Solent Countryside Access Plan for the Solent 2008-2013 M3 EAST HAMPSHIRE AONB M271 A3 A334 SOUTHAMPTON HEDGE END A3025 WEST SUSSEX M27 A334 HAVANT FAREHAM A27 012340.5 Miles CHICHESTER A32 HARBOUR AONB Legend PORTSMOUTH Solent CAP Area HAYLING Motorway GOSPORT ISLAND A Road Rivers Built up areas Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty ISLE OF WIGHT County Boundary © Crown copyright. All rights reserved, HCC 100019180 2008 The Solent CAP area Hampshire County Council would like to thank the many people – local residents, landowners and land managers, user-group representatives, local authority officers, elected members and a host of others – who were involved in the work to produce this plan. The product of their efforts and support is a framework which will enable the County Council and others to work together to improve countryside access across Hampshire and to make it available for the widest possible range of people to enjoy. Solent Contents Introduction…………………………………………………2 The Solent CAP area………………………………...........3 Vision ……………………………………………………...... 5 Summary of findings …………………..…………….….... 6 Main issues …………………………………………………. 7 Guide to the action tables …………………………..…... 8 Issues and proposed actions ……………………… 10 - 25 Appendix 1 – Extent of rights of way network Appendix 2 – Overview of access ȱ 1 Countryside Access Plan Introduction This Countryside Access Plan (CAP) for for improving access to Hampshire’s the Solent area is one of seven area plans countryside and explains how these plans which, together with an eighth ‘County are influencing the way the County Overview’ CAP, form the Rights of Way Council delivers its services. Improvement Plan (ROWIP) for the The area CAPs explore in greater detail county of Hampshire. the specific issues affecting enjoyment of The duty for local highway authorities to the countryside in a particular part of the produce a ROWIP was established county and propose actions to address through the Countryside and Rights of them. These actions are intentionally Way Act 2000. A ROWIP is intended to broadly-defined and aspirational. They do provide the means by which the highway not necessarily relate to increasing public authority will manage and improve its access to the countryside; many of them rights of way network to meet the are about enhancing and improving the Government’s aim of better provision for existing network. walkers, cyclists, equestrians and people The area covered by each CAP has been with mobility problems. ROWIPs are determined broadly by landscape closely linked with Local Transport Plans, character, as this reflects factors such as with the aim of delivering a more land use, demography, soil type and integrated approach to sustainable topography, which closely affect rights of transport in rural and urban areas; where way, countryside sites and other access to the two plans share common aims this the countryside. also creates further opportunities for the funding of rights of way improvements. The CAPs were initially published as drafts for consultation, with a minimum of 3 Hampshire County Council’s ‘Countryside months allowed for comment and Access Plans’ relate not just to the rights feedback from the public, user groups, of way network but to the whole range of local authorities, government agencies and opportunities for people to enjoy other organisations. Given the density of Hampshire’s countryside. These include population in this area, higher level of areas designated as Open Access under feedback might have been expected for CROW, sites managed by the County the Solent CAP than in the other areas. In Council, by other local authorities and by the event, however, the level of response organisations such as the National Trust to the consultation draft was comparable and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife with that received for other draft plans. A Trust, together with Forestry Commission third of responses came from users woodlands, MoD land and permissive (mainly walkers), 25% were from access provided by farmers and other representatives of local authorities within private landowners. the area and a further 20% from local Each area CAP should be read in residents and community groups. This conjunction with the County Overview document is a revision of that consultation CAP, which reports on the research done draft, which has taken into account all the to produce the plans, identifies the comments and feedback received. County Council’s main, county-wide aims 2 ȱ Solent The Solent CAP area This plan relates to an area of Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours and approximately 26,000 hectares of South the western part of Chichester Harbour. Hampshire that lies south of the M27, Although the area is characterised by stretching from Southampton in the west substantial conurbations, it also contains to the West Sussex border in the east. It some outstanding countryside, much of includes the boroughs of Fareham and which is important for nature Gosport, the southern part of the conservation1. This includes the River borough of Eastleigh and all of Hayling