout the life of the project) Date 6 September 2013 Author Diane O’Leary, West Cumbria Rivers Trust Contributors Mike Farrell, EA; Gail Butterill, EA; Helen Reid, EA; Andy Gowans, EA; Jane Atkins, EA; Grace Martin, UU; Ian Killeen and Evelyn Moorkens, Macacological Services Reviewed and River Ehen Steering and Technical Groups and comments by Wath Brow Angling Association LIFE 11 NAT/UK/383 ______________________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Freshwater pearl mussels (FWPM) are critically endangered internationally and are protected by International, European and national legislation.
    [Show full text]
  • North West Water Authority
    Water Resources in West Cumbria November 1976 Item Type monograph Publisher NWWA Directorate of Resource Planning Download date 24/09/2021 05:05:44 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/27234 NORTH WEST WATER AUTHORITY WATER RESOURCES IN WEST CUMBRIA HI RFHTfTlRATF np RF«?nilRrF PLANNING NOVEMBER 1976 NORTH WEST WATER AUTHORITY WATER RESOURCES IN WEST CUMBRIA Directorate of Resource Planning. November, 1976. CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE 1. Introduction 1 2. Existing Water Supplies 2 3. Demands and Deficits 3 4. Alternative Water Resource Developments 4 5. Discussion of Alternative Developments 8 6. Powers Required for Development 11 APPENDICES 1. Demands, Available Supplies and Deficits MAP Water Resources in West Cumbria CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The provision of additional supplies of water in West Cumbria is now an urgent matter. It is anticipated that water supply deficits will arise within the next 2 or 3 years, and in certain areas difficulties have already arisen in meeting peak demands. British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (B.N.F.L.) require additional supplies as soon as possible. Schemes to make supplies avail­ able must therefore be capable of being implemented fairly quickly. 1.2 The area under consideration forms the western edge of the Lake District National Park and all the sources considered in this report, apart from the aquifer in the immediate vicinity of Calder Hall, lie wholly or partly within the National Park boundaries. The Rivers Ehen, Calder and Irt support migratory trout and salmon and are angling streams of a high quality. Amenity considerations therefore play an important part in determining the location and extent of any development.
    [Show full text]
  • Infrastructure Deficit
    COPELAND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT Core Strategy Evidence Base Baseline Analysis Paper February 2011 2 CONTENTS Page Introduction 5 Identifying infrastructure types 18 Transport 24 Energy 77 Water supply and waste water 86 Flooding 101 Telecommunications and information technology 148 Historic legacy 153 Green infrastructure 166 Sports pitches and courts 178 Coast and historic landscapes 190 Social and community infrastructure Affordable housing 195 education 202 employment 225 health 227 post offices 243 Community services 246 Culture and recreation 284 Summary tables 316 List of consultees 329 3 4 INTRODUCTION Background It is recognised that to create sustainable communities, providing housing and employment opportunities alone is not sufficient. There is also a need to provide the schools, health and leisure services. These services are provided by a range of organisations but there is currently little or no integration of that provision to meet the needs of existing communities nor their future needs. The preparation of an integrated Infrastructure Plan is essential for local authorities and their partners to fulfil their place shaping role. The revised Planning Policy Statement 12 (PPS12)1 identifies the Core Strategy as the to ensure that sus considered sound , the Core Strategy must identify the infrastructure requirements for its area; who will provide it and when. The production of an integrated Infrastructure Plan will also yield significant benefits for their partner organisations need to actively engage in the process. Revisions to Planning Policy Statement 122 have meant that local planning authorities are now required to demonstrate a reasonable prospect of infrastructure delivery in relation to land allocations for development.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Environment Agency Plan
    local environment agency plan WEST CUMBRIA ACTION PLAN DECEMBER 1999 Silloth E n v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y NATIONAL LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE HEAD OFFICE Rio House. Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD ▼ ▼ E n v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y ▼ NX 00 NY 20 Silloth West Cumbria Local Environment 50 Agency Plan Map 1 En v ir o n m e n t H Ag e n c y 40 40 "N t'\e" 5 Maryport Dearham “ "\ Flimby, ... I) Broughtor >0 10km Seaton ' I------ 4 ---------L j _____ I Cockermouth A66 30 ..— * t t 30 vV?* EPEl N \ , A66 WORKINGTON ^ Bassenthwaite Lakei 'Distingtc KesWi< Low4swater\ Parton, Derwent 20 20 \ [C rum m ock, W a te r / ) WHITEHAVEN Thirlmere) Cleator Moor 'V ; Egremont 10 SOUTH ^ _/ Wast Watery LAKELAND & COPELAND .Gosforth r NX SeascaU NY 00 00 SC SD X West Cumbria LEAP Area 90 KEY I Bootl e..•••'’ ......... Plan Boundary ------- Watercourse Built up area District council boundary ------- Primary Road 80 ------- A Road _ / ------- B Road ------- Railway OS Copyright tcence number 60 031776 SC 00 SD 10 f t ) 20 Environment Agency West Cumbria LEAP Foreword The West Cumbria Action Plan has been produced following publication of the Consultation Report in 1998. I am grateful to the local authorities, agencies, interest groups and members of the community for their support and comments during the consultation process. I would also like to thank the Area Environment Group for their help in producing the Consultation Report and this Action Plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Ironmasters Map Whitehaven
