AONB Partnership Committee Minutes of the meeting at SWT Callow Rock Quarry Offices, Gorge, Cheddar, BS27 3DQ 15th March 2012

Present:

Partnership Committee: Cllr Ann Harley North Council (Vice‐Chair) Sarah Jackson Mendip Hills AONB Katie Spencer Council officer Cllr John Bull Bath and North East Somerset Council Chris Head WREN (West of England Rural Environment Network) Janice Gardiner Avon Wildlife Trust David Clark Council Officer James Small National Farmers Union Representative Richard Curry B&NES Parishes Representative Nigel Taylor Somerset Parishes Representative Don Kinsey North Somerset Parishes Representative Paul Harley Mendip Society Andy Mayled National Trust Chris Edwards Somerset County Council Officer Chris Mayes Natural England Michele Bowe Somerset Wildlife Trust

Other Attendees: Andy Mallender Mendip Hills AONB David Bradley CEO Longleat Estate Ceawlin Thynn Chairman Longleat Enterprises Rupert Pugh Director of Heights of Abraham

Apologies received from: Cllr Dawn Hill Somerset County Council (Chair) Sue Murtagh B&NES Council Officer Cllr Dennis Davey District Council Julie Cooper Sedgemoor District Council Officer

Summary of Actions Item No Item Actions Longleat SJ would raise and discuss with the AONB Planning Liaison SJ presentation Officer the need for the AONB Partnership to write to SDC to request that the AONB be considered in a Section 106 Agreement as part of the preplanning discussions the authority have with Longleat Estate.

AONB Management Plan Objective D1 should be All referenced by all Partnership members when considering or responding to requests for view of Partnership on the proposals.

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Item Item Notes Action No Chairing of the Cllr Anne Harley informed the meeting that she had been meeting asked to Chair the meeting as Cllr Dawn Hill had been advised by SDC that due to the Longleat Estate presence at the meeting she should not attend due to conflict of interest with her role on the SDC Planning Committee. NT declared his interest in the Longleat presentation as a Cheddar Parish Councillor Longleat Estate New visitor attractions in – David Bradley presentation gave a 20 minute presentation on the background to the proposed ideas that include a cable car, visitor centre and education centre. • Visitor numbers have fallen – 130,000 less visitors now compared to peak. • Coxs Mill owned by Longleat for approx 15 years has fallen into disrepair and has been boarded up as squatters had moved in. As owners of other hotels (Wilts and Bath) recognise that Coxs Mill is not fit for purpose. • Have set up new web site Cheddargorge.com with new image and developing sub brands. • Costa partnership has increased sales by 350% • Popularity of London Eye has shown that people like views ‐ Cable car would open up access to the Gorge views to everyone. Cable car would not compete with any other attraction in area as unique. Visitors to Heights of Abraham including cable car stay 4‐5 hrs. • Education Centre ‐ 150,000 children already visit Cheddar Gorge each year and 250,000 visit Longleat (Wilts) . Propose education centre on top of Gorge unloading from the cable car as only means of access but will look at other locations. • Also plan to relaunch Goughs and Coxs cave as in 70’s time warp. • Need regeneration in Cheddar – SDC interested in early ideas. 1000 people visited the exhibition last week and 5‐1 reported being in support of proposals so far. Longleat are aware of the various designations covering the Gorge including AONB, SSSI, and scheduled monument. An Environmental Impact Assessment and visual impact assessment will be undertaken.

Rupert Pugh Heights of Abraham Director gave

2 background to the cable car installed at the site in Derbyshire. They had been careful not to disrupt the historic profile of the estate and kept cable towers below the height of the trees. JB suggested that the A6 road that passes the site would contribute significantly to incidental visits and that Cheddar Gorge is different having a minor road. CM commented that Heights of Abraham is a designed landscape whereas Cheddar Gorge is a unmodified and natural landscape. NT asked whether if they do get permission for a cable car and other developments would Longleat pursue other developments on the cliff top? DB explained that they were seeking to minimise impact and were conscious of views from the other side (owned by NT). They would rather do up Coxs Mill and planned to render their current office buildings in Cheddar . CE asked in opening up the area to more people how do they plan to stop people falling off the edge and would it require fences and signs. RH replied that at Heights of Abraham it had not been an issue on their side and other side owned by local authority there was not a ‘line of signs’. AH thanked DB, CT and RP for their presentation and they left the meeting.

CH suggested that the AONB Partnership should write to SDC to request that the AONB be considered in any Section 106 Agreement as part of the preplanning discussions the authority have with Longleat Estate. SJ would raise and discuss with the AONB Planning SJ Liaison Officer.

DK expressed concern regarding traffic in villages between Weston and Cheddar.

It was agreed that the AONB Management Plan ALL Objective D1 (page 27) shown below should be referenced by all Partnership members when considering or responding to requests for view of Partnership on the proposals.

