Better Local Government ISLEWORTH and BRENTFORD AREA

Home , Chiswick Eyot, Cranebank, Crane Park Island, Gunnersbury Triangle, Isleworth Ait

Agenda Item No. Reference No.

Better Local Government

ISLEWORTH AND BRENTFORD AREA COMMITTEE (PLANNING) - 5TH JUNE 2003

DECLARATION OF LOCAL NATURE RESERVE: ISLEWORTH AIT – CONSULTATION

Report by: ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE CORPORATE POLICY AND REGENERATION

Summary The Council has the power to declare statutory Local Nature Reserves and has already exercised this for nine wildlife sites in the Borough. This report proposes to consult the relevant organisations on the designation of a further important wildlife site, Isleworth Ait, situated along the River Thames. The designation of this area would demonstrate the Council’s continued support and promotion of the Boroughs biodiversity, confirm the importance of this wildlife site and will help in efforts to secure management funds from other sources.

This report requests this Committee’s views on the proposal to go ahead with the consultation process of declaring this site a statutory Local Nature Reserve.

1.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

THAT MEMBERS:

1.1 NOTE THE CONTENTS OF THE REPORT

1.2 APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONSULT

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 Under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, local authorities have the power to select, declare and manage nature reserves in consultation with English Nature (EN), the statutory advisor to the Government on nature conservation in England.

2.2 Nine statutory Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) have already been declared in the Borough (see Appendix 1), representing some of the most important nature conservation locations in the area.

2.3 The value in declaring wildlife sites as LNRs lies in the public recognition that these sites are afforded by the Council declaration and the opportunities to attract further funding for site management, through, for example grant aid from EN. There is no limit to how many sites can be declared by the Council. There is no provision for the Council to declare privately owned land if it has an interest in the land through either a land management agreement (such as Bedfont Lakes Country Park) or through a management plan agreement (as is the case at Kempton Nature Reserve). LNR designation can also afford nature conservation sites with other existing designations (such as Kempton Nature Reserve Site of Special Scientific Interest, SSSI), with complementary designations that highlight aspects such as public accessibility and educational use in addition to its intrinsic wildlife value.

2.4 EN advises that sites proposed for declaration as LNRs should be:

1. of high natural interest in the local context (SSSI or near equivalent); or 2. of some reasonable natural interest and of high value in the Borough context for environmental education or research; or 3. of some reasonable natural interest and of high value in the Borough context for the informal enjoyment of nature by the public; or 4. any combination of 1-3; and capable of being managed with the conservation of nature and/or the maintenance of special opportunities for study or research as a priority concern.

2.5 The site is the freehold of Thames Water Utilities Limited and has been leased since 1994 to London Wildlife Trust to manage the island “for the purposes of conserving and enhancing flora and fauna” excepting the penstocks and their immediate environs. This lease is for a 25 year period.

2.6 Thames Water Utilities Limited and English Nature have both given their approval for the London Borough of Hounslow to go ahead with this declaration. Both organisations recognised the importance of this site for nature conservation.

3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION

3.1 Appendix 2 describes the site in more detail. It is proposed that this site description will be sent out as part of the consultation.

4.0 CONSULTATION

4.1 The following relevant organisations and groups to be consulted on this proposal are:

• Brentford Waterside Forum • CIP • Environment Agency • Greater London Authority • Isleworth Society • London Borough of Richmond • London Rivers Association • Port of London Authority • Syon Park • Thames Landscape Strategy • West London River Group

4.2 It is proposed that the consultation period will be six weeks.

5.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The future management of this site will have to be met within existing budgets or through grant aid sources. There are no specific implications arising from the contents of this report other than the production of consultation letters to organisations which can be met from existing budgets.

5.2 The Head of Finance comments that any likely cost arising from the consultation process will be met from existing revenue budgets. With regards to the future management costs of the site a further report will be presented giving details as to how the costs can be funded either from current budgets and/ or grant aid sources.

6.0 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IMPLICATIONS

6.1 Isleworth Ait is not readily accessible to the general public, therefore there are no specific equal opportunities implications for this proposal.

7.0 APPENDICES

• Appendix 1: Location of existing LNR’s in the London Borough of Hounslow • Appendix 2: Site description • Appendix 3: General location of proposed LNR • Appendix 4: Specific boundary of proposed LNR

Contact: Lucy Griffiths, Environmental Strategy Officer Telephone: 020-8583-5213 Background Papers: This report has been or is due to be considered by: Local Nature Reserves: A guide to their selection and declaration. English Nature (Revised Ed 1999) Executive Committee

This report is relevant to the following wards/areas:

Isleworth and Brentford Ward

Appendix 1: Sites of Special Scientific Interest & Local Nature Reserves in London Borough of Hounslow

Grand Union Canal Hounslow Council

Hounslow Council 99 River Brent

BB Duke of Northumberland 88 River (Lower) River Thames 66 Hounslow Council Hounslow Council

Duke of Northumberland River (Upper) Local Nature Reserves 55 1. Bedfont Lakes Country Park 2. Kempton Nature Reserve Longford River Hounslow Council River Crane 3. Crane Park Island 4. Pevensey Road 44 44 5. Hounslow Heath 6. Cranebank Water Meadows 33 11 7. Gunnersbury Triangle 8. Duke's Hollow 9. Chiswick Eyot

London Borough of Hounslow Hounslow Council Portlane Brook Site's of Special Scientific Interest Site Special Scientific Interest Local Nature Reserve A. Kempton Waterworks (Including AA 22 22 Rivers Kempton Nature Reserve) B. Tide Meadow at Syon Park © Crown copyright. All rights reserved London Borough of Hounslow LA086444 2003. The Ordnance Survey map data included within this web-site is provided by The London Borough of Hounslow under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to publicise local public services. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey map data for their own use.