Somerset County Council Minerals Plan

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Somerset County Council Minerals Plan SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL PRE SUBMISSION MINERALS PLAN HABITAT REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT Revised and Updated Test of Likely Significance December 2013 Copyright The maps in this report are reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Somerset County Council)(100038382)(2012) 2 Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 2. Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 5 Report Methodology .............................................................................................................. 7 3. Potential Impacts of the Minerals Plan on Ecology ............................................................... 8 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 Potential Effects from Minerals Operations on Ecological Features ....................................11 4. Identification and Description of the Natura 2000 Sites ...................................................... 18 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 18 Identifcation of Natura 2000 sites ........................................................................................ 18 Conservation Objectives...................................................................................................... 24 Ecological Zones of Influence.............................................................................................. 24 Description and Characterisation of Natura 2000 Sites ...................................................... 25 5. Other Relevant Plans or Projects ........................................................................................ 76 6. Analysis of the Minerals Plan............................................................................................... 78 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 78 Minerals Overview ............................................................................................................... 78 Management for Nature Conservation Purposes ................................................................ 79 Analysis of Policy in the Minerals Plan................................................................................ 79 Counter-acting Measures .................................................................................................. 108 7. Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................113 References .............................................................................................................................114 Appendix 1: Areas Included Outside of SPA/Ramsar Designations...................................... 121 Appendix 2: Policy SMP6 Peat (Further Assessment) .......................................................... 124 Appendix 3: Restoration and aftercare: Checklist ................................................................. 128 3 1. Introduction 1.1 This report details the findings of the first, screening step of the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) process of the Somerset County Council pre- submission Minerals Plan version 4 (December, 2013). As the ‘competent authority’ under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (the ‘Habitats Regulations’), Somerset County Council is required to assess the pre submission Minerals Plan through the HRA process as policies in the plan can potentially affect Natura 2000 sites. This HRA updates the previous assessment of the draft pre-submission Minerals Plan (August, 2013) as policy and textual wording have been amended and also following comments from Natural England. 1.2 Natura 2000 sites include European Sites - Special Protection Areas (SPA) classified under the EC Birds Directive 2009 and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) designated under the European Communities (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (known as the ‘Habitats Directive’), and, as a matter of Government policy, all Ramsar sites as if they are fully designated European Sites for the purpose of considering development proposals that may affect them. 1.3 The definition of ‘Habitat Regulations Assessment’ is simply an assessment, which must be appropriate to its purpose under the Habitats Directive and Regulations. According to the Habitats Regulations 2010, regulations 61(1), before authorising a plan that is likely to have a significant effect on a European site, and is not connected to the management of the site, the Council shall assess the implications for the site in view of its conservation objectives. 1.4 The purpose of HRA of land use plans is to ensure that protection of the integrity of European sites (Natura 2000 sites) is a part of the planning process. The requirement for a HRA of plans or projects is outlined in Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive. 4 2. Methodology 2.1 The Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) consultation document ‘ Planning for the Protection of European Sites: Appropriate Assessment’ (August 2006). This document gives three main tasks to the Appropriate or Habitats Regulations Assessment 1 process: • Likely significant effects • Appropriate assessment and ascertaining the effect on site integrity • Mitigation and alternative solutions 2.2 The process is further detailed in ‘The Appropriate Assessment of Spatial Plans in England ’, published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Dodd et al, 2007) and the Countryside Council for Wales (Tyldesley, 2011). 