ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL’S ROLE

AND PRIORITIES 2002/2003-2004/2005

Introduction

The new administration of the County Council was elected in June 2001. We have developed new “policy steers” to give new direction to the County Council’s work, for the environment they are:

“New projects designed solely to improve general environmental awareness should not be a priority. We should, however, mainstream environmental considerations as a function of all maintenance and planning decisions. What we do ourselves should be environmentally sound. Bodies receiving grants e.g. Ashdown Forest, should demonstrate continuous improvement in addressing environmental gain.”

As Lead Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, I have three particular concerns. Our work should:

  • promote a thriving local economy;
  • respond to the concerns of residents; and
  • avoid long term revenue commitments as a result of capital expenditure.

The County Council has therefore developed the following five objectives:

  • maintain in good condition the environmental assets for which we are responsible;
  • ensure that the County Council follows good environmental practice;
  • lead environmental work that directly supports the local economy;
  • implement, in partnership with others, programmes of environmental enhancement work on the ground; and
  • maximise external support, both help in kind and funding.

This Environmental Action Plan sets out 57 clear and measurable targets in support of these objectives. These include the County Council’s actions in the two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Ashdown Forest. The plan also includes our views on the environmental issues in these areas and what we would like the special bodies set up to assist the management of these areas to do in return for our cash contributions to them.

I welcome your comment on the plan and will report to you by April 2003 on our achievements. I would especially welcome offers of partnership from other organisations.

Cllr. Anthony Reid,

Lead Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment

Changes To Format And Content

Changes to the format and content of this year’s Environmental Action Plan (EAP) are as follows.

  • The EAP now includes all environmental work, except the development of land use and transport policy, transport programmes, waste land use planning and waste disposal (set out in other documents such as the Structure Plan, the Local Transport Plan, the Waste Local Plan and new contract for waste disposal). The EAP includes reactive work (such as giving environmental advice to enable the processing of planning applications), rights of way work, our properties Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum and Ashdown Forest, and the County Council's role in the management of the High Weald and Sussex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • Last year's section on air quality has been removed as the Government has recently indicated that it expects action on this to be taken through Local Transport Plans.
  • Achievements in 2001/2002 have been included.
  • To coincide better with annual County Council service plans, work proposals in this 3 year plan are now split between specific targets for 2002/2003 and more general aims for the 2 years beyond that.

Landscape

Situation

The landscape of East Sussex is one of its finest assets and a significant reason for attracting residents and businesses to the county. Two-thirds of the county is designated as being in one of two nationally important Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: the Sussex Downs and High Weald. But all of the East Sussex countryside is highly valued.

County Council’s Role

The County Council’s overall aims are to celebrate, conserve and enhance the urban and rural landscape of East Sussex by the application of professional skills in landscape planning, design, creation, management and presentation.

We undertake:

  • landscape planning, we provide strategic and local landscape planning guidance and we work pro-actively by planning the landscape of specific sites which need to be developed or redeveloped;
  • landscape design, our professional urban and rural designers apply their skills to a wide range of issues;
  • landscape creation, we implement projects to achieve landscape change and enhancement, for example in Eastbourne Park; through the Ouse Estuary project; and area enhancment schemes such as Heathfield Town Centre.
  • landscape management, we offer advice, guidance and the implementation of the management of landscapes, both new and established ones; and
  • landscape interpretation and presentation - helping others to understand the environment and appreciate what we have in East Sussex.

Action Through Partnerships

Much of our landscape work is carried out with Parish, Town, District and Borough Councils and public bodies and partnerships. The County Council helps such organisations to define and create projects, and to implement them.

The County Council’s role in the Sussex Downs Conservation Board and High Weald AONB Joint Advisory Committee are described below in separate sections.

Support for Voluntary Activity

The County Council supports local initiatives to improve the environment of towns and villages by contributing the time of specialist staff.

Leading by Example

The County Council has used its expertise to improve disabled access at land we own at Camber Sands and our country parks. We have also ensured that highway schemes that we have promoted at Eastbourne (A22 new route) and Eridge (A26) include high quality landscape works.

Key Issues

The key issues for the county are:

  • ensuring that opportunities are taken through the land use planning process, particularly the conservation of landscape character and remoteness and tranquility;
  • increasing the involvement of residents in maintaining and enhancing the character of their locality;
  • creating and managing well designed urban fringe open spaces;
  • creating and managing well designed coastal open spaces; and
  • creating and managing better urban residential and commercial environments, such as through the Hailsham Home Zones Project and production of development briefs for sites.

