APPENDIX

A GUIDE TO THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HAMBLE ESTUARY

In recent years a range of planning and management initiatives have been developed by various authorities and agencies in and around the estuary of the River Hamble. On 25 June 2002, those principally involved in such initiatives were invited to a meeting at the RAF Yacht Club, Hamble, in order to present and discuss the main plans and current initiatives. This meeting proved to be very useful in raising mutual awareness and understanding, and it was agreed that this guide be produced to clarify the aims, purposes and scope of the various plans and other projects, and thus to reduce confusion and the risk of overlap and duplication.

This guide is divided as follows:

A - Hamble Plans:

_ Our aspirations for the River Hamble Area

_ Estuary management plan

_ Safety management plan

_ Port waste management plan

_ Oil spill contingency plan

_ Moorings plan

_ Dredging plan

B - Statutory Plans:

_ County Structure Plan

_ Eastleigh Borough Local Plan

_ Fareham Borough Local Plan

_ Local Transport Plan

_ Solent European Marine Sites Management Scheme

C - Other plans and initiatives:

_ Biodiversity action plans

_ Local Environment Agency Plans

_ Shoreline management Plans

_ SOCIETIE

_ Tourism strategy

_ Countryside management plans

A - HAMBLE PLANS

OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE RIVER HAMBLE

Following extensive public consultation, the Harbour Authority adopted early in 2001 a statement of aspirations for the River Hamble area, covering the following topics:

_ Safety

_ Communication and consultation

_ Recreational use of the River Hamble and its surroundings

_ Tourism

_ Environment

_ Development and the local economy

_ The local community

_ Transport

It is hoped that all plans and initiatives that are likely to affect the Hamble estuary will work towards the realisation of aspirations in the statement.

Contact: Richard Exley, Harbour Master, River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

HAMBLE ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN, 2002-2007

The Hamble Estuary Management Plan (EMP) is one of a portfolio of plans being prepared by the Harbour Authority for the sustainable management of the estuary. It owes its origins to a national initiative led by English Nature during the 1990s which encouraged all the authorities and agencies, and user groups and environmental bodies, to work together to produce broadly-based management plans for estuaries, particularly where conflicts of interest were apparent.

Following extensive public consultation, including stakeholder meetings and workshops, the Harbour Authority produced a revised draft EMP for final consultation in April 2002. The EMP covers the following topics:

_ Planning and development

_ Harbour management

_ Coastal protection and defence

_ Environmental quality

_ Nature conservation

_ Access to the countryside and protection of landscape and heritage

It lists issues, aims, policies and action under the following headings:

_ Nature conservation

_ Recreation

_ Shore development

_ Navigation

_ Fishing and bait digging

_ Moorings

_ Farming

_ Landscape

_ Archaeology

_ Physical processes

_ Pollution and water quality

There are also sections on Monitoring and Evaluation; Implementation; and Evaluation (against principles of coastal zone management), and there are appendices on Responsibilities within the Coastal Zone; Habitats and Species; and Nature Conservation Legislation.

The EMP process has been guided by a steering group comprising more than 20 organisations representing a wide range of interests. It is expected that this steering group will continue to meet, to guide implementation of the EMP.

Contact: Alan Williams, Assistant Harbour Master (Environment), River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

SAFETY MANAGEMENT POLICY

The Harbour Authority is committed to ensuring that the harbour is operated efficiently and safely so as to safeguard the harbour, its users, the public and the environment. In doing so, the Harbour Authority aims to comply with all legal requirements and with the national Port Marine Safety Code. Its duties include facilitating the safety of navigation in the harbour and its approaches, safeguarding the navigational access to and from the harbour, and regulating the activities of all those that use the harbour.

In order to fulfil these responsibilities the Harbour Authority adopted early in 2002 a safety management system, which includes policies for safety in marine operations, enforcement and prosecution. Also, in accordance with the Port Marine Safety Code, a `designated person' has been appointed to carry out an independent audit of compliance and to help ensure that the system is working effectively.

Contact: Richard Exley, Harbour Master, River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

PORT WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

In 1998 the Harbour Authority produced a Port Waste Management Plan that detailed the provision of waste disposal and recycling facilities. The Plan was updated in 2000, and included submissions from 17 marinas, boatyards and clubs. The Plan has been accepted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Contact: Alan Williams, Assistant Harbour Master (Environment), River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

In June 2001, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved the Oil Spill Contingency Plan for the Hamble. The plan is provided to assist the Harbour Authority and others in dealing with an accidental discharge of oil, primarily by setting in motion the necessary actions to stop or minimise the discharge and to mitigate its effects. Information is provided about the roles and responsibilities of the various organisations likely to be involved, and about the sensitivity of important nature conservation sites and other sensitive features.

Contact: Alan Williams, Assistant Harbour Master (Environment), River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

MOORINGS PLAN

The Harbour Authority and Crown Estate are preparing a Moorings Plan, the aim of which is "to rationalise and reorganise moorings and berths on the River Hamble in order to achieve significant benefits to recreation, navigation and safety, and the environment."

The plan has the following objectives:

_ To clear existing and proposed mooring restriction areas and widen navigation channels, by the relocation of moorings to other areas;

_ To establish concentrations of `walk ashore' public moorings adjacent to existing marinas, boatyards and sailing clubs, and where there is established public access;

_ To offer a choice of mooring types, locations and charges;

_ To balance access arrangements by combining appropriate car parking provision with a river bus service;

_ To minimise the requirements for dredging.

