Heritage Strategy Environmental Report November 2012
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Heritage Strategy Environmental Report November 2012 www.scottishcanals.co.uk Contents ITEM PAGE 1. Non-technical summary 01 2. Introduction 02 2.1 Content and Purpose of the Strategy 03 2.2 Key Facts 03 3. Context 04 3.1 Other plans, strategies and 04 environmental objectives 3.2 Environmental Baseline 06 3.3 Environmental Issues 09 4. Environmental Assessment 10 4.1 Assessment Approach and Methods 10 4.2 Alternatives Considered 11 4.3 Assessment Findings 11 5. Mitigation and Monitoring 15 5.1 Mitigation 15 5.2 Monitoring 16 5.3 Next Steps 16 www.scottishcanals.co.uk 1 1. Non-technical summary 1.1 Introduction Plans, programmes and strategies that a) fall under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and b) have the potential to have significant environmental effects have to be assessed before they are adopted. We have assessed Scottish Canals Heritage Strategy 2013–38 because it meets these criteria. This type of assessment is called strategic environmental assessment (SEA). This Environmental Report: describes the context of the Heritage Strategy describes the relevant aspects of the environmental baseline explains how the environmental assessment was carried out sets out the findings of the environmental assessment makes recommendations for mitigating the negative effects and improving the positive effects of the strategy explains how significant or unknown effects will be monitored 1.2 Context One of the early stages of the SEA process is to consider how the strategy relates to other relevant policies, plans, strategies and environmental objectives. Section 3.1 describes the key environmental objectives we identified and the context of the heritage strategy. Historic Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have been consulted on the proposed approach and scope of the assessment. We decided to focus upon three topics – 1) biodiversity, flora and fauna, 2) cultural heritage and 3) landscape. Section 4.1 sets out our reasons for this. In order to help consider the effects of the strategy we gathered information for each of the five canals. Section 3.2 of the Environmental Report summarises the environmental baseline. 1.3 Environmental Assessment We used a set of questions, called SEA objectives, to help predict the environmental effects of the strategy. These are shown in Table 5. This is a common way of assessing the environmental effects of plans, and helps to make the assessment systematic and consistent. Overall the actions and objectives within the draft strategy were found to have positive effects, those for cultural heritage being significant. An uncertain effect was identified for biodiversity, however, potential negative impacts would be mitigated at project level through our existing processes and the cumulative impact is likely to be neutral. 1.4 Mitigation and Monitoring We felt that any negative effects were likely to be of a nature and scale that could be mitigated when actions were carried out. Each action assessed as having an environmental effect will be evaluated, mitigated and monitored through our Environmental Management System. 1.5 Your Feedback This Environmental Report accompanies the draft Scottish Canals Heritage Strategy 2013–38. We welcome any comments that you would like to make on either document by 14 January 2013. Please go to www.scottishcanals.co.uk/draft-heritage-strategy/your-feedback to see the different ways you can send us your views. The questions in this report may help to structure your response. www.scottishcanals.co.uk 2 2. Introduction 2.1 Content and Purpose of the Strategy The Scottish Canals comprise a collection of nationally important, 200-year-old working monuments, which together represent a key development during Scotland’s Industrial Revolution. The heritage strategy covers a wide variety of canal-related heritage, including historic engineering structures, historic buildings, archaeology, artefacts, archives, natural heritage, cultural landscapes as well as associated, non-physical heritage such as music and literature, oral testimony and historical events. It focuses on heritage assets of particular cultural significance and conservation need as well as objectives that will deliver public benefits. The strategy can be viewed or downloaded from www.scottishcanals.co.uk/draft-heritage-strategy. Its purpose is described in 2.2 Key Facts below: 2.2 Key Facts Responsible Authority British Waterways Board operating as Scottish Canals Title of strategy/plan Heritage Strategy Subject Cultural heritage Period covered 2013–38 What prompted the Significant change has provided us with the opportunity to review our strategy/plan strategic direction. From 2 