localkenvironment agency plan OLD BEDFORD INCORPORATING THE MIDDLE LEVEL AND OUSE WASHES MAY 1997 E n v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y NATIONAL LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE ANGLIAN REGION Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR En v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y In preparing this local vision, the Environment Agency has defined what it would wish the environment to be. Through consultation, we must ensure that this Vision also includes the aspirations of all the key partners in the production of this plan. It should be remembered that the Vision may take more than 5 years to achieve, but can still influence our work in the near future. Most societies want to achieve economic development to secure a better quality of life, now and in the future. They also seek to protect their environment. The concept of sustainable development tries to reconcile these two objectives - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Agency's remit is working towards making this concept a reality whilst not jeopardising the economic livelihoods of local communities such as this one. As a statutory consultee in the Town & Country Planning process, we will encourage planned developments and infrastructure to be sustainable. The "Old Bedford" area, found mainly in Cambridgeshire and part of Norfolk, is a highly rural locality where agricultural land use predominates. Its unique fenland landscape reflects how man has altered the waterways to produce a highly managed system. However, this is not a static ecosystem but an area which is evolving as a result of its different users and pressures imposed upon it. For example, the Ouse Washes, primarily constructed to offer flood relief over 300 years ago, also exists today as one of the Europe's most decorated havens for waterfowl. The Agency's vision for the "Old Bedford" encapsulates the above discussion: We do not have control over regulating the whole environment and therefore the future of environmental protection does need to involve close working especially between local authorities and the Agency. The Agency and others will also have to, within agreed plans, work flexibly to respond to operational needs such as drought, flooding or pollution incidents. It has also to be expected that users will have to be prepared to be flexible, eg, conservationists, industrialists, navigators, anglers and farmers. The entire community of users of this environment needs to take a broader view of everyone's needs and not only from their own stance; our efforts need to focus on maintaining all the existing values and uses of the environment in this locality in the future. This will be a challenging task. The environment will continue to evolve perhaps through climate change and sea level rise or through altering farming practice in response to changes in the market place or the nation's economy. However, how long will current practices be sustainable for and will choices need to be made between them? We will continue to balance the overall demand for water resources from all sectors of the community with the needs of the environment. Without considerable effort, the local area will have a different and less favourable future; we will continue to seek improvements to water quality through negotiations with Anglian Water Services and by giving advice to land managers to encourage the best environmental practices. We would expect localised improvements downstream of Somersham and Whittlesey as a result of improvements to sewage treatment works. We will be aiming for compliance with long term objectives; we will also wish to see air quality continuing to improve in the future through its effective regulation and the implementation of the UK Air Quality Strategy; we will work with others to capitalise on opportunities to maintain and enhance the biodiversity of the area through habitat enhancement projects, wherever possible, eg, through the Wet Fens for the Future Project and maximising opportunities for recreation; and, the Agency will continue to strive towards a truly integrated approach to environmental management. One example of this is the regulation of waste; the on­ going promotion of minimisation and recycling whilst we continue to assess the environmental practicability of disposal options such as landfill or incineration. We are still a young organisation and the future will also see the Agency evolve to manage more effectively at local, regional and at a national level. We hope that this will be a shared vision for the community of the "Old Bedford" and as said above the Agency will work increasingly in partnership with local authorities, environmental groups, user groups and other interested parties. This LEAP, as it evolves from Consultation Report to Action Plan, will form an important focus for this partnership and target resources where they are needed most. Partnership and community involvement are the cornerstones to implementing this plan through improved communication and raised awareness, so that even individuals can make their contribution to sustaining the environment whilst enjoying its character and wildlife. Publishing the Consultation Report marks the first phase of the Local Environment Agency Plan process for the "Old Bedford" area which started with the consultation meeting in February 1997. This document represents our analysis of the State of the Environment and highlights the issues we believe need to be addressed. We hope that this report will be read by anyone who has an interest in the environment in this locality. Your views will help us finalise the Action Plan. We want hear yours views on the following, in particular: Have we identified all the major issues? Have we identified all the potential options for action to resolve these? Do you agree with our Vision for the plan area? Have you any comments on the appearance and contents of the report? Please comment in writing to: The Customer Services Manager Old Bedford LEAP Environment Agency - Anglian Region Central Area Bromholme Lane Brampton Huntingdon Cambs PE18 8NE Telephone Enquiries: (01480) 414581 FAX No: (01480) 435193 All comments should reach us by 25 August 1997 Further copies are also available at the above address. Please Note: This is not a draft document and will not be republished. The next document in this series will be the "Old Bedford" LEAP Action Plan due February 1998. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 0 3 8 2 2 0 Map 1 Overview PETERBOROUGH '-'lO ngs Dyke MWM J Yaxley Lode * / River Nene (Old Course) £ / 1 1 1 V V ' 1 % •v v i Plan Boundary Main River Middle Level Commissioners Main Drains t NORTH SCALE Don Gresswell Ltd., London, N21 Cat. No. 1208 DG 02242/71 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ANGLIAN REGION THE ‘OLD BEDFORD’ LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY PLAN CONSULTATION REPORT MAY 1997 FOREWORD On April 1st 1996, the Environment Agency took over the duties of the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Pollution, the Waste Regulation Authorities and a small part of the Department of the Environment. The Environment Agency will provide a more comprehensive approach to the protection of the environment by combining the regulation of land, air and water. Local Environment Agency Plans (or LEAPs) will draw together the responsibilities of the Agency to set out a common vision for the management of the environment as a whole. This report provides a framework for consultation and a means of seeking consensus on issues and options for action from those involved - to realise the full environmental potential of the area. This is Central Area’s first LEAP and the issues to be considered in this Consultation Report include: • the future management of the Ouse Washes to take account of the needs of all users; • factors influencing current and future farming practice and other land uses; and, • where we need to undertake further monitoring or investigation, such as to improve our knowledge of the biodiversity of the area. This is a very comprehensive document; so can I draw your attention to the "Readers Guide’’ which should assist you in navigating through the report to gather the information you need. We look forward to receiving your comments. Contributions from interested organisations, local authorities and members of the public will enable a final Action Plan to be produced which balances the conflicting demands placed upon the natural environment. Keith Stonell Area Manager (Central) CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 1 PART 1 AREA SNAPSHOT & ISSUES IN BRIEF Section 1 Introduction 5 Section 2 Overview of the Area 10 Section 3 Issues and Options 24 Section 4 Protection through Partnership 52 PART II AREA DETAIL & BACKGROUND Section 5 Uses, Activities & Pressures 59 Section 6 State of the Environment 133 Section 7 Next Steps 183 APPENDICES A Index B Glossary C Waste regulation D Water Quality Objectives E Constraints to Development ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A We would like to thank all those organisations and individuals who have got involved during the preparation of this plan and especially to those who attended the early consultation meeting. In particular the staff from MAFF and ADAS who put considerable effort into the sections .describing agriculture. We would also like to thank all those Environment Agency staff who invested many hours of hard work to prepare this plan and also the valuable contribution to the process made by members of the Great Ouse Area Environment Group. I Map No LIST OF MAPS Page 1 Old Bedford Overview Cover 2 Old Bedford