2.3 The guidance sets out a 3-step approach to Habitats Regulation Assessments as follows. Step 1: Screening for likely significant effects. This is the initial evaluation of a plan’s effects on a Natura 2000 site. If it cannot conclude there will be no significant effect upon any Natura 2000 site, an Appropriate Assessment (AA) is required. In the DCLG guidance this is called evidence gathering. Where counter-acting measures can be applied they will be applied at this stage. Counter- acting measures are those which are changes in the wording of policy or within text will clearly prevent a potential significant effect from the Plan. Step 2 Appropriate Assessment – scoping and further information gathering Preparation for the AA where the screening has shown there is likely to be significant effects or where there is uncertainty about a potential significant effect upon a Natura 2000 site. Step 3 Appropriate Assessment An evaluation of the evidence gathered on impacts and consideration of whether changes to the plan are needed to ensure that it will have no significant adverse effect upon any Natura 2000 site. This should be the end of the AA process and the plan can be adopted. This step can include consideration as to whether there are alternatives to the policy or project and if not whether there are ‘Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Importance’ for the plan or project in which the Government office is notified and compensation measures secured to ensure no significant effect on the integrity of the Natura 2000 site 1 Note that the terms Habitats Regulations Assessment and Appropriate Assessment have been used interchangeably but not correctly. However, for the purpose of this report the term Appropriate Assessment will refer to Stage 3 of the Habitats Regulations Assessment process. 5 affected. 2.4 This report contains Step 1 of the process and compiles information in order to assess the likely effects of potential activities arising our of priorities in the draft Partnership Plan on Natura 2000 sites alone, or in combination with other plans or projects. 2.5 When carrying out this screening, it must be viewed as a coarse filter and therefore a ‘Precautionary Approach’ has been taken in the assessment of significance. The EC Guidance sets out a number of principles as to how to approach decision making during the process. The primary one is the ‘Precautionary Principle’, which requires that the conservation objectives of Natura 2000 sites should prevail where there is uncertainty. In other words if the answer is ‘don’t know’ an adverse impact is assumed. This is the case throughout the HRA process. 2.6 Once potential impacts have been identified, their significance will be considered. A judgement about significance is made in relation to the conservation objectives and targets using the Precautionary Principle. 2.7 “Significant” is interpreted as an effect likely to adversely affect a Natura 2000 site’s integrity. A useful definition of what a significant effect is contained in an English Nature guidance note 2 on the subject: “…any effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project that may affect the conservation objectives of the features for which the site was designated, but excluding trivial or inconsequential effects. ” 2.8 “Integrity” is described in ODPM Circular 06/2005: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation
Recommended publications
  • Cheddar Complex
    Love Somerset, Love Nature Love Somerset, Love Introduction Black Rock Nature Trails Long Wood Nature Trail Velvet Bottom Trail Situated at the heart of the Mendip Hills AONB, Somerset Wildlife There are two circular nature trails to follow in Black Rock reserve. This circular walk (1 km) is way-marked in green with numbered This linear walk leads 1.7km (3.4km return) from Black Rock Trust’s Cheddar Complex comprises three individual nature Both the short trail (1.6 km) and the long trail (2.4 km) are way- stops at points of interest. nature reserve, through Velvet Bottom nature reserve, to reserves each with its own unique character and wildlife. All of marked with numbered stops at points of interest and begin at the 1.1 Charterhouse and Ubley Warren nature reserve. the nature reserves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest which reserve entrance. Follow the green marker posts for the short trail provides protection to the plants and animals found there. and the red marker posts for the long trail. Hedgehog Award – Use the map to lead your group The trail follows the path at the bottom of a long dry valley which around the Long Wood nature trail. has been associated with lead mining since pre-Roman times. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk Black Rock nature reserve is managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust 1.1 1 The remains of this industrial past can still be seen amongst the on behalf of the National Trust, who purchased the site in 1971. From the start of the trail near the reserve entrance follow the path From the reserve entrance follow the path to stop1.
    [Show full text]
  • Pleistocene Rodents of the British Isles
    PLEISTOCENE RODENTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES BY ANTONY JOHN SUTCLIFFE British Museum (Natural History), London AND KAZIMIERZ KOWALSKI Institute of Systematic and Experimental Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland Pp. 31-147 ; 31 Text-figures ; 13 Tables BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) GEOLOGY Vol. 27 No. 2 LONDON: 1976 THE BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM (natural history), instituted in 1949, is issued in five series corresponding to the Scientific Departments of the Museum, and an Historical series. Parts will appear at irregular intervals as they become ready. Volumes will contain about three or four hundred pages, and will not necessarily be completed within one calendar year. In 1965 a separate supplementary series of longer papers was instituted, numbered serially for each Department. This paper is Vol. 27, No. 2, of the Geological [Palaeontological) series. The abbreviated titles of periodicals cited follow those of the World List of Scientific Periodicals. World List abbreviation : Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Geol. ISSN 0007-1471 Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), 1976 BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) Issued 29 July, 1976 Price £7.40 . PLEISTOCENE RODENTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES By A. J. SUTCLIFFE & K. KOWALSKI CONTENTS Page Synopsis ........ 35 I. Introduction ....... 36 A. History of Studies ..... 37 B. The Geological Background .... 40 II. Localities in the British Isles with fossil rodents 42 A. Deposits OF East Anglia . .... 42 (i) Red Crag 43 (ii) Icenian Crag ....... 43 (iii) Cromer Forest Bed Series ..... 46 (a) Pastonian of East Runton and Happisburgh 47 (b) Beestonian ...... 48 (c) Cromerian, sensu stricto .... 48 (d) Anglian ......
