WEXFORD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2007 – 2013 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2007 Table of Content Glossary of Terms................................................................................................5 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY...............................................................................7 Chapter 1. Introduction....................................................................................15 1.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment ................................................. 15 1.2 County Development Plan and SEA Requirement ......................... 17 Chapter 2. Methodology .................................................................................19 2.1 Legislative Requirements..................................................................... 19 2.2 Scoping .................................................................................................. 19 2.3 Consultation with Environmental Authorities.................................... 20 2.4 Baseline Study ....................................................................................... 20 2.5 Considerations of Alternatives............................................................ 20 2.6 Environmental Assessment .................................................................. 21 Chapter 3. Consistency with International/ National / Regional / Local Policy .................................................................................................................23 3.1 Relationship with other plans and programmes.............................. 23 3.1.1 National Spatial Strategy 2002.................................................... 23 3.1.2 Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region, 2004 24 3.1.3 National Development Plan 2000-2006 & 2007-2013............... 25 3.1.4 National- Biodiversity Plan 2002 .................................................. 26 3.1.5 National Climate Change Strategy 2000.................................. 26 3.1.6 National Heritage Plan 2002........................................................ 27 3.1.7 Childcare Facilities – Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2001 27 3.1.8 Residential Density Guidelines for Planning Authorities 1999 . 27 3.1.9 Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2005 ........ 27 3.1.10 Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland 1997 .......... 28 3.1.11 Towards Sustainable Local Communities: Guidelines on Local Agenda 21 2001 ........................................................................................... 28 3.1.12 Architectural Heritage Protection, Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2004 ............................................................................................ 28 3.1.13 Landscape and Landscape Assessment (Draft) 2000. ........... 29 3.1.14 Quarries and Ancillary Activities – Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2004 ............................................................................................ 29 3.1.15 Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 ............................ 29 3.1.16 Development Plans Public Consultations Draft of Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2006 ...................................................................... 30 3.1.17 Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 30 3.1.18 Relevant International Policy Documents................................. 30 1 Chapter 4. Summary of Key Strategic Policies of the Plan ...........................32 4.1 The County Development Plan.......................................................... 32 4.1.1 County Wexford Settlement Hierarchy...................................... 32 Chapter 5. Description of the Existing Environment ......................................35 Chapter 6. Biodiversity .....................................................................................36 6.1 Conservation sites................................................................................. 37 6.1.1 Ramsar Sites - Wetlands ............................................................... 39 6.1.2 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’S) ..................................... 40 6.1.3 Special Protection Areas (SPAs).................................................. 41 6.1.4 Proposed NHA’s............................................................................. 42 6.1.5 Co. Wexford Nature Reserves ..................................................... 44 6.2 Fens ......................................................................................................... 45 6.3 Hedgerows ............................................................................................ 46 6.4 Gaps in data – ...................................................................................... 46 Chapter 7. Flora & Fauna .................................................................................48 7.1 Flora ........................................................................................................ 48 7.2 Fauna...................................................................................................... 49 7.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture................................................................... 51 Freshwater Pearl Mussel - found in River Slaney..................................... 51 7.4 Birds......................................................................................................... 52 Chapter 8. Population ......................................................................................53 8.1 Key Demographic and Socio - Economic Trends ........................... 53 8.2 South East Region- Components of Population change............... 53 8.3 Population at 2006 in County Wexford. ............................................ 54 8.4 Future Projections ................................................................................. 56 Chapter 9. Human Health ................................................................................58 9.1 Health Issues .......................................................................................... 58 9.2 Open Space & Community Facilities ................................................ 60 9.3 Lead Poisoning - Sources of Human Exposure................................. 61 9.3.1 Environmental Transport, Distribution and Transformation...... 61 9.3.2 Environmental Levels and Human Exposure............................. 62 Chapter 10. Soil.................................................................................................64 10.1 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................... 64 10.2 Aggregates............................................................................................ 65 10.3 Sites of Geological and Geomorphological interest in Co. Wexford ............................................................................................................. 65 10.3.1 Co. Wexford Geological Map .................................................... 66 Chapter 11. Water Quality ...............................................................................67 11.1 Bathing Water Quality.......................................................................... 67 11.2 Urban Waste Water Treatment........................................................... 68 11.3 Surface Water Streams and Rivers..................................................... 69 11.4 Rivers....................................................................................................... 70 11.5 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................... 70 Chapter 12. Air quality .....................................................................................72 2 12.1 Air Quality Monitoring .......................................................................... 73 12.2 Wind Energy........................................................................................... 73 Chapter 13. Climatic Factors...........................................................................75 13.1 Sea Level Change................................................................................ 75 13.2 Coastal Zone ......................................................................................... 75 13.2.1 Coastal Erosion/Deposition.......................................................... 76 13.3 Flooding.................................................................................................. 77 Recent Flooding in Enniscorthy Town ....................................................... 78 13.4 Impact of possible climate change & flooding .............................. 78 Chapter 14. Material Assets.............................................................................79 14.1 Telecommunications............................................................................ 80 14.2 Gas.......................................................................................................... 80 14.3 Roads...................................................................................................... 80 14.4 Rail........................................................................................................... 81 14.5 National Road Improvements ............................................................ 82 Chapter 15. Cultural Heritage including Architectural & Archaeological..83 15.1 Buildings and Structures for Protection in Rural areas..................... 83 15.2 Urban Protected Structures................................................................