Medway Green Grid Forum
Minutes of meeting held 20 September 2011
Present:
Catherine Smith Medway Council
Martin Hall Greening the Gateway Kent & Medway
Pat Wilson The Open Spaces Society
Martin Hann Ramblers Association
Frank Ewen Ramblers Association
Anne Wade Frindsbury & Wainscott Community Association
Adam Taylor Medway Council, Public Rights of Way
Laura Barton Groundwork Kent & Medway
Dave Cooper Groundwork Kent & Medway
Pat Cooper Medway Council, MUPGSF
Peter Reed Medway Regeneration Ambassador
Greg Hitchcock Kent Wildlife Trust
Rolf Williams RSPB
Chris Valdus Medway Council, Greenspaces
Rick Bayne Valley of Visions/Kent Downs AONB
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Apologies for absence were received from Rob Carmen, Medway Council Integrated Transport; Hazel Gallagher, Medway Council Active Travel; David Wyett, Medway Allotments Federation; Joanne Smith, Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway; Judith Masey, Frindsbury & Wainscott Community Association; Brendan Doyle, Medway Council Landscape; David Murr, Medway Countryside Forum; Robin Cooper, Medway Council, Regeneration, Community and Culture; Peter Green, Medway Ramblers Association; and Sally Harries, Natural England.
2. Minutes of the last meeting
2.1 In consideration of the minutes of the last meeting, it was noted that the document referred to in paragraph 5.10 should be ‘Shorne to Shore’. With this amendment, the minutes were agreed as a correct record.
2.2 Under matters arising from the minutes, PW asked for further information on the PPG17 audit referred to in paragraph 4.1. CS reported that the final report had not yet been published, and that the council would share information with members of the GG forum when the report was available.
3. Green infrastructure planning update
3.1 CS informed the group of progress with key aspects of planning policy for green infrastructure. This involved an overview of the Medway Local Development Framework GI policy and a consideration of the environmental aspects in the Lodge Hill development brief. Both documents were currently at a consultation stage until 14 October. A copy of the presentation slides was made available to members on the Medway Green Grid page of the GGKM website.
3.2 Following the presentations, members discussed the draft policies. AW reported that FWCA had met with representatives of Land Securities regarding the proposed development at Lodge Hill, Chattenden. She expressed a strong concern about the scale of the proposed development and its impact on the local area. She promoted the need for a country park on this part of the Hoo Peninsula and strong measures to prevent urban sprawl.
3.3 M Hall commented that he felt that the environment was rather underplayed in the vision and ambitions for the LDF set out in Chapter 3 of the draft Core Strategy. He suggested that the strategic diagram of the Green Grid corridors could reflect the 5 distinct geographical areas that make up the green infrastructure plan.
3.4 PW requested contact details for the RIGS group promoting the designation of Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites. PW asked if there were set standards for connectivity of green infrastructure. There were no set criteria, but details would respond to the context, such as footpaths, or wildlife corridors. PW queried the use of GI policy and supporting documents in informing planning decisions. She commented that the Hoo Peninsula green cluster study had not been considered in planning application for the Manor Barn site, Frindsbury. It was noted that the inclusion of these plans as part of the policy base in the LDF should increase their weight in planning decisions. It was important for partners to seek opportunities to promote ‘positive planning’.
4. Medway Public Rights of Way update
4.1 AT gave a presentation on the work of the Public Rights of Way (PROW) team in improving and extending the network of footpaths and bridleways across Medway. A copy of the presentation slides was made available to members on the Medway Green Grid page of the GGKM website.
4.2 Following the presentation, there was a discussion of the matters arising. PC asked what liaison took place between the PROW team and the Safer Routes to School team and if unlit paths were considered safe for children walking to/from school.
4.3 M Hann asked if further information could be provided on permissive paths. It was unlikely that the paths would be recorded on OS plans, due to the non-statutory basis of the designation, but people were keen to see more use made of the Medway Council PROW website to promote the location of routes.
5. Medway Green Grid update
5.1 CS suggested that it would be helpful to carry out a review of the GG forum, to ensure that arrangements were still appropriate. She would circulate a short survey to partners following the meeting to gather information on any changes needed, and what information/activities members wanted from the GG forum.