    [Show full text]
  • Wessex-Cave-Club-Journal-Number
    January 1981 Vol. 16 No. 185 CONTENTS Page No. Editorial .................................................................................................................................. 115 Club News .............................................................................................................................. 115 Mendip Notes Wimblestone ................................................................................................. 116 Diary Dates ............................................................................................................................. 118 Primrose Pot – a short saga Alison Moody .......................................................................... 119 Some Mendip Water Traces 1970 – 1980 W.I. Stanton ....................................................... 120 Letter to the Editor Steve Gough .......................................................................................... 127 Letter From Canada P.L. Hadfield ....................................................................................... 128 Notes on the Netherworld P.G. Hendy ................................................................................. 129 Cave Exploring E.A. Martel ................................................................................................. 133 From the Log .......................................................................................................................... 136 CLUB OFFICERS Chairman / Editor P. G. Hendy, 10 Silver Street, Wells, Somerset Secretary
    [Show full text]
  • Quaternary of South-West England Titles in the Series 1
    Quaternary of South-West England Titles in the series 1. An Introduction to the Geological Conservation Review N.V. Ellis (ed.), D.Q. Bowen, S. Campbell,J.L. Knill, A.P. McKirdy, C.D. Prosser, M.A. Vincent and R.C.L. Wilson 2. Quaternary ofWales S. Campbeiland D.Q. Bowen 3. Caledonian Structures in Britain South of the Midland Valley Edited by J.E. Treagus 4. British Tertiary Voleanie Proviflee C.H. Emeleus and M.C. Gyopari 5. Igneous Rocks of Soutb-west England P.A. Floyd, C.S. Exley and M.T. Styles 6. Quaternary of Scotland Edited by J.E. Gordon and D.G. Sutherland 7. Quaternary of the Thames D.R. Bridgland 8. Marine Permian of England D.B. Smith 9. Palaeozoic Palaeobotany of Great Britain C.]. Cleal and B.A. Thomas 10. Fossil Reptiles of Great Britain M.]. Benton and P.S. Spencer 11. British Upper Carboniferous Stratigraphy C.J. Cleal and B.A. Thomas 12. Karst and Caves of Great Britain A.C. Waltham, M.J. Simms, A.R. Farrant and H.S. Goidie 13. Fluvial Geomorphology of Great Britain Edited by K.}. Gregory 14. Quaternary of South-West England S. Campbell, C.O. Hunt, J.D. Scourse, D.H. Keen and N. Stephens Quaternary of South-West England S. Campbell Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor C.O. Hunt Huddersfield University J.D. Scourse School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor D.H. Keen Coventry University and N. Stephens Emsworth, Hampshire. GCR Editors: C.P. Green and B.J. Williams JOINT~ NATURE~ CONSERVATION COMMITTEE SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Geological Model to Explain the Gravity Gradient Across Exmoor, North Devon
    A new geological model to explain the gravity gradient across Exmoor, north Devon M. BROOKS, M. BAYERLY & D. J. LLEWELLYN SUMMARY Recent long seismic lines in South Wales and plained by a simple geological model in which the Bristol Channel indicate a structural cul- a thick sequence ofrelatlvely low density Lower mination under the southern part of the Bristol Palaeozoic or late Precambrian rocks occupies Channel, where a layer with a seismic velocity the core of this culmination. The model casts of 6-I km/s approaches to about 2 km of the further doubt on the existence of a major thrust surface. It is shown that the gravity field across under Exmoor. Exmoor and the Bristol Channel can be ex- I. Introduction SEVERAL LONG SEISMIC LINES in the Bristol Channel area, full details of which will be presented in later papers, give evidence of a basal layer of high velocity, in the range from 6. I-6. 3 km/s, which is interpreted as being of Lower Palaeozoic or Precambrian age. This layer, which almost certainly does not represent the same geological formation under all lines, lies at shallow depth under the western part of the South Wales Coalfield, deepens southwards into the northern part of the Bristol Channel and rises rapidly towards the north Devon coast. Figure I illustrates reduced time-distance curves for two of the long seismic lines D and F, whose locations are shown in Fig. 2. On each line, a series of offshore shots was fired into a fixed array of land recording stations.