Hamble (SSSI, Ramsar, SPA, SAC), Island (Havant Borough). All these Titchfield Haven (SSSI, NNR, Ramsar, SPA, boroughs are unparished, with the SAC) Portsmouth Harbour (SSSI, Ramsar, exception of Eastleigh. Southampton and SPA) and Langstone Harbour (SSSI, Portsmouth Cities also lie within the area; Ramsar, SPA, SAC). Immediately to the as unitary authorities, the two cities east lies Chichester Harbour AONB (SSSI, published their own ROWIPs during 2007. Ramsar, SPA, SAC). There are also SSSIs Officers within the three authorities at Southampton Common, Lee-on-Solent (Hampshire County Council, Southampton to Itchen Estuary, Browndown, The Wild and Portsmouth City Councils) have kept Grounds, Gilkicker Lagoon and Sinah in close contact throughout the Common. Any access improvements that preparation of these three plans, sharing affect these protected, designated sites information as appropriate and working to (particularly those that form part of the develop a consistent approach to Natura 2000 network2) are likely to improving access across their boundaries. require an Appropriate Assessment. Southampton’s ROWIP, like the The main Hampshire County Council Hampshire CAPs, takes a wider view of countryside sites within the area are at the access network, including in its review Royal Victoria Country Park, Titchfield the city’s many areas of recreational open Haven National Nature Reserve, West space as well as rights of way. It is Wood Woodland Park, Netley Common, intended that this partnership approach Hook with Warsash Local Nature Reserve will continue throughout the (which includes Bunny Meadows) and implementation of the plans. Hayling Billy Coastal Path. Manor Farm Roughly half the population of Hampshire Country Park (also a Hampshire County (more than 593,000 people) live within the Council site) lies just outside the area and Solent CAP area; the average population is an important destination for local density is more than 5 times that of people in the Solent area. Hampshire as a whole. Population levels The New Forest is another popular are expected to continue to rise as countryside destination for local residents further development takes place in line in the Solent area. The New Forest with the South East Plan. National Park Authority is therefore keen There is a dense and heavily-used road to be involved in any actions within the network across the area. Many of the major routes carry high volumes of commercial traffic to and from the ports 1 Ramsar Sites/Special Protection Areas in Southampton and Portsmouth and to (SPA)/Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)/Sites of industrial sites throughout the area. Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)/National Nature The Solent area includes the estuaries of Reserve (NNR). 2 Natura 2000 is a European Union-wide network the Itchen and Hamble, together with of protected areas which includes SPAs and SACs ȱ 3 Countryside Access Plan CAP that might affect the New Forest The Solent is an attractive destination for area. a wide range of visitors. There are many historical sites across the area; many of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife these relate to military activity and Trust manages a number of sites in this defence of the realm, dating back to area; those with public access are at Roman times and earlier. There are also Farlington Marshes, Great Salterns extensive facilities for yachting and other (Portsmouth), Milton Locks, Southmoor water-based recreation; the Lower and Swanwick. There are also a range of Hamble is one of the largest recreational countryside sites managed by the city and boating centres in Europe and there are borough councils. also marinas at Southampton, Gosport and The Solent CAP area is crossed by several Portsmouth. promoted long-distance walking routes. The Solent area lies in that part of South The Solent Way (60 miles from Milford- Hampshire in which Hampshire County on-Sea to Emsworth), the Pilgrims’ Trail Council is working through the (28 miles from Winchester to Partnership for Urban Southampshire Portsmouth) and the Wayfarer’s Walk (70 (PUSH) to create a better place for all miles from Emsworth to Inkpen Beacon) who live, work and spend their leisure are managed and promoted by Hampshire time in this area. This Countryside Access County Council. Other promoted routes Plan supports the objectives of the include the Monarch’s Way (615 miles developing Green Infrastructure Strategy following the route of Charles 11’s escape for South Hampshire, which aims to after the Battle of Worcester) and the create a planned network of Itchen Way (promoted by the Ramblers’ multifunctional greenspaces, landscapes, Association) which follows the River natural elements in the towns and the Itchen between Sholing and Cheriton. links between them. 4 ȱ Solent Vision The Vision for this Countryside Access Plan for the Solent is: To provide and maintain a sustainable network for access to the countryside, where local people and visitors can enjoy a range of recreational activities and appreciate the special qualities of this southern part of Hampshire.