6. Update from partners
6.1 Valley of Visions – RB reported that footpath improvement work at Ranscombe Farm was planned for the coming months. The landscaping project at the Bishops Palace site in Halling was also to be completed by early 2012. A planning application for the creation of scrapes and ditches to improve the habitat for wading birds at Halling Marshes had been submitted. VoV had also helped with survey work for the White Pit in Halling that the parish council was planning to manage as a local heritage and wildlife site. Further community trail leaflets were planned for the Halling area. A strategic landscape enhancement study was underway to help shape and manage future development in the area. Work on Securing the Landscape was planned for Holly Hill with use of a Traffic Regulation Order to prevent access by 4WD vehicles, and the link with a dedicated Police Community Support Officer. This would build on earlier work that has seen reductions in flytipping and illegal access. PW commented on the lack of consultation with access groups in the area, and offered their long experience and knowledge of the area in helping to develop effective solutions to tackle illegal access around the North Downs Way.
6.2 Medway Council Greenspaces – CV reported that the work on the PPG17 audit of greenspaces in Medway would be published shortly.
6.3 RSPB – RW reported that it had been a good year for breeding birds. Work to the sluices was underway at Cliffe Pools. A visitor plan was being drawn up for the reserves, with an increasing focus on the offer at Northward Hill, and links to promotion of the wider Hoo Peninsula. The Wildlife and Countryside Fair in early August had attracted c 1600 people.
6.4 Medway Ambassadors – PG drew members’ attention to an article promoting the service in Medway Matters. He had also developed links with the Rotary Group that could help extend communications.
6.5 Kent Wildlife Trust – GH reported that a meeting was arranged to discuss the ecology issues surrounding the Lodge Hill development proposals. He updated the group on some personnel changes at KWT, with the move of Richard Moyse to Plantlife working at Ranscombe Farm reserve, and Paul Hadaway taking on the role previously carried out by Paul Pearce.
6.6 Medway Urban Parks and Greenspaces Forum – PC reported that there was a new chair of the Friends of Hillyfields, and that there had been a number of successful events in the park over the summer, with further activities planned for Apple Day on 22 October. The park had been highly scored in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood competition. The MUPGSF was continuing strongly in its work. A walk was organised for Great Lines Heritage Park to celebrate Walk4Life Day on 24 September.
6.7 Groundwork Kent & Medway – DC reported that they were continuing to support Friends of Groups, and had a new volunteer – Laura Barton. He encouraged local groups to get in touch with project ideas, so that they could work together on funding bids.
6.8 Medway Council Public Rights of Way – AT reported that there had been some changes with the vegetation clearance contract, and that this had caused some short term issues with delays. He apologised for any problems that had occurred with the condition of paths. The PROW team was working with volunteers on the Hoo Peninsula to improve reporting on the condition of paths.
6.9 Frindsbury and Wainscott Community Association – AW reported on the work of local campaigners in objecting to the planning applications submitted for Manor Barn, Frindsbury. FWCA considered the proposals to be damaging on a number of grounds, including loss of access and agricultural land, and the impact on biodiversity. The group felt very strongly that there could have been a fuller reflection of the importance of the local heritage and environment in the planning decision. They considered that this had resulted in the potential loss of a key asset in Medway.
6.10 Ramblers Association – FE reported that they were continuing to attract new members. He had been disappointed by the low profile given to the North Kent walking festival as part of the wider Explore Kent event. M Hann commented that he had experienced few problems with the footpaths on the Hoo Peninsula and had received a helpful response from AT when reporting any issues to the PROW team.
6.11 Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway – M Hall spoke to some slides outlining work arising from the Environment White Paper and funding bids for green infrastructure projects. A copy of his slides was made available on the GGKM website.
7. Date of next meeting
7.1 It was queried if members would be interested/able to attend a joint meeting with the Swale Green Grid. There was some interest in this proposal, but a number of people were unable to make the next meeting arranged in Swale for 18th October. CS agreed to consider alternative dates with officers at Swale BC.