Achievements in 2001/2002

  • Implementation of two Millennium Greens, in Uckfield and Heathfield;
  • master plan prepared for revitalising Town Farm Estate, Hailsham and support for successful ESCC bid for £400,000 a Home Zone project;
  • East Sussex Trees and Woodland Strategy updated; and
  • reconstruction of paths at Forest Way Country Park.

Targets for 2002/2003

What we will do and when / How we will measure our success / Contact person
Implement Phase 1 of Ouse Estuary Project, Newhaven. / Environmental and drainage mitigation works completed by 31 March, 2003. / Nigel Marshall,
Principal Landscape Architect.
Prepare and commence implementation of development plan for new countryside park at Pebsham. / Development plan agreed by partners and implementation commenced by 31 March, 2003. / Nigel Marshall,
Principal Landscape Architect.
Complete a management plan for Eastbourne Park. / Adoption of management plan by Eastbourne Borough Council by 31 March, 2003. / Nigel Marshall
Principal Landscape Architect.

Priorities for 2003/2004 to 2004/2005

High priorities for the future are to:

  • carry out further work in Newhaven, in particular the completion of the Ouse Estuary Project;
  • carry out further work in Eastbourne Park, in particular at West Langney lake;
  • publish landscape assessments and guidance for organisations in the county; and
  • maintain progress in creating a new country park at Pebsham.

Sussex Downs Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Situation

The downland between Eastbourne and Ditchling lies in the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area is not only important nationally, but also lies close to the coastal towns and Lewes and is important for local recreation.

County Council’s Role

The County Council is required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to produce a management plan for that part of the Sussex Downs AONB that lies in the county, and to take into account the special characteristics of the AONB in its work.

The County Council also owns Seven Sisters Country Park. It was bought to protect this important landscape and promote public access and is visited by around 300,000 people each year.

Action Through Partnerships

To provide coherent management of the Sussex Downs AONB, and to bring in extra funds from Government and local sources, the County Council led the establishment of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board (SDCB). The SDCB deploys ranger staff to maintain rights of way and undertake other countryside management tasks, and gives specialist advice on planning issues.

The County Council makes financial and technical contributions towards the SDCB. In 2002/2003, the County Council will contribute £220,000 in cash as well as technical expertise, especially in landscape matters, archaeology and personnel issues. The County Council is the employer and treasurer of the SDCB.

The County Council is discharging its duty to produce a management plan for the East Sussex part of the Sussex Downs AONB by supporting the SDCB in keeping up to date its plan for the whole of the AONB.

Key Issues

The key issues for the Sussex Downs AONB are:

  • supporting the local rural economy;
  • ensuring that access, such as that afforded by footpaths and bridleways, is maintained in good condition;
  • encouraging visitors to come by train, bus and bicycle, and minimizing the impact of car-borne visits; and
  • ensuring that the conservation effort in the Downs is not jeopardised by the distractions of the debate about possible national park status for the area.

County Council Achievements in 2001/2002

  • assessment made of the state of downland ancient monuments in the Eastbourne area and recommendations made to land managers; and
  • archaeological staff have helped to establish a volunteer network to assess and protect ancient monuments.

County Council Targets for 2002/2003 (not mentioned elsewhere in EAP)

What we will do and when / How we will measure our success / Contact person
Act as a responsible landlord for Seven Sisters Country Park and generate income from operations in the park to support refurbishment. / Building maintenance and refurbishment requirements fully re-assessed by 30 June, 2002.
£150,000 programme of refurbishment completed by 31March, 2004. / Andy Arnold,
Environmental Co-ordinator.
Andy Arnold,
Environmental Co-ordinator.
Bid for further external funds for the maintenance and development of Seven Sisters Country Park. / Lead a bid for INTERREG IIIA support, by 30 September 2002. / Laetitia Tual,
INTERREG Support Officer.
Lead the “Tourism Without Traffic” project to encourage visitors to come to the Downs by environmentally-friendly transport. / Four traffic calming schemes implemented by 31 March, 2003.
50 cycle racks installed, five bus shelters installed or improved by 31 March 2003. / Terry Drury, Team Leader, Transport Strategy
Terry Drury, Team Leader, Transport Strategy

Priorities for the Sussex Downs Conservation Board 2002/2003 to 2004/2005

The County Council’s priorities for the SDCB are:

  • an increase in the proportion of SDCB income from non-ESCC sources;
  • the renewal and repair of surfaces of byways and bridleways;
  • development of measures to support the local economy;
  • increase in the proportion of wildlife habitats under good management; and
  • supporting the development of measures to encourage visitors to come by train, bus and bicycle.