July 2012, British Waterways Board has operated solely in Scotland, remaining a public corporation sponsored by Scottish Government. Our trading name is ‘Scottish Canals’. British Waterways was formerly a cross-border public corporation. In England and Wales, a new charity, the Canal & River Trust, has taken over the former role of British Waterways. Frequency of updates The overall strategy will be reviewed in 2017. As we complete actions and our baseline audit, objectives will be reviewed on a yearly basis. Area affected Forth & Clyde, Union, Monkland, Caledonian and Crinan Canals Purpose of to tackle the major risks to canal heritage and provide a framework strategy/plan for its enhancement to obtain a clear understanding of the values and condition of our heritage in order to prioritise and measure benefits to identify specific, measurable outputs for the next 5 years to maximise benefits across all Scottish Canals’ functions Contact point for Dr Sabina Strachan queries Senior Heritage Advisor Canal House 1 Applecross Street Glasgow G4 9SP www.scottishcanals.co.uk 3 3. Context 3.1 Other plans, strategies and environmental objectives The Heritage Strategy sets out Scottish Canals’ policy for heritage management as well as a 5- year project plan which will benefit our heritage and people. It will sit within this hierarchy: Legislation Government Business Plan Functional Plans Policy & Policies & Programmes Heritage Strategy In preparing the Heritage Strategy we have considered the relationship of other legislation, policies, plans and strategies. This has helped to ensure objectives are complementary and to work out where mitigation could best be implemented. The documents reviewed and key environmental objectives are set out below. Plans or Strategies Environmental Objectives Scottish Canals British Waterways Act 1995 (Section 22) The strategy will aim to help deliver Scottish Scotland’s Canals: An Asset for the Future Canals’ and the Scottish Waterways Trust’s 2002 duties, policies and existing heritage objectives: Scottish Canals Business Plan 2012/13 The Waterways Trust Business Plan to consider conserving or enhancing 2012/13 landscape, biodiversity and the historic environment when developing proposals to take into account any environmental effects of our proposals to protect and promote environmentally significant features for public benefit Development Management Scottish Planning Policy 2010 The strategy will help to deliver objectives National Planning Framework for Scotland relating to statutory and non-statutory 2 2009 heritage, landscape and biodiversity, canal area regeneration, access and green network Planning Advice Note 2/2011: Planning management, such as: and Archaeology Current and draft local plans and relevant to provide the framework for the supplementary planning guidance protection, conservation and enhancement Glasgow Canals Development Framework of the historic environment 2004 to create integrated habitat networks Green Network Strategies e.g. Central to support opportunities for enjoyment Scotland Green Network, The Vision 2011 and understanding of the natural heritage Core Path Plans e.g. Highland Council Core to facilitate positive change whilst Path Network Plan 2011 maintaining and enhancing landscape Maryhill Town Centre Action Plan 2011 character Masterplans e.g. Tamfourhill, Falkirk 2011 to create an environment for sustainable Local community plans e.g. Ardrishaig growth, health, well-being and mitigate Placemaking report 2009 climate change to draw up a system of ‘core paths’ to create more sustainable, healthier places www.scottishcanals.co.uk 4 Plans or Strategies Environmental Objectives Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan 1994 The strategy will include natural heritage Scotland’s Biodiversity – It’s in Your Hands objectives derived from biodiversity policies to 2004 conserve habitats, species and ecosystems. The policies note the importance of a holistic, A Five Year Species Action Framework: landscape approach to biodiversity Making a difference for Scotland’s Species conservation. Their aims are: 2007 British Waterways Biodiversity Action Plan to halt the loss of biodiversity and continue 2005 to reverse previous losses through targeted Local Biodiversity Action Plans e.g. Falkirk action for species and habitats Area Biodiversity Action Plan 2011– to protect and enhance species and 2014 habitats e.g. control of non-native species Site of Special Scientific Interest Site to increase awareness, understanding and Management Statements e.g. Dullatur enjoyment of the natural environment Marsh 2010 to manage access appropriately to avoid Green Network strategies e.g. Glasgow damage to habitats, and disturbance to Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership