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Solent News Issue 3 - December 1997 |
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I believe that you will find the new style and content of Solent News easy to read and full of interest. A prime task of the Forum is to ensure that members know what is going on in the Solent. I do hope that you will not only read, but let Kate know what is happening, or about to happen in your area.
Maldwin Drummond OBE, JP, DL, DSc (Hons)
Chairman, Solent Forum
Launch of the Finalised Strategic Guidance
The finalised Strategic Guidance for the Solent was launched this month. The publication is the culmination of two years work reviewing the issues that are likely to impact on the Solent and developing agreed solutions. The Guidance covers three main topic area; conservation of the Solent's heritage, support for sustainable economic development and protection of human life and the environment.
The Guidance was developed with the assistance of the Solent Forum's membership and shows the results that can be achieved from working in partnership.
Copies of the Guidance are available from the Solent Project Office (£15 + £5 p&p).
Tel: Kate Sisman 01962 846027
Solent Project Officer Appointed
A new Solent Project Officer, Kate Sisman, was appointed in August 1997. She replaces Tim Badman who has now joined the Dorset Coast Forum.
Kate joins the Forum from the British Marine Industries Federation, where she worked as Environment Executive based at Poole in Dorset.
She will be working over the next three years on implementing the Strategic Guidance for the Solent and delivering the five flagship projects that arose from the work undertaken for the Guidance
ABP Announce Transport Strategy for Dibden Bay
ABP has been awarded a grant by the Europan Union for a study into the new facilities required to improve vessel access to the port and transhipment services. The funding recognises Southampton's strategic importance to the Trans European Network. At the last meeting of the dibden Forum (the consultative Forum set up by ABP to liaise on their proposals) the Port announced an integrated transport strategy encompassing road, rail, coastal shipping and transhipment services.
ABP intend to create a new access road to link the proposed port with the A326 so as to allow the construction of the last phase of the Marchwood distributor road. A rail spur will be taken from the exisiting Fawley branch line to an intermodal terminal at the port. ABP support Hampshire County Council's policy to improve the A326 north of the proposed port access and its engineers are working with the County Council to ensure that the access design for Dibden Bay complements the proposals for the A326. ABP also propose to replace the Totton level crossing with a new road bridge to end the town's division by the railway.
Development of Dibden Bay will be phased over 10-15 years and ABP estimate that less than half the traffic generated will eneter the road network. Around 35% of domestic throughput from the port will be handled by rail and around a third of all containers landed at Dibden Bay will never use road or rail, being transported to their next destination by sea.
Tel: Heather Butterworth 01703 336402
ArcManche Environment and Coastal Working Group Seminar
Arc Manche is a grouping of English and French regions which border the English Channel. It was formally launched in Rouen in February 1996 and is one of the few real maritime cross-border regions within Europe.
On 16th and 17th October 1997, a seminar was held in Rouen to improve understanding on the extent of knowledge and information relating to the Channel on issues such as maritime safety, marine pollution and coastal planning. The seminar concluded that there is a need to improve the dissemination of information on current and recently completed coastal-related research.
(Heidi Roberts/Sarah Jewell 01983 823706)
The UK Marine SACs Project is a partnership initiative between the nature conservation agencies to establish 12 management schemes for selected UK marine Special Areas of Conservation. The Project is to run from May 1996 to February 2001 and has secured funding from the European Commission's Life - Nature Programme. Sites selected include Plymouth Sound and Estuaries, Cardigan Bay, Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth. The Solent is not included.
(John Torlesse 01733 866832)
Restrictions on Sailing in the Solent - Survey Results
In July 1997, the Solent Cruising and Racing Association published a survey which is part of a study to determine the effects of UK conservation policy on the recreational use of the Solent. In particular, the survey aimed to identify the nature and extent of perceived conflicts between the Solent yachting community and environmental, commercial and recreational interests.
(Solent Racing and Cruising Association 01983 295744)
Update on Solent and South Wight Maritime pSACs
Proposals for the Solent Maritime possible SAC and South Wight Maritime possible SAC were put forward in September 1996 as part of an ongoing consultation exercise. Following a period of public consultation English Nature has assessed the comments received. This has resulted in a number of minor changes to each site and these are outlined in this article. These new proposals will be recommended to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) for submission to the European Commission.