High Weald Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Situation

The inland part of the county, from Rye, Battle and Heathfield northwards, lies in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Less well known than the Sussex Downs AONB, this area has a varied landscape of woodland, small fields and streams, and an extraordinary history as the furnace of industrial activity in England, subsequently returning to agriculture.

County Council’s Role

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires the County Council to produce a management plan for that part of the High Weald AONB that lies in the county, and to take into account the special characteristics of the AONB in its work.

Action Through Partnerships

The County Council with other local authorities and the former Countryside Commission (now Countryside Agency) established the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee. The High Weald Unit staff principally undertake work to define and promote the character of the area and to co-ordinate and assist the activities of local partners towards implementation of the agreed AONB management plan.

The County Council makes the largest local authority financial contribution towards the work of the High Weald Unit and is its employer, treasurer and legal adviser. In 2002/2003, the County Council will contribute £20,000 in cash as well as technical expertise.

The County Council owns the Flimwell site, at which the High Weald Unit is based, and has a key role in the construction of the Woodland Enterprise Centre, which this financial year will provide office space for the High Weald Unit.

The County Council is discharging its duty to produce a management plan for the East Sussex part of the High Weald AONB by supporting the High Weald Unit in producing a joint plan for the whole of the AONB.

Key Issues

The key issues for the High Weald AONB in East Sussex are:

  • supporting the local rural economy, especially making use of local timber;
  • conserving and enhancing the nationally designated landscape and the unique mosaic of habitats and its valuable biodiversity; and
  • encouraging visitors to come by train, bus and bicycle, to minimise their impact on the area.

County Council Achievements in 2001/2002

  • Promotion of the rural economy of the High Weald through the busiest WoodFair and FoodFair yet in 2001, with 13,000 visitors to the two events; and
  • near-completion of the first phase of the Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell.

County Council Targets for 2002/2003 (not mentioned elsewhere in EAP)

What we will do and when / How we will measure our success / Contact person
Support the evolution of the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee into a more effective decision-making body. / New, 6 year memorandum of agreement and offer of 75% cash grant, signed between local authorities and Countryside Agency, by 30 June, 2002. / Steve Ankers,
Assistant Director, Development.

Priorities for the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee 2002/2003 to 2004/2005

The County Council’s priorities for the HWJAC are the:

  • increase in the proportion of HWJAC income from non-ESCC sources;
  • development of measures to support the rural local economy, in particular support for sub-regional efforts to revitalise forestry and timber use;
  • creation of a High Weald AONB management body that maximises external funding, at least cost to the County Council; and
  • High Weald AONB body to support practical conservation tasks, by generating significant extra resources for others to carry them out.

Townscape

Situation

The built environment of East Sussex, both new and old, embraces the townscape character and historic environment, to establish the particular qualities of the towns and settlements that contribute to making the county a desirable place to live in and visit.

It is essential that these special qualities are appreciated and conserved when any new development takes place. Urban details and individual buildings that make a significant contribution to the quality and individuality of particular areas need to be protected and enhanced.

County Council’s Role

The County Council seeks to ensure that any new development is not only of high quality but also respects the physical, townscape, landscape and historical constraints and opportunities of its setting.

The County Council has obligations under both the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act 1962, and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Act to conserve and enhance individual buildings and areas of historic interest.

Action Through Partnerships

At a national level, the County Council serves on the Civic Trust’s local authority partnership initiative and is an affiliated member of the English Historic Towns Forum.

The County Council supports strategic urban conservation schemes, where our own cash contribution, and that of Borough and District Councils, attracts grant aid from national sources such as English Heritage and the lottery. The Hastings Townscape Heritage Initiative is valued at over £2 million and will focus on central St. Leonards, Eversfield Place/Grand Parade/Marina seafront areas. The Eastbourne Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, with a total of £360,000, will be active in Seaside Road. The Lewes Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme scheme, with £80,000, will target the part of the town affected by the recent floods. All of these schemes will run from 2001 to 2004.

Support for Voluntary Activity

The County Council is no longer able to support voluntary building conservation work for individual schemes as the County Councils “Built Environment Fund” has been discontinued.