    Rowrah was part of the historic county of Cumberland until 1974. The majority of Cumberland was within the kingdom of Scotland until 1273 when the signing of the Treaty of York made it part of England. Therefore the towns and villages of this part of Cumberland did not appear in the Domesday Book Formerly the of 1092. London & North Western Railway (To Workington) Arlecdon Rowrah Whitehaven Rowrah to Marron Junction Railway Station Cleator & Workington Junction Rowrah (Dis) Railway Station (From Workington) (Dis) Furness Railway (Dis) (To Barrow) John & children: There is a dog owner issue. The gravel track at Rowrah is good for children! The signs and historical information are not useful Rob: Eight cyclists from Arriva bus This is an important C to C route for scenery, for company near Newcastle. tness, and for meeting local people. NCN 71 P This is our rst time on the route It is a national treasure with spectacular views. apart from one of us. It is There could be more dog bins. fantastic. The views are amazing and it is well maintained. There is Rowrah a nice gentle gradient. It is ideal. Hall We didn’t know there were tracks Winder Brow here or that there were stations. Quarries KEY Bridge Potential B Grassland Project Area (Dis) Viaduct (Outlined Green) Features V Melina and Dave Point of Interest It would be good to have Lapwing AY somewhere to get refreshments. High Leys Prehistoric Feature Skelsceugh Jason: Tree Sparrow AY National Nature Reserve - Natural England Mediaeval Feature 5th to 15th C. I use the tracks every day to walk my dog.
    [Show full text]
  • South Egremont Groundwater Scheme
    South Egremont Groundwater Scheme Non-Technical Summary Purpose of this Non-Technical Summary and Ennerdale Water Treatment Works (WTW). The pipeline will predominantly pass through open countryside and This report presents, in non-technical language, the findings agricultural fields, although there will be shorter sections of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that has been where the pipeline will be installed in existing roads. undertaken in connection with the proposed South Egremont The pipelines will carry raw water from the boreholes Groundwater Scheme. The Scheme is required to ensure to Ennerdale WTW and return process waste water for that United Utilities plc (UU) meets its obligations to provide treatment at Cleator Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW). water to its customers in the service area known as the ‘West Cumbria Resource Zone’ and involves the construction of a new pipeline and four new groundwater boreholes and Ennerdale WTW associated infrastructure. The full report, known as an Environmental Statement, has been submitted with the planning applications to Copeland Borough Council and the Lake District National Park Cleator WwTW Authority. Location The scheme is located around the town of Egremont in Cumbria. Merry Hill, Kell Head and Black Ling boreholes are situated approximately 2.5km to the south of the town with Gulley Flatts being just over 200m from the south western boundary of the town. In total, approximately 13km of new pipeline will be laid between Gulley Flatts borehole © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number AL100001776 H:\Projects\33159 NOR South Egremont Pipeline EIA\Drawings\NTS Site location 1 Reasons and Need for the Development Location of proposed boreholes United Utilities has a statutory responsibility to provide water and waste water services to its customers.
    [Show full text]
  • Copeland SFRA Final Draft
    Copeland Borough Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) August 2007 Copeland Borough Council The Copeland Centre Catherine Street Whitehaven Cumbria CA28 7SJ Copeland Borough Council STRATEGIC FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT (SFRA) August 2007 i Copeland Borough Council STRATEGIC FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT (SFRA) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction 1. A significant proportion of the urban areas within Copeland are situated in close proximity to the coast and the large rivers of the Borough, and these areas are consequently at risk of flooding. However, these are not the only flood risks. There are many locations that are threatened by flooding from the numerous small watercourses that are feature of the upland and rural nature of Copeland, and from overloaded drainage and sewage systems. 2. The Council is currently preparing a Local Development Framework (LDF) in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. This Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) will be used to inform planning related decisions for areas of Copeland outside of the Lake District National Parks. Why carry out a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)? 3. Flooding can result not only in costly damage to property, but can also pose a risk to life and livelihood. It is essential that future development is planned carefully, steering it away from areas that are most at risk from flooding, and ensuring that it does not exacerbate existing flooding problems. 4. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25: Development and Flood Risk has been developed to underpin decisions relating to future development (including urban regeneration) within areas that are subject to flood risk. 5. In simple terms, PPS25 requires local planning authorities to review the variation in flood risk across their district, and to steer vulnerable development (e.g.
    [Show full text]