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Recreation

At the commencement of Phase 1, a Recreation Topic Group (see end of section for membership) was formed to assist with providing the required information. The Group’s topic paper forms this section on Recreation.

Introduction

Recreation is vital to the Solent - and the quality of the Solent is vital for recreation. Sailing and water activities are central to the Solent’s character, and the maritime identity of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Region’s coast is also of significant value for land-based leisure activities. This paper sets out the importance of recreation to the Solent, and the main principles required to support its development. The term ‘recreation’ encompasses all leisure activities in the Solent, whether carried out by local people, staying visitors and day trippers.

The key reasons why recreation is important include:

• it is a fundamental and essential benefit to society providing enjoyable activities for millions of people each year.
• it promotes personal development, fitness and good health.
• it makes a significant contribution to the local economy, through the expenditure of local people and visitors.
• it brings large numbers of people into direct contact with the Solent environment.

The Extent Of Recreation In The Solent

Over the years there have been a series of initiatives to attempt to describe the pattern of recreational activity in the Solent. These range from the work in the early 1970’s through the Solent Sailing Conference to, most recently, the Southern Region’s Coastal Recreation Strategy published by Sports Council in 1991. There have also been a large number of visitor surveys, boat counts, student projects and other research carried out on different aspects or sites.

The starting point for any statement about recreation in the Solent, is that there are a large number of different activities which take place. Some are formal and others informal; some take place on land, others on water. Each activity has its own characteristics in terms of:

• the extent and level at which they take place
• intensity of activity
• seasonality
• the types of people who participate
• requirement for access, facilities and equipment
• dependence on the weather and the tide.
  

The principal activities which take place in the Solent are summarised in Table 6. There are also a number of other activities such as kite and model aircraft flying, metal detecting, parascending etc. which take place to varying degrees.

The Economic Value of Recreation

Recreational activity makes a very significant input to the economy of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. For example, the British Marine Industries Federation estimate that the marine industry provides 5000 jobs, with an annual turnover of over £240 million.

Tourism’s contribution within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as a whole is as follows:

(Source: Southern Tourist Board)

In Hampshire a notable proportion of this expenditure is along the coast, particularly in Portsmouth and Southampton. On the Isle of Wight the main seaside resorts are on the south eastern side, whilst Ryde, Cowes and Yarmouth are the principal destinations on the Island’s Solent coastline. Yachting visitors make a significant contribution to the tourism economy in their own right. Surveys found that 33,000 yachts visited Cowes in 1992, with 82% staying overnight. Over 154,000 visiting yachtsmen were estimated to spend approximately £10 million within the local economy.

Access and Facilities

Access to land or water is essential to all recreational activities, although the requirements of each is different.

On land access is fundamentally provided through public open space including beaches, and by the rights of way network.

On the water there is a general public right of navigation, subject to regulation by the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea. However activity is regulated through bye-laws, and the provision of launching facilities. It is also restricted by natural factors, with the inter-tidal area being the least accessible part of the coastal zone for recreational activity. There are a number of non-contentious no-landing areas in nature reserves within the Region.

The facilities required to support recreation in the Region include:

• Marinas and mooring areas (Map 18) are essential to sailing activity in the Solent. There are currently around 25,000 yacht moorings, of which more than 80% are based in Hampshire. Around 40% are berths provided in marinas. There is little suitable available space for further swinging and pile moorings without prejudicing open sailing areas, or conservation. There is a specific need to provide mooring space for visitors in a number of harbours.

• Launch Points: There are over 100 public launch points in the Region, although less than half allow significant access. The greatest concentration of facilities is in Southampton Water and the Eastern Solent. A number of clubs have their own private launching facilities, as do some waterside residents.
  
• Toilets, Changing, Showers and Refreshments Facilities are needed by all shore-based water activities. Some are provided by clubs for their members.
  
• Car parks of adequate capacity and location are required for all except local activity. There are no comprehensive figures on current provision.
  
• Sailing Schools, Outdoor and Field Centres provide essential training for recreational users and make an essential contribution to sea safety. There are an increasing number of opportunities for environmental studies through some centres, particularly for young people.
• Club and club-type facilities: The existing club facilities support the Region’s well developed club structure. Club membership is no longer growing rapidly, and it is unlikely that many new clubs will form in the future. However some clubs may wish to expand to accommodate their membership and increase their boat and car parking facilities. Some activities, for example windsurfing, require club-like facilities which can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis. There is currently no provision for these facilities in the Region, although there are successful examples elsewhere in the country.
  
• Equipment Shops and Marine Services including chandlers and suppliers for other specialist activities. Adequate outlets are required to support each activity.
  
• Manufacturers: The Region is home to a number of nationally and internationally renowned manufacturers of boats and equipment. Aside from contribution to the local economy and employment, they have an international role in providing high quality equipment for marine activity. Their continued success is subject to the provision of adequate facilities to meet demand.
  
• Pedestrian Signing and Interpretation Boards are needed to highlight a range of different information including : walks, places of interest, wildlife sites, weather forecasts and safety issues.
  
• Safety Organisations: HM Coastguard, RNLI, Hampshire Constabulary and Voluntary Inshore Rescue Units and Beach Lifeguards as members of the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation provide an essential monitoring and rescue service for recreational users. Many clubs provide their own safety cover when organising events.
  
• Public transport: Bus and train links are important for activities where little equipment needs to be transported, and can reduce the car load on roads to the coast.
  
• Country Parks and Other Countryside Sites: Country Parks provide facilities and a focus for outdoor activity by visitors. Nature Reserves and other green space adjacent to the coast provide further sites of interest, as well as including important sites for some activities.
  
• Clean Beaches: Attractive beaches, with good water quality, are fundamental to the long term appeal of coastal resorts, and to providing opportunities for beach recreation.
  
• Attractive Seafronts in Resort Areas are similarly essential facilities for visitors. A body of good quality tourist attractions is required, which combine a good general environment with a range of contemporary facilities.
  
• Accommodation is required by tourists who wish to stay overnight in the Region. Existing provision on the Solent coast includes hotels, bed and breakfast, caravan/camp sites, self catering flats/cottages and holiday villages.

Key Authorities and Management Arrangements

Compared to most of the UK coast the Solent is closely regulated. All of the water space, with the exception of the Western Solent is under the control of one of the 11 harbour authorities. Each harbour has a set of bye-laws which provide the framework for the management of recreation. In addition District Councils are responsible for the management of nearshore activities on the Region’s beaches. Bye-law powers also exist for local nature reserves. The Governing Bodies of Sport have a key role in representing their activity, although their mostly voluntary nature means that their resources to do this can be severely stretched. Consultative arrangements with some harbour authorities exist through organisations such as Southampton Water Recreation Users Group and the Solent Area Sailing Advisory Committee.

Trends in Recreation

Predictions of trends in recreation are difficult. The trends since the 1960’s have been consistently upward, although for a number of activities they have been temporarily checked by the recession. Examples of growth include RYA membership, which have increased by 10,000 in the last two years, and by 68% between 1980-92. Growth in moorings between 1978-93 was by 62% on the Isle of Wight and 45% in Hampshire. There is a particular need to identify whether particular sectors are either growing more rapidly than others, to confirm a broad suggestion that motor based activity may be the most favoured area of demand, and to highlight any potential new activities.

Over the last 20-30 years there has been a general decline in the traditional British seaside holiday (as overseas holidays have grown in popularity). Seaside resorts have suffered and the stock of accommodation, in particular guest houses and hotels has declined. Some of this business has transferred to self-catering sectors, including caravan/camping parks and holiday centres, which have generally held up well. The growth has been in short breaks in terms of the overnight leisure markets, although this has not matched the decline in domestic long holidays. Moreover, seaside resorts have limited appeal to the short breaks market - hence, on the Isle of Wight, where there is still great dependence on the seaside holiday market, pressure on the coast from visitors is probably not increasing.

