g A . \m a d la M>S ce?vfs- ?ox local environment agency plan WEST MIDLANDS-TAME CONSULTATION REPORT MARCH 1998 Brownhills Tamworth Wolverhampton Aldridge Sutton Coldfield Atherst Kingsbury West Bromwich Nuneaton Birrplngham Fillongley Meriden C oven Solihull B alsall Common Dorridge En v ir o n m e n t Agency Your Views What is this report about? This report is about the environment of Birmingham, Solihull, much of the Black Country and parts of Warwickshire, what we call the West Midlands - Tame area. It is all the land that drains to the River Tame up to Kingsbury, just upstream of the River Purification Lakes at Lea Marston. The report looks at the physical environment of land, air, water, wildlife and heritage. It highlights the current quality of the environment, the natural resources of the area and how they can be protected. It also identifies specific environmental problems in the area and how they can be tackled. Why should I read it? The Environment Agency wants to hear your views on the issues facing the environment of the area and what you think should be done about them. Telling us your views will enable you to contribute to environmental protection and improvement and influence what the Environment Agency and others do. We will be pleased to receive any comments that you wish to make but in particular we are very keen to know: o what you think should be done about them? o how important do you think the issues are? o What you think of our proposals? o are there problems or opportunities that we have not included? o whether you can help to tackle any of the issues. What will the Environment Agency do with my comments? The Agency will consider your comments prior to the production of an Action Plan which will set out proposals to protect and improve the environment of the area. If you want us to, we will reply to you on your specific comments, letting you know how they have influenced our actions, and if appropriate, the actions of others. All comments will be treated as public information unless you ask us otherwise. If you want more copies of this document for colleagues or other organisations that you think would be interested, we will be pleased to send them free, either to you or direct to them. Please return your comments to us by 25 June 1998 West Midlands - Tame LEAP iii Page 2 8 In which town or area do you live? Comments If you have any further comments, please write them here or continue on another piece of paper. 9 What best describes your interest? (Please tick one box only). An officer working for a local authority or government agency/department. An officer/representative of a national organisation. A member of an environmental pressure group. A member of a local sports club. A member of a local amenity society (ie Civic Trust). A local resident. An individual interested in environmental matters. Other (Please specify) 10 Are there other issues you would like to see included in the Action Plan? Y/N If “yes”, please give brief details (use separate sheets if necessary) 11 Are there any major errors or omissions in the report? Y/N If “yes”, please give brief details (use a separate sheet if necessary) 12 If you would like a reply, please write your name and address below. Your address will not be given to anyone else, although this questionnaire will be available for public inspection. Name: Address: Thank you For completing this questionnaire. Post Code Environment Agency Sentinel House Wellington Crescent Fradley Park Lichfield Tel: (01543) 444141 Staffs WS13 8RR Fax:(01543)444161 Your Views Count The aims of the Consultation Report and 6 The principlal aim of the Environment Agency is to Leaflet are: “contribute to sustainable development” . • To tell you our vision, the issues we consider need to be Do you understand what is meant by “sustainable tackled, and how we can work together. It also provides development”? Y/N background environmental information about the local area. 7 We have identified issues and options in Section 3 of the Consultation Report and in the summary leaflet. Please • To receive your views and comments. This is your circle and mark the five issues in order of importance to opportunity to tell us what you think and you can help by you. (1 =Most important, 5=Least important). filling out this questionnaire. Alternatively a separate written statement (by letter or fax) would be welcomed. All Issue 1 Biodiversity. comments received will be treated as public information unless you state otherwise. Issue 2 Lack of public access routes along river banks. Issue 3 Enhancement of watercourse corridors in urban i) Please answer the questions in the questionnaire (it areas for wildlife and amenity. should only take five minutes). Issue 4 Urban run-off and deoxygenation of the River ii) Write any extra comments on the back of this sheet. Tame. iii) Detach the questionnaire and send it to us in the Issue 5 Sustainable Urban Drainage. FREEPOST envelope provided. Issue 6 Investment by Severn Trent Water Limited to improve water quality. Questions Issue 7 Lea Marston Purification Lakes. 