SocaSrenvironment agency plan En v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y ROCH/IRK/MEDLOCK NATIONAL LIBRARY & ACTION PLAN INFORMATION SERVICE NOVEMBER 1998 HEAD OFFICE Rio House, Waterside Drive. Aztec West, Almondsbury. Bristol BS32 4UD DATE DUE ▼ PflWTED IN U S X ▼ E n v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y ▼ 85 90 95 Roch, Irk and Medlock Local Environment A gencyPlan E n v i r o n m e n t AGENCY Cowm Reservoir Lower Chelbum Watergrove Higher Reservoir iCMbum *Res Bkxkstone Edge 'HITWORTH Green Vc ,Reservoir Naden Higher ^ Brook <Reservoir Town House Br0 Naden Middle Naden Lower Buckley Reservoir Reservoir Reservoir worth Moor f f Shore Lane b Krook/ Brook Green booth Reservoir i S yHollingworth Brook IlinqwortnYS. ,Lake 3 y r ^ Norman Hill KitcHtfe Reservoir Piethome Reservoir HEYWOOD Whit Brook Jrib \Strinesdaie MIDDLETON* Reservoir . pjbl- Heaton'* ,Park Res. :s t w ic h PENSHAW ^ edl°°pROYLSDEN ‘ Ashton ^ 6 6 2 Canal The Area Area boundary Watercourse Culverted watercourse Canal Built up area Motorway A road B road Railway The Environment Agency's vision for the Roch/lrk/Medlock area. The Environment Agency has a vision of "A better Watercourses will be managed to provide flood environment in England and Wales for present protection whilst maintaining naturally diverse and future generations." river corridors; We would wish to see new development that is regulated to provide open From this, the vision for this Local Environment river corridors with development sited to reduce Agency Plan (LEAP) area is of a sustainable the risk of flooding'. environment capable of supporting diverse natural species and habitats, providing Water resources will be managed to enable opportunities for recreational usage and access, sustainable cost-effective use that will ensure no and one which is valued by local people. This will unacceptable deterioration in quality or detriment be balanced with the need to maintain industry to any existing water users, watercourses or other and employment cater for the area’s social needs groundwater dependant features. and the requirements of the population. Land will be used in a sustainable way, The Environment Agency will work in partnership protecting, enhancing and developing natural with area users to realise the full environmental habitats and features, whilst restoring potential of the Roch/lrk/Medlock area and fulfil contaminated land and providing for the needs of the vision. The aim will be to create and maintain the population. a balanced environment which will meet the Agency's overall aim of contributing to the ' Landscape and heritage features, including worldwide goal of Sustainable Development, architecture and important areas of ecological which has been defined as "Development that value will continue to be protected and further meets the needs of the present without protection will be given to new sites. compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". In achieving this vision of the Roch/lrk/Medlock area the Agency will continue to advise and work The vision for the area is centred around an in partnership with organisations and enforce, environmental quality that will have improved to where necessary, the relevant regulations a level that provides a healthy environment to live in, and supports naturally diverse species and Recreational opportunities, and sites, will be habitats. maintained and improved when possibilities arise, whilst the impact of recreation activities will be The treating, keeping, movement and disposal of balanced with the protection of the environment controlled waste in the area will be regulated so for future users. as to prevent pollution of the environment, harm to human health’ and serious detriment to amenity. Waste in the area will be managed in accordance with the principles of sustainability. In particular by reducing the amount of waste produced, making the best use of the. waste that is produced, and choosing waste management practices which minimise the risk of immediate and future environmental pollution and harm to human health. Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP Action Plan environment a g e n c y November 1998 077352 Foreword \ This Action Plan outlines the work and timetables that have been identified to work towards the resolution of the environmental issues raised in the consultation report for the Roch/lrk/Medlock Local Environment Agency Plan (LEAP) area. We undertook a three-month consultation period, on the report, during which we consulted widely on the issues and proposed actions we had raised for the area. I would like to thank all those who participated in the process, whether it was through written communication or attending one of the workshops we ran. We were encouraged by the responses we received and the support for the LEAP process in general. Having taken all the comments we received into consideration we have now put together this Action Plan. The plan covers a five-year period during which time there will be Annual Reviews to update the plan and incorporate new issues. The continued support of all those who have an interest in the environment of the area is essential for the success of the LEAP, mirroring