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The Highland Council Core Paths Plan (West Highland and Islands) Amended Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

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The Highland Council Core Paths Plan (West Highland and Islands) Amended Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report The Highland Council Core Paths Plan (West Highland and Islands) Amended Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report July 2019 1 Contents Non-technical Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Purpose of this Environmental Report and Key Facts ..................................................................................... 6 SEA Activities to Date ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Context ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Aims and Objectives of the PPS ....................................................................................................................... 8 Relationship with other PPS and environmental objectives ........................................................................... 9 Relevant Aspects of the Current State of the Environment .......................................................................... 12 Soil ................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Environmental Impacts Relevant to the West Highland and Islands Core Path Review ............................... 17 Likely future of the area without the PPS ..................................................................................................... 18 SEA Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Assessment of Environmental Effects and Measures Envisaged for Prevention, Reduction and Offset of Any Significant Environmental Effects ...................................................................................................................... 20 Alternative to the PPS ................................................................................................................................... 20 Assessments of Alternatives .......................................................................................................................... 21 Assessment of PPS ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Monitoring the effectiveness of the plan ...................................................................................................... 25 Next Steps ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Appendix 1 – Baseline Data ............................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix 2- Assessment of Proposed and Changes to Existing Core Paths ..................................................... 51 Datasets Considered ...................................................................................................................................... 51 Core Path Assessments – Skye and Lochalsh ................................................................................................ 52 Core Path Assessments – Lochaber ............................................................................................................... 84 Core Path Assessments – Wester Ross ........................................................................................................ 138 2 Non-technical Summary Purpose and objectives of the Environmental Report As part of the preparation of the West Highland and Islands Amended Core Paths Plan, the Highland Council is required to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). This provides a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of any new plans, programmes and strategies (PPS) and for achieving the following aims: integrate environmental factors into PPS preparation and decision-making improve PPS and enhance environmental protection increase public participation in decision making facilitate openness and transparency of decision-making The Environmental Report is an important stage in the SEA process. It outlines the contents of the Main Issues Report and highlights how the SEA process has influenced the proposals within the Plan. Purpose and objectives of the Plan The review of a core path plan aims to; 1. Assess, and increase where necessary, the connectivity of the current plan by utilising existing paths, tracks and other routes. 2. Assess that current routes can be used, at a minimum standard of pedestrian use without significant impediment, by the general public. 3. Review mapping of existing plan to identify change of line of routes or identify where upgraded/new routes have been constructed or used differently by the public. 4. Work with Local Development Plan team to identify new routes, proposed and extensions within Settlement Development Areas (SDA), specifically those associated with a specific site in the SDA, these routes could be aspirational. 5. Consider the recommendations of the Public Local Inquiry report on The Highland Council’s first core paths plan. 3 State of the environment summary The tables below show a summary of statistics relating to each of the key SEA topics: Table 1. Biodiversity, flora and fauna Population Some of the country’s most important natural Population of Plan area in 2013 was 39,201. The environments which are protected under population is expected to increase between international designations: 2012 and 2037to 37,020 by 2031. SSSI (142), SAC (45), SPA (19), NNR (14), RAMSAR Current population density is 3.9 people per km2 (3). Also 3,184 Ancient Semi-natural woodland (compared to Highland at 8.7 people per km2 sites. and 67.4 for Scotland. Soil Water Large parts of the plan area, particularly Skye The quality of the water environment is and Wester Ross comprise of nationally generally good in the Plan area. SEPA has important carbon-rich soils, deep peat and identified ten ‘potentially vulnerable areas’ priority peatland habitats, Geological SSSIs and within the Plan area where the potential impact in addition un-notified Geological Review (GCR) from flooding is sufficient to justify further sites, all of which are either likely to be of high assessment and appraisal of Flood Risk conservation value or potentially high Management. These are concentrated largely in conservation value and have restoration coastal areas, including north Skye, potential. Two of Scotland’s three UNESCO Ardamurchan, Fort William and Appin. European Geoparks lie within the Plan area. These are the Lochaber Geopark and a southern part of the North West Highlands Geopark. Material Assets Cultural heritage 897km of core paths. Within the Plan area there are: 2875km of public rights of way 4 conservation areas 5 Historic Battlefield areas 274 scheduled monuments Landscape Air The West Highland and Islands area includes 11 National Scenic Areas, 16 Wild Land Areas and 15 The air quality in the West Highland and Special Landscape Areas. Islands is generally very good. The plan is unlikely to have a significant negative effect on air quality Climatic factors Human Health Some core paths and associated infrastructure Healthy life expectancy in Highland is just above are located in exposed and remote locations Scottish average 82.2 for female and 77.7 for which are prone to coastal, fluvial and pluvial male against 81/76.9 for Scotland. Some 19.2 flooding. per cent of the plan’s population reported a limiting long-term illness or health problem that affected their day-to-day activities 20 | P a g e 4 Expected Environmental Implications without the Plan A do nothing approach may lead to a core paths plan that contains routes which are not used as intended/expected, been replaced by an alternative route or lost through natural processes. Over time this may lead to a loss of confidence of the public to use the paths plan or as a reference for promoting recreational access. Assessment approach and key findings SEA objectives relating to the key topics were identifies and are shown below; Table 2. SEA Topic SEA Objective 1 - Biodiversity, Flora & To conserve and where possible enhance biodiversity and accord to the Fauna protection of valued nature conservation habitats and species 2 - Population & Human To improve the living environment for all communities and promote improved Health health of the human population. (POPULATION SCOPED OUT OF THIS SEA) 3 - Soil & Peat Safeguard the soil quality, geo-diversity and improve contaminated land. 4 - Water Avoid, manage and reduce flood risk and protect the water environment. 5 - Air Maintain and, where possible, improve air quality. 6 - Climatic Factors Reduce greenhouse gases and contribute to the adaptation of the area to climate change 7 - Material Assets Manage, maintain and promote sustainable use of material assets. (SCOPED OUT OF THIS SEA) 8 - Historic Protect and where appropriate enhance the historic environment. Environment & Cultural Heritage 9 - Landscape Protect and enhance the character, diversity and unique qualities of the landscape.
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