    [Show full text]
  • Accounting for National Nature Reserves
    Natural England Research Report NERR078 Accounting for National Nature Reserves: A Natural Capital Account of the National Nature Reserves managed by Natural England www.gov.uk/naturalACCOUNTING FOR-england NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES Natural England Research Report NERR078 Accounting for National Nature Reserves: A Natural Capital Account of the National Nature Reserves managed by Natural England Tim Sunderland1, Ruth Waters1, Dan Marsh2, Cat Hudson1 and Jane Lusardi1 Published 21st February 2019 1 Natural England 2 University of Waikato, New Zealand This report is published by Natural England under the Open Government Licence - OGLv3.0 for public sector information. You are encouraged to use, and reuse, information subject to certain conditions. For details of the licence visit Copyright. Natural England photographs are only available for non commercial purposes. If any other information such as maps or data cannot be used commercially this will be made clear within the report. ISBN 978-1-78354-518-6 © Natural England 2018 ACCOUNTING FOR NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES Project details This report should be cited as: SUNDERLAND, T., WATERS, R.D., MARSH, D. V. K., HUDSON, C., AND LUSARDI, J. (2018). Accounting for National Nature Reserves: A natural capital account of the National Nature Reserves managed by Natural England. Natural England Research Report, Number 078 Project manager Tim Sunderland Principal Specialist in Economics Horizon House Bristol BS1 5TL [email protected] Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this report both within Natural England and externally. ii Natural England Research Report 078 Foreword England’s National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are the crown jewels of our natural heritage.
    [Show full text]
  • Part of Claverton Down SNCI) (Part of Rush Hill & Eastover Coppice SNCI) Areas Adjacent to Kennet and Avon Canal Ash Brake
    SNCI Site Name (part of Claverton Down SNCI) (part of Rush Hill & Eastover Coppice SNCI) Areas adjacent to Kennet and Avon Canal Ash Brake Ashcombe Wood Atgrove Wood and stream Avoncliff Wood Ayford Farm Babylon Brook Bannerdown, and Shockerwick and Woodleaze Woods Bath University (part) (part of Bathampton Down and Woodlands SNCI) Bathampton Down and Woodlands SNCI (part of ) Bathampton Oxbow Bathford Brook and adjacent land Bathwick Slopes (part of) (part of Bathampton Down and Woodlands SNCI) Bathwick Wood (part of Bathampton Down and Woodlands SNCI) Beach Wood Complex Beach Wood complex Beacon Hill Beechen Cliff Belle Vue Tip Bellflower Hill Bengrove Wood and adjacent fields Bitham's Wood and meadows Bitton to Bath railway track Bladdock Gutter Blagdon Lake SSSI and adjacent land Bowlditch Quarry SSSI Brake Wood Breach Hill Common Breach Wood and adjacent land Broad Mead field Broad Wood Broadhill Copse Bromley Farm mine Brown's Folly - Warleigh complex Buckley Wood, Lady Wood, and adjacent fields Burledge Common and adjacent fields Burnett Brook and woods By Brook and associated marginal habitats Cam Brook and adjacent land Cam Brook disused railway Camerton New Pit Tip Camerton Wood Carrs Wood Castle Wood Catsley Wood Charlcombe Lane field Charlcombe Valley Charlton Bottom and Queen Charlton Watercourse Charmy Down Chelscombe and Lansdown Woods SNCI Chew Valley Lake SSSI and adjacent land Chewstoke Brook Clandown Bottom Claverton Wood & Vineyard Bottoms Clay Pits Woods Cleaves Wood, adjacent woodland and fields Cleveland Walk and
    [Show full text]
  • Environment Agency South West Region