1 Have you heard of the Environment Agency before? Y/N Issue 8 River flows and water quality in the River Blythe. 2 How did you first find out about this Local Environment Issue 9 Excess nutrient levels in the Sutton Park Pools. Agency Plan? (Please tick box). Issue 10 The current quality of rivers and canals. Letter from Agency Agency displays Issue 11 The effect of the West Midlands - Tame catchment on downstream water quality. Radio ! I TV I I Issue 12 Contaminated land. Newspaper Issue 13 The impact of rising groundwater beneath Other (please state)_____________________________________ Birmingham. 3 Where did you get this report? Issue 14 Baseflow contribution to the River Tame. Issue 15 Water resources development strategy for canals. Issue 16 Litter and the aesthetic pollution of rivers and 4 Have you seen the summary leaflet? Y/N canals. 5 Our Vision for the area is: Issue 17 Enclosure of waste transfer activities. Issue 18 Packington Landfill Site. “An improved and balanced relationship between human activity and the environment, so that neither causes harm to Issue 19 Flytipping. the other, and each may continue to benefit from the other”. Issue 20 Sustainable Waste Management. Do you agree with this? Y/N Issue 21 Air quality monitoring. If you disagree, please explain why. Issue 22 Industrial heavy metal pollution in Pleck, Walsall. Issue 23 Odour problems in Sandwell. Issue 24 Review of flood defences on the River Tame. Issue 25 The proliferation of surface water balancing systems in Solihull. Issue 26 The future management of Park Hall Farm. More questions overleaf West Midlands Tame LEAP Foreword Welcome to the consultation report of one of the Environment Agency’s new Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAPs). The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating waste disposal, releases to air from some industrial processes and safeguarding and where possible improving the water environment. The Agency has set itself the aim of protecting and enhancing the whole environment through the promotion of sustainable development. One way of achieving this aim is through local environment planning and collaborative action with the community, Local Authorities and other organisations. The Agency and other regulators have to work in an ever wider international context because environmental changes are occurring on a global scale. Our long term strategy must reflect global issues, and our actions at a local level will help to provide the solutions. The Agency is looking to dovetail many of its actions and activities into the Local Agenda 21 process. The LEAP process will establish a common vision for the West Midlands - Tame area and provide a framework for protecting and improving our local environment. It will raise local environmental issues and, through partnership, will direct resources to where they are most needed. LEAP areas are based on river catchments because they provide firm environmental boundaries, and this plan relates to all the land that drains to the River Tame as far as Kingsbury, just downstream of the Lea Marston Purification Lakes. This report is published as part of a major consultation exercise and marks the start of a three month period of consultation. It is the first stage in the LEAP process and will result in the publication of an action plan which will set out a costed programme of work by the Agency, and by agreement, other organisations, to protect and improve the environment of the West Midlands - Tame area over the next five years. Annual reviews over the five year period will report on the progress being made. Your views are very important and will be help in the production of the action plan. I look forward to hearing from you, Philip Burns Area Manager Upper Trent Area Midlands Region Environment Agency West Midlands - Tame LEAP i 90 Sj 00 SK West Midlands • Tame Local Environment Agency Plan Tamworth Map 1 E n v i r o n m e n t SI SK 00 H A g e n c y 00 so SP Atherstone 90 Nuneaton 90 Coventry 80 West Midlands - Tame 80 KEY LEAP boundary River Canal Built up area M otorway Arv Railway 90 SO 00 SP 20 30 Your Views Your views on this report will be considered in preparing the next phase, the Action Plan. The entire consultation report will not be rewritten as part of the action plan process. However, any errors or omissions will be acknowledged in a statement on the public consultation response, to be published soon after the consultation period ends on 25 June 1998.