Leisure day visits, and visits to friends and relatives have probably increased, in line with general population growth. However there are few hard statistics.

Strategic Issues for Recreation in the Solent

The overall strategic need is to ensure that the Solent continues to provide a wide range of outstanding recreational experiences and opportunities - and retains its status as a regionally, nationally and internationally important area for recreation and public enjoyment. A positive approach is required which recognises the importance of recreational activity, and aims to retain and enhance the quality of the Solent environment. To achieve this six key objectives should be set:

1. The balance of uses must be maintained.

There is a need to ensure that the balance of uses between recreation, commerce and conservation is maintained. Central to this aim is the need for excellent communication and consultative arrangements between the recreational sector, commercial and naval shipping interests, and conservation bodies. The liaison arrangements which exist between recreation and shipping are currently felt to be adequate, however the links with conservation bodies require strengthening.

This is of particular concern, given the inexorable spread of protective designations to cover virtually all of the intertidal area of the Solent, and the proposed introduction of further designations under European and international legislation. The principal implications of this policy for the management of the Solent, and the information which supports these and other designations, remain unclear. It is of further concern that a policy to designate virtually all of the Solent has been able to be pursued with virtually no public debate about its implications. For recreation the concern remains that designations will be employed with a principal agenda to restrict the growth of recreational activity, but without debate and without the information to demonstrate that such an approach is justified. In the short term what is required to address this is:

• a serious commitment by English Nature and others in the conservation sector to consultation, and to building links with recreational bodies;
• greater openness about information which supports designations and an emphasis on explaining the purposes of designations;
• a commitment by conservation organisations to take a positive approach to recreational activity in the Solent, and assist measures which will help avoid actual, or potential, environmental impacts;
• improved local contacts between sporting and recreational clubs and bodies, and local conservation managers.

2. Planning policies should be supportive of coastal recreation and tourism.

Recreation is a significant positive use of the Solent, and planning policies which support its legitimate needs are required. There should be an approach which seeks to provide positively for recreation in suitable and appropriate locations, and balance recreational requirements with other concerns. Policies are required which will support initiatives, and which counteract the tendency for policy expression to be solely in restrictive terms. Waterside development sites are a scarce resource within the Solent, and policies should ensure that recreation is one of the priority uses permitted on these sites where available.

3. The provision of recreation facilities should be improved.

There is a general need to ensure that the provision of facilities for recreation is improved, in order to extend opportunities, and retain the support which recreation provides to the local economy. Despite the range of environmental constraints in the Solent, there are still opportunities for well designed and carefully planned facilities. Specific priority needs within the Solent include:

• facilities for visiting yachtsmen;
• basic waterside changing and shower facilities at key launch points;
• club-type facilities for ‘casual’ water activities, such as windsurfing, water-skiing and jet skiing at one or two key sites;
• maintenance of access to the water through site improvements at the existing body of launch points, with sufficient back-up car parking, and attention to access to the water when new sea defences are constructed;
• maintenance of adequate water space for fast motorised activities such as water-skiing and jet-skiing, including zoned areas;
• anchorages;
• improvements to public access to the coast;
• regeneration/further development of existing historic sites such as Priddy’s Hard and Portsmouth Naval Dockyard;
• realisation of the leisure potential of sites released by the MoD.

Although there are currently no significant unimplemented planning permissions for marinas, in the medium term there is likely to be renewed pressure for further berths. There is a need to identify potential sites for new marinas within the urban areas.

The Regional Governing Bodies of Sport have an important role to play in identifying the needs of their activity, including the need for new facilities. It is suggested that this is best achieved through the production of sport-specific development strategies in conjunction with the District Councils and Harbour Authorities.