    ENVIRONMENT AGENCY SOUTH WEST REGION 1997 ANNUAL HYDROMETRIC REPORT Environment Agency Manley House, Kestrel Way Sowton Industrial Estate Exeter EX2 7LQ Tel 01392 444000 Fax 01392 444238 GTN 7-24-X 1000 Foreword The 1997 Hydrometric Report is the third document of its kind to be produced since the formation of the Environment Agency (South West Region) from the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty Inspectorate of Pollution and Waste Regulation Authorities. The document is the fourth in a series of reports produced on an annua! basis when all available data for the year has been archived. The principal purpose of the report is to increase the awareness of the hydrometry within the South West Region through listing the current and historic hydrometric networks, key hydrometric staff contacts, what data is available and the reporting options available to users. If you have any comments regarding the content or format of this report then please direct these to the Regional Hydrometric Section at Exeter. A questionnaire is attached to collate your views on the annual hydrometric report. Your time in filling in the questionnaire is appreciated. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY Contents Page number 1.1 Introduction.............................. .................................................... ........-................1 1.2 Hydrometric staff contacts.................................................................................. 2 1.3 South West Region hydrometric network overview......................................3 2.1 Hydrological summary: overview
    [Show full text]
  • The Regional Historian Issue No 13 (PDF)
    10785 RegHistorian_issue13 5/26/05 5:25 PM Page 1 RHCRHC REGIONAL HISTORY CENTRE The Regional Historian The Newsletter of the Regional History Centre, at the UWE, Bristol Remembering Mary Rudge: Bristol’s Victorian Chess Champion Bristol’s new museum…. Little Wales beyond the Severn…. The killing of Henry Murray…. Sir Richard Berkeley…. Woodtaking and customary practice in Wiltshire…. Bath and the Keppel affair…. John Thelwall’s grave…. PLUS News, Reviews and Letters http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/regionalhistory Graphic Design Team 10785 UWE, BRISTOL F.5.05 Printing & Stationery Services Issue No. 13 Spring/Summer 2005 10785 RegHistorian_issue13 5/26/05 5:25 PM Page 3 The first international women’s chess tournament, held in London in 1897. Bristol’s Mary Rudge won the event. 10785 RegHistorian_issue13 5/26/05 5:25 PM Page 1 REGIONALRHCRH HISTORYC CENTRE The Regional Historian Issue No. 13 Spring/Summer 2005 Contents Editorial and news 2 The museum of Bristol and its public 6 Madge Dresser Little Wales beyond the Severn? 8 The Welsh in early Tudor Bristol Peter Fleming The man who’d have blood for his supper: 11 the killing of Henry Murray. Steve Poole Sir Richard Berkeley: an Elizabethan career 15 Tony Nott Woodtaking and customary practice: 19 William Hunt’s justices notebook, 1744 - 49 Carl Griffin ‘A silly ridiculous Jack in Office’: 25 Bath's town clerk and the Keppel affair, 1779 Trevor Fawcett Sites of memory and neglect: 29 John Thelwall and the art of dying quietly Steve Poole Mary Rudge: Bristol's world chess champion 33 John Richards Learning to live with ‘natural wonders’: 38 the forgotten history of Cheddar Gorge Steve Poole Reviews 40 Letters 46 1 10785 RegHistorian_issue13 5/26/05 5:25 PM Page 2 Editorial and News Editorial and News Round-up UWE to write pioneering history In this edition of the Regional Historian you’ll find a typically diverse of Bristol ethnic minorities Partnership with the VCH in Wiltshire and interesting selection of articles.