D1 That all Local Development Framework documents and planning decision making processes will use the following criteria to determine the acceptability of a proposed development in the Mendip Hills AONB :Development will: • Enhance the distinctive character of the location

3 as described by the relevant landscape character assessment, strategy and guidelines • Avoid damaging visual intrusions in to the landscape (such as radio masts, overhead power lines and wind turbines in unsympathetic locations) • Incorporate designs and landscaping consistent with the above, respecting the local settlement pattern and building styles and materials • Incorporate appropriate sustainability elements and designs • Ensure quarrying takes place in the least environmentally damaging manner until the consent expires • Maintain or improve the existing level of tranquility and dark skies • Not have an adverse impact on the local community amenities and services and access to these. • Protect and where possible enhance, biodiversity • Be in accordance with a more sustainable pattern of development reducing dependence on travel by car.

Note: there are a number of other objectives that require consideration as part of an EIA . 1. Apologies Apologies noted from a number of members (listed above) 2. Minutes of the With the exception of an error on page 7 para 6 of AWT meeting held 28th being recorded instead of SWT with regard to comment September 2011 by Michele Bowe these were noted as a true and accurate and actions record of the previous meeting.

The actions from the previous minutes were completed as follows: 1) AONB Planning application referral guidelines had been sent to all 5 local authority directors of planning. 2) Annual Forum information had been sent and event held on 10th November had been well received with a follow up familiarisation event now planned in May for local businesses. 3. Officer Support CE reported that he was following up IT release request Group – Paper A and lease with SWT. He had been asked by SCC to find an Chris Edwards, example of another group in SCC that had moved out. Somerset County Business Plan/ Delivery Plan 2012/13 ‐ NT concerned Council that budget very tight and that £500 difference between

4 income and expenditure concerning. SJ explained that budget shown was the new financial year budget allocation only showing allocation of Defra grant and evidence of match funding from local authorities. Budget currently shows £0 contribution from N.Som but it is anticipated that they will be able to make a contribution to the budget. Once 2011/12 budget finalised there will be some carry forward and this be reported in the annual review due in May.

The Partnership endorsed the Business Plan/budget and Delivery Plan 2012/13.

4. Mendip Hills AONB There followed a presentation by Sarah Jackson and Andy Delivery Plan Mallender on the work of the AONB Unit over the year. 2011/12 The AONB Annual Review 2011/12 will be available in May 2012. i) AONB Unit presentation The presentation included the HLF grant awarded for Black Down. Work is now underway on the development of activity and interpretation programmes to draw down stage 2 grant.

The Partnership formerly acknowledged and agreed the AONB Units acceptance of the HLF grant

SJ reported that with regards the SDF funded Phase 1 of the restoration of traditional highways signage project, one or two individuals in had reportedly voiced objection of the use of ‘collars’ that have been successfully used elsewhere in Somerset. SJ asked that the Partnership confirm their support for the project continuing and using these collars. The Partnership supported the finger post project including the use of the collars.

ii)Partnership MB reported that SWT are developing industry and nature Updates projects in east and west Mendips with Aggregate Industries and undertaking grassland connectivity work. In June SWT are holding ‘Nature after Minerals’ workshop at Callow offices.

AWT explained that Living Landscape project has 50 yr (Map vision and AWT are only 3 years in to their work and SWT attached) 5 years so it is a long term process. Map of the survey work completed is shown on attached map.

5. Local Nature CM gave verbal update. Two handouts were provided –

5 Partnerships (LNP) Somerset LNP briefing paper and NE Natural Character and Natural Area Note for External Partners. Character Area Funding has been provided until end of June to establish a (NCA) review Somerset LNP and a West of England LNP. CH commented update that he had heard that week that West of England bid for LNP had not been successful. CM and JG aid that this was not the case and as far as they understood it was going forward. LNPs are to look at working across borders eg AONBs. Somerset LNP have commissioned work to develop LNP thinking and workshops will be held to bring interested parties together. Also gathering economic data for State of the Environment report. This information will be available to the AONB and others. SJ will be involved in the focus group and CE and others on the Partnership are on the steering group.

NCA work has been diverted to focus on areas where there is to be a Nature Improvement Area (NIA). Mendip Hills should be available by September 2012. 6. National Association SJ is now NAAONB Board portfolio holder for of AONBs – Paper B Communication involved in networking AONBs. Sarah Jackson, Further work on AONBs access to non exchequer funding AONB Unit being undertaken at national level part funded by Defra. 7. A.O.B NT had asked MDC to support extension of the AONB boundary but due to change in his portfolio from People and Places to Regulatory Services as of April 1st he will pursue this in MDC with new portfolio holder and hopes that MDC will declare interest in extension. 8. Date of next 28th June 2012, 27th September 2012, Annual Forum 8th SJ meetings November 2012, 14th March 2013

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