River Mease, the Impact on Development The copyright on this image of the River Mease is owned by Michael Patterson and is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution‐ShareAlike 2.0 license. An Environment Scrutiny Committee Report on the Impact on Development of the River Mease September 2010 Report, together with written evidence River Mease Working Party The River Mease Working Party Cllr Jones Cllr Saffell Cllr Wyatt Chairman The council’s scrutiny committees examine, in detail, selected areas of the council’s work, responsibilities and policies. The aim is to find out if there are ways in which the council could be doing things better and to influence national issues. This report is the result of an examination of a particular subject. It sums up how the scrutiny committee carried out the examination, its findings and considerations, conclusions and recommendations for any improvements. Scrutiny in North West Leicestershire 2 River Mease, the Impact on Development Contents SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................... 5 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................ 7 AREAS OF WORK.............................................................................................................7 EVIDENCE GATHERING............................................................................................ 7 WRITTEN EVIDENCE.........................................................................................................7 ORAL EVIDENCE ..............................................................................................................8 ISSUES CONSIDERED ............................................................................................... 8 THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AGENCIES ..............................................................8 The Council........................................................................................................................ 8 Natural England................................................................................................................ 8 Environment Agency......................................................................................................... 8 ‘Taking Ownership’ ........................................................................................................... 9 THE CURRENT POSITION ...................................................................................................9 Designation and the LDF................................................................................................... 9 Phosphates......................................................................................................................10 POSSIBLE ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUES .......................................................................10 THE LIKELY IMPACT ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA .................................................11 STEPS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION ...................................................................................11 LONGER‐TERM APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA ...................................................12 CONCLUSIONS ..............................................................................................................12 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................... 12 APPENDICES ‐ EVIDENCE ....................................................................................... 14 WITNESSES ..................................................................................................................14 LIST OF WRITTEN EVIDENCE ............................................................................................14 Natural England.............................................................................................................. 15 Environment Agency....................................................................................................... 19 Severn Trent Water Ltd................................................................................................... 23 Ashby de la Zouch Civic Society....................................................................................... 25 Ashby de la Zouch Town Council..................................................................................... 43 Scrutiny in North West Leicestershire River Mease, the Impact on Development Summary, conclusions and recommendations During work in conjunction with the preparation of the Local Development Framework, the Environment Agency raised objections to allocation for housing of land within the River Mease Special Area of Conservation. This area is an environment protected at the highest European level and pollution levels in the River Mease are above the target for this designation. This has serious implications for the identification of land for housing development of the Local Development Framework and the Portfolio Holder for Place Shaping requested that the Environment Scrutiny Committee investigate the issues and explore possible solutions to the issues. The Environment Scrutiny Committee appointed Councillors G Jones, A Saffell and M Wyatt to the River Mease Working Party. The working party had benefit of written evidence and oral evidence from the agencies involved, local developers, parish councils and members of the public. We would also like to thank all those who have helped us with our work, particularly those who attended our meetings. Despite the different aspects of involvement of the different agencies to which we spoke, there was considerable willingness to contribute towards a solution. The River Mease Working Party makes recommendations that; The issues are complex. There is no short‐term solution and in the longer‐term, it is likely that investment will be needed for the water treatment works. The meetings between agencies are useful in ensuring that they are working together. R1. Officers continue to liaise with all agencies in seeking to move towards a long‐term solution. Although frequent reports would not be necessary, we feel that further progress should be reported to members and the most appropriate medium would be the Environment Scrutiny Committee. R2. Further reports on developments and progress be made to the Environment Scrutiny Committee. We feel that we have completed the remit given to us and that the working party completes its work in presenting this report containing our recommendations. R3. The Environment Scrutiny Committee disband the River Mease Working Party. Scrutiny in North West Leicestershire 5 River Mease, the Impact on Development c. Establish the likely impact Background on future development in 1. Work in preparation of the Local the area. Development Framework (LDF), d. Make recommendations revealed that there were serious for steps to improve the issues relating to how much situation and appropriate development might be appropriate longer‐term approach to in Ashby and Measham because of development in the area. the possible impact on the River e. Report by the meeting of Mease Special Area of the Environment Scrutiny Conservation (SAC). Committee scheduled for 2. Discussions took place with both 18 May 20101. the Environment Agency and Natural England to explore this Evidence Gathering issue. It is apparent from the discussions that the potential 6. At our first meeting, the working impact of this issue was potentially party received an introductory more serious than initially report that set the scene for the envisaged. examination. 3. The Portfolio Holder for Place 7. We also received written Shaping asked whether the submissions from partner agencies Scrutiny Committee would and other bodies. investigate the situation, possible 8. All comments were constructive, action to alleviate the issues and explaining the issues and looking the likely impact on future for resolution. development in the area. 9. We would like to thank all those 4. In response to this request, the who gave us evidence in person or Environment Scrutiny Committee in writing. appointed Councillors, G Jones, A Saffell and M Wyatt to a River Written Evidence Mease Working Party. 10. In advance of our meetings we Areas of Work invited written evidence from the following parties; 5. The Working Party has consulted a. Natural England with partners and others in order to; b. Environment Agency a. Investigate the current c. Severn Trent Water Ltd. situation, b. Explore possible action to alleviate the issues. 1 Due to changes in the Council’s calendar of meetings and the working party’s wish to monitor progress, this report will be made to a meeting on 8 December 2010. Scrutiny in North West Leicestershire 7 River Mease Working Party d. Town and Parish Councils applications with implications for in the area the environment. e. Ward members 16. Of particular interest to this f. Members of the public examination, Natural England advises on impact upon designated Oral Evidence sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas for 11. Before our meetings, we received Conservation. considerable interest in our 17. Ian Butterfield stressed to us that proceedings. it is not the role of Natural England 12. At our meetings, we received to design solutions for specific presentations and statements problems but it does offer from witnesses as well as constructive advice upon observations and contributions suggested designs3. from