Solent Maritime Possible Special Area of Conservation
The Solent Maritime pSAC is proposed for its estuaries, Atlantic saltmeadow and cordgrass swards. A number of changes are proposed to the site which broadly split into three categories: changes to the seaward boundaries; minor changes to the landward area included in the site; and the exclusion of hard structures. The revised seaward boundary includes some minor deletions and extensions in the seaward area. These changes ensure that all areas essential to the structure and function of the features of interest are included, and also that the boundary can be identified on maps and in situ. The new boundary is defined by latitude and longitude co-ordinates. For ease of interpretation, some of these points correspond to various identifiable features, e.g. buoys which can be used as illustrative markers. The changes to the seaward boundary result in some minor alterations to the landward area included in the pSAC. Some small areas of land which do not contain features of interest have also been excluded.
The third change which is proposed is the exclusion of all hard structures e.g. pontoons/jetties/slipways from the pSAC. The hard structures themselves do not contain features of European importance and therefore do not warrant inclusion. In general, hard structures will be excluded by adding a form of words to the maps. However, where there is a dense collection of hard structures such as a marina and where this is clearly shown on the map then a line has been drawn around the hard structure to exclude it.
South Wight Maritime Possible Special Area of Conservation
The South Wight Maritime pSAC is proposed for its reefs and vegetated seacliffs. The boundary of the site includes a number of extensions and deletions to the marine area. The new boundary is defined by latitude and longitude co-ordinates. For ease of interpretation some of these points correspond to various identifiable features, e.g. buoys which can be used as illustrative markers. The area included in the site which is above mean low water remains unchanged. The new boundary ensures that as far as possible all the features of European importance are included within the site.
The Next Stage
English Nature will recommend the revised boundaries to the DETR. The DETR will be advised of all representations that have previously been made and Ministers will be invited, in due course, to consider these when reaching a decision. If approved, the next stage will be the submission of the site to the European Commission as part of the list of UK candidate sites. The European Commission will then decide on a Europe wide list of sites to be designated, which is expected to be produced by 1998. Designation of these sites must be completed by 2004.
Contact: Rachael Bayliss 01703 283944
South Coast Metropole Wins European Funding for Harbours
The South Coast Metropole Partnership has won European funding for a £70,000 project to boost harbours and the marine tourism industry on the South Coast. It has been awarded £23,000 under the European Community’s KONVER programme, which helps formerly defence-dependent regions to diversify.
The proposed project is for a new initiative to promote the central south coast’s harbours, marinas and boatyards overseas. It will see the region marketed in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as a prime location for yachting.
(Mark Ludmon 01705 834576)
In July a group of 10 volunteers, under the supervision of Southampton City Council and the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, recorded the size and position of three shipwrecks on the mudflats directly to the south of Northam Bridge.
The wrecks are all of a different date and condition and research is being undertaken to date them. This survey was part of a project to assess the maritime heritage along the shores of the Itchen.
(Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology 01703 583290)
Most notable are five pairs of Mediterranean gulls. On average only around twenty pairs of these birds breed each year in the UK. Other successful seabirds include 115 pairs of common terns (compared with 81 in 1996); 84 pairs of Sandwich terns (12 in 1996); 113 pairs of little terns (110); and 1,415 pairs of black-headed gulls (545).
A number of reasons have contributed to this remarkable success. The spring weather was good and there has been a lack of extreme tides. Fewer foxes, which prey on ground nesting birds, has also helped.
The RSPB also recognise the importance of the goodwill of harbour users to heed the signs and not disturb the birds. They report that over the summer the windsurfers and sailors were very co-operative and are most grateful for their help.
(Andrew South 01273 763610)
Success at Southampton Boatshow
This years Southampton International Boatshow was attended by 120,000 visitors and business rose by over 20% on 1996, indicating a buoyant market for marine products. On a similar note, 1996 statistics just released by the British Marine Industries Federation show a record year for the marine industry, with a turnover of £2.28 billion.
Tel: BMIF 01784 439678
The Solent Forum was established in December 1992, in order to develop a greater understanding among the authorities and agencies involved in the planning and management in the Solent area. The Forum is chaired by Maldwin Drummond. This newsletter is the autumn/winter 1997 edition, the copy deadline for submission of articles for the spring/summer 1998 edition is the 30 April 1998. Please contact the Solent Forum Officer, Kate Sisman, for any further information on the work of the Forum.
Further Information:-
Kate Sisman, Solent Forum Officer, c/o Hampshire County Council Planning
Department, The Castle, Winchester, Hants SO23 8UE
Tel: 01962 846027 Fax: 01962 846776 E-mail:
planks@plan.hants.gov.uk
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