The maintenance of a strong body of outdoor centres and sailing schools is essential to support the future of recreation in the Solent, to improve the abilities of recreational users, and help to improve safety standards and reduce incidents.

4. Co-ordination and communication arrangements should be strengthened.

There are already a range of different mechanisms to provide for communication between recreational interests and others in the Solent. Many of these have developed over a number of years and work very effectively. They need to be maintained, and possibly strengthened in the future. The following specific points are suggested:

• there is the need for a mechanism to take a Solent-wide view of recreational issues;
  
• Harbour and Local Authorities should keep their consultation mechanisms under review, and ensure that the right range of interests continues to be represented;
  
• an appropriate consultation mechanism with recreational interests should be established for the Western Solent, to ensure its equitable management, should any changes to harbour authority arrangements be agreed;
  
• there is a need for an agreed consultation on estuary management plans to be followed, which accords with the national agreements made between English Nature and the National Governing Bodies of Sport.
  
• there is a need to better co-ordinate events in the Solent to reduce conflicts and maximise their benefits.

5. Better information for recreational visitors should be provided, together with carefully directed promotion.

There is a general need to improve the provision of information for recreational users of the Solent, in particular on environmental issues. A full review of the range of information currently being provided should be undertaken, and the following projects considered:

• improved information on safety and environmental issues should be provided on-site at the key launch and access points in the Region, following an agreed standard;
  
• the printed information available to recreational users, including Enjoy the Solent and harbour guides, should be regularly reviewed, in conjunction with safety and conservation interests;
  
• better distribution arrangements for existing publications should be established;
  
• provision of environmental information should be a central priority for English Nature’s existing and proposed initiatives;
  
• better information is needed for visiting yachtsmen, prior to their visit and on arrival, to ensure maximum economic benefit to the area. This should indicate public transport arrangements and local services and places to visit;
  
• promotion to attract visiting yachts from overseas and elsewhere in the UK should be provided;
  
• better information on water quality in the Solent, and its health implications is required for all users. The gamut of different beach quality awards should be simplified, as the current arrangements potentially confuse the public;
  
• the potential and cost/benefits of attracting more cruise ships to ports in the Solent area should be investigated.

6. Improved information on recreation and tourism in the Solent is required to assist future decision making.

There is an ongoing need to improve the information base on recreation and tourism in the Solent. Particular needs are:

better co-ordination and sharing of existing data between BMIF, Southern Tourist Board, governing bodies of sport, the local and harbour authorities and colleges and universities, and a clear and co-ordinated research agenda;

information on the volume, value, seasonality and profile of recreational users;

further research on the recreational impacts on nature conservation, conducted on an equitable basis;

some simple on-going indicative monitoring of recreational use in sensitive areas, through a co-ordinated approach by site-based coastal managers.

Membership of the Recreation Topic Group

The membership of the Recreation Topic Group was as follows:

• Nigel Pusinelli Royal Yachting Association (Chairman of Group)
• Tim Badman Hampshire County Council/Sports Council (Secretary)
• Dick Bradbeer Solent Cruising and Racing Association/ Cowes Harbour Commissioners
• Sam Bourne British Marine Industries Federation
• Peter Colling Southern Tourist Board
• Peter Cranstone  Personal Watercraft Association
• Brian Lamb Hampshire Outdoor Centres (Hampshire County Council)
• David Martin Leisure Services, Gosport Borough Council
• Colin Wise Lymington Harbour Commissioners
  

In addition consultation was carried out with the National Governing Bodies of Sport within the Region, both at the outset of discussions, and on the final draft of the paper. Comments were received from the following organisations, whose views have been incorporated into the topic paper:

• British Association for Shooting and Conservation
• British Canoe Union
• British Water Ski Federation
• National Federation of Sea Anglers (Isle of Wight Division)
• Ramblers’ Association (Hampshire)
• RYA Windsurfing
• Wessex Regional Rowing Council.
  

Table 6: Recreational activities in the Solent.

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