    [Show full text]
  • Notfoprint21.Pdf
    2011 Lake Odyssey was a Heritage Lottery Funded project exploring local history through the arts with a particular focus on the 1950’s, when Chew Valley Lake was made. This was a major local event. The town of Moreton was fl ooded to make way for a reservoir supplying water to South Bristol and the Queen visited the area to offi cially open and inaugurate the lake in 1956. The Lake Odyssey 2011 project gave pupils at Chew Valley School and their cluster of primary schools a chance to explore the history of their community in a fun and creative way. Pupils took part in various workshops throughout the spring and summer of 2011 to produce the content for the fi nal Lake Odyssey event day on Saturday 16th July 2011, which saw the local community come together for a day of celebration and performance at Chew Valley Lake. Balloon Launch The Lake Odyssey 2011 project offi cially launched on Friday 4th March with a balloon re- lease. Year seven and eight pupils released the balloons to mark and celebrate the occasion. A logo competition had been running within the primary cluster and Chew Valley School to fi nd a design for the Lake Odyssey logo. The winners were announced by Heritage Lottery representative Cherry Ann Knott. The lucky winners were Bea Tucker from East Harptree Pri- mary School and Hazel Stockwell-Cooke from Chew Valley School, whose designs featured in all publicity for the Lake Odyssey 2011 project. Bishop Sutton Songwriting Swallow class from Bishop Sutton Primary School took part in a song writing workshop, com- posing their own song from scratch with Leo Holloway.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sandford Gulf and Other Lost Caves of Sandford Hill
    THE SANDFORD GULF AND OTHER LOST CAVES OF SANDFORD HILL By R. M. Taviner During the 18 th century, miners’ working on the western outliers of the Mendip Hills intercepted several small but notable cave systems, including the Banwell caves, Loxton Cavern and Hutton Cavern. Most were subsequently lost, although several have recently been rediscovered by cave explorers, often by following clues provided by the antiquarians who dutifully recorded them. Not all of these caverns have been rediscovered however, including three well documented sites on Sandford Hill. The first, Elephant Cave - which contained the skeleton of a full sized elephant - was recorded in 1770, while the better documented Sandford Bone Fissure was excavated by William Beard, beginning in 1837. Both of these sites are important, but it is the third lost cave, the legendary Sandford Gulf, that most exercises the minds of cavers. It is hoped that this article will help to bring some clarity to proceedings, and through a process of elimination, propose a precise location for the missing Gulf - a very good place to start digging! Sandford Hill from the North-West Map data ©2016 Google ELEPHANT CAVE The full details of this mysterious cave were included in a letter dated 30 th January 1770, sent by William Jeffries of Wrington to The Rev. Alexander Catcott, clergyman, geologist and author of A Treatise on the Deluge. ‘Where these Bones were found in almost the highest part of the Hill on the north Side: they lay in an East and West Direction four fathom deep in a loose Strata composed mostly of small Fragments of limestone, Sand etc.
    [Show full text]
  • The Late Pleistocene Sequence at Wells, Somerset
    Proc. Univ. Bristol Spelaeol. Soc, 1988, l« (2), 241-257 THE LATE PLEISTOCENE SEQUENCE AT WELLS, SOMERSET by D. T. DONOVAN ABSTRACT Late Quaternary deposits and geomorphologicai features within a radius of about 4 km of Wells, Somerset, England are reviewed. The earliest well dated occurrence is the Hippopotamus fauna from Milton Hill, assigned to the warm interglacial episode corresponding to Oxygen Isolopc Stage 5c in deep sea cores. The dissected Reward Grave! is thoughl to be older, perhaps O.I.S. 6. The Wookey Hole ravine developed during ihe early part of the lasi glaeiulion (O.I.S. 5?), the Ebbor gorge later (O.I.S. 37) The Wells and Wookey Station gravel spreads, the former with woolly rhinoceros and ?mummoth, are correlated with the maximum glacial advance of the Late Devensian. INTRODUCTION The City of Wells has in its immediate vicinity an unusually rich assortment of Late Pleistocene deposits and sites. Many of these were investigated by the late H. E. Balch, Curator of Wells Museum, and his finds are to be found in the Museum along with more casual discoveries. The present paper is an attempt to survey some of this material and its chronological significance. It is convenient to deal in some detail with the Late Pleistocene as defined by Bovven et a!. (1987, p. 299), that is, beginning at the base of Oxygen Isotope Stage 5e. Middle Pleistocene deposits of great importance are found at Westbury-sub-Mendip, only 6 km from Wells (Bishop, 1982) but at present they cannot be satisfactorily connected with the chronology of the later deposits.
    [Show full text]