the need for us all to work together if we are to achieve significant, lasting environmental improvements. George Ager Area Manager South Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP 2 Action Plan November 1998 KEY DETAILS General Plan Area 325 sq km Topography Highest point above sea level 470m Lowest point 25m Conservation Total number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest 2 Designated sites of nature conservation value 58 Water Resources Long term (1961-1990) annual rainfall Heaton Park 992mm/yr " ‘ - " " Ogden Reservoir 1305mm/yr Flood Defence Length of Main River 182.5km Waste Management Licenced Waste management operations in the area 81 Integrated Pollution Control Sites subject to the provisions of Integrated Pollution Control 1 3 Contacting the Environment Agency The South Area Office is located at: Appleton House 430 Birchwood Boulevard Birchwood Warrington WA3 7WD Tel: 01925 840000 Fax: 01925 852260 Enquiries about the Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP should be directed to: , The Environment Planner LEAPs Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP 3 Action Plan November 1998 CONTENTS Page The Environment Agency's Vision for the Area Foreword 2 Key Details 3 Contents 5 Introduction .7 1.1 The Environment Agency 1.2 The LEAP Process 2 Review of Consultation Process 10 3 Overview of the Area 11 3.1 Brief description of the Area Uses and Resources 4 Protection Through Partnership 15 5 Actions 5.1 Implementation 5.2 Issues 6 Future Review and Monitoring 53 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 - LIST OF RESPONDENTS APPENDIX 2 - COMMENTS ‘ APPENDIX 3 - WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE LIST APPENDIX 4 - GLOSSARY APPENDIX 5 -ABBREVIATIONS APPENDIX 6 - ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP 5 Action Plan November 1998 I s 1. INTRODUCTION The Agency's aims are to: 1.1 The Environment Agency • - achieve major and continuous improvements in the quality of air, land, The Environment Agency has a wide range of and water. duties and powers relating to different aspects of environmental management. It is required and • encourage the conservation of natural guided by Government to use these duties and resources, animals and plants. powers in order to help achieve the objective of sustainable development. The Brundtland • make the most of pollution control and Commission defined sustainable development as river-basin management. " ... development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the obiiity of future • provide effective defences and warning generations to meet their own needs". systems to protect people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. At the heart of sustainable development is the integration of. human needs and the environment • reduce the amount of waste by within which we live. Indeed the creation of the encouraging people to re-use and recycle Agency itself was in part a recognition of the their waste. need to take a more integrated and longer-term view of environmental management at a national • improve standards of waste disposal level. The Agency therefore has to reflect this in the way it works and in the decisions it makes. • manage water resources to achieve the proper balance between the community's Taking a long-term perspective will require the needs and the environment. Agency to.anticipate risks and encourage precaution, particularly where impacts on the • work with other organisations to reclaim environment may have long-term effects, or contaminated land. when the effects are not reversible. The Agency must also develop its role to educate and inform • improve and develop salmon and society as a whole, as well as carrying out its freshwater fisheries. prevention and enforcement activities, in order to ensure continuing protection and enhancement • conserve and improve river navigation. of the environment. • tell people about environmental issues by Although the Agency only has duties and powers . educating and informing. , to protect some environmental resources, it will need to contribute to other aspects of • set priorities and work out solutions that environmental management even if these are, in society can afford. the first instance, the responsibility of others. The Agency can only do this effectively by working in To achieve these aims, the,Agency must work partnership with and through others in order to with, or seek to influence central government, set common goals and to achieve agreed local government, industry, commerce, farming, objectives. environmental organisations, riparian owners and the general public. The Agency is committed to a programme of Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAPs) in order Successful management of the environment to produce a local agenda of integrated, action for requires consideration of a wide range of interests environmental improvement. and requirements that may sometimes be in conflict, the Agency will manage the environment through our main functions, which are: Roch/lrk/Medlock LEAP 7 Action Plan November 1998 • pollution prevention and control; The Agency is also required by law to consult committees on all aspects of its work in order to • .