The draft Moorings Plan was published for public consultation in mid-September 2002. A manned exhibition outlining the Plan was displayed at the Southampton Boat Show and subsequently at venues in Hamble, Swanwick and Warsash. A leaflet outlining the Plan was produced to explain the need for the Plan, its aims and objectives, and the basic concept. 7000 copies were handed out to visitors to the exhibition and distributed to local residents, marinas, boatyards and sailing clubs. By the deadline for comments on 4 November, more than 300 written representations had been received. These comments will be analysed by the harbour authority and the Crown estate before deciding how to proceed with the Plan. A range of consents will be required from the competent authorities (including the Borough Councils, the Environment Agency, English Nature, and DEFRA/DTLR), and it is likely that an Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Statement, and Appropriate Assessment (under the Habitats Regulations) will be required.

Contact: Richard Exley, Harbour Master, River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

DREDGING PLAN

The Harbour Authority is preparing a plan, the aim of which is to ensure that the necessary maintenance dredging is managed in way that will not cause any significant harm to the integrity of the European Marine Site (cSAC/SPA/Ramsar). The intention is to seek approval for an overall plan that encompasses all anticipated dredging needs, to avoid the need for ad hoc, expensive applications and assessments each time an individual licence for maintenance dredging requires renewal. Plan preparation will involve the following steps:

_ Definition of maintenance dredging requirement;

_ Summary of conservation status of the site;

_ Assessment of change caused by maintenance dredging and potential schemes for beneficial use of dredgings;

_ Baseline review of parameters of environmental importance;

_ Evaluation of magnitude of impact;

_ Future dredge plan;

_ Interaction of dredge plan with the Management Scheme for the European Marine Site.

Contact: Alan Williams, Assistant Harbour Master (Environment), River Hamble Harbour Office, Shore Road, Warsash, Hampshire SO31 9FR. Tel: 01489-576387.

E-mail: [email protected]

B - STATUTORY PLANS

COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN

The strategic framework for land use, development and transportation is provided by the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review) - the CSP Review - a statutory plan prepared and adopted jointly by the County Council and Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils. It came into effect early in 2000.

Although there are no specific references to the River Hamble, any proposals for land use or development in the area will need to be judged against the policies of the CSP Review. Policies that are likely to be particularly relevant are:

_ Strategic and local gaps

_ Recreation, sport and tourism (Policies R1-R8)

_ Rural Hampshire (C1-C3)

_ The Coast (C4-C7)

_ Landscape (E6-E9)

_ Nature Conservation (E10-E13)

Contact: Alan Inder, Coastal Manager, Strategy Group, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UE. Tel: 01962-846759.

E-mail: [email protected].

EASTLEIGH BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN

The current statutory local plan for the Eastleigh side of the river is the Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review, which was placed on deposit by the Borough Council as a pre-publication draft in February 2002. It covers the period to 2011.

Its main functions are to reflect government policies, to put into effect the policies of the CSP Review (see above) and relate them to precise areas of land, to guide development within the Borough, to provide detailed planning policies for the purposes of development control, and to provide a basis for co-ordinating the development and use of land. It covers a range of topics, including:

_ The countryside

_ Nature conservation

_ Urban renaissance

_ Housing

_ Transport and accessibility

_ The economy

_ Public open space

_ Recreation and tourism

Of particular relevance to the Hamble estuary are polices on:

_ Countryside

_ Nature conservation

_ Local gaps

_ River valley and floodplain

_ Public open space

_ Boatyards

_ Mooring restriction areas

It is intended that the Plan will undergo further consultation in Spring 2003 and be subject to a public inquiry in the Spring 2004, with eventual adoption in 2005.

Contact: David Hogger, Planning Policy Team Leader, Planning Department, Eastleigh Borough Council, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9YN. Tel: 02380-688242. E-mail: [email protected]

FAREHAM BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN

The current statutory local plan for the Fareham side of the river is the Fareham Borough Local Plan Review, which was adopted by the Borough Council in March 2000. It covers the period to 2006. Its main functions are to develop the policies and general proposals of the CSP Review (see above) and relate them to precise areas of land, and to provide a detailed basis for development control and for co-ordinating the development and use of land. It covers the following topics:

_ Countryside, coast and nature conservation;

_ Historic environment;

_ Housing;

_ Facilities and services;

_ Recreation, leisure and tourism;

_ Employment;

_ Shopping;

_ Transport.

The main policies that are relevant to the Hamble estuary are:

_ Countryside

_ Coastal zone

_ Nature conservation

_ Areas of special landscape character

_ Local gaps

_ Boatyards

_ Mooring restriction areas

Contact: Kevin Bown, Planning Policy, Planning Department, Fareham Borough Council, Civic Way, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 7PU. Tel: 01329-236100

E-mail: [email protected].

LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN

Hampshire County Council, as highway authority, has produced a Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 (LTP) which sets out the transport policies for the whole county. The policies and proposals of the LTP are delivered through area transport strategies. The Hamble Peninsula (to the west of the river) is covered by the South West Hampshire Transport Strategy (SWHATS), the aim of which is to tackle transport problems whilst balancing the needs of economic growth and the environment.

In 2001 the County Council, the Hamble Harbour Master and Eastleigh Borough Council consulted the public on a draft Hamble Area Transport Strategy (HATS), which aims to achieve an integrated transport and access strategy for the area. The consultation began the process of developing appropriate schemes and initiatives to tackle identified transport and access problems, which include congestion in Hamble Lane, parking issues, poor public transport services and facilities, and road safety issues. The Warsash bank of the river is incorporated into the HATS.

Contact: Jonathan Crabb, Principal Transport Planner, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UD.

Tel: 01962-846047. E-mail: [email protected]

SOLENT EUROPEAN MARINE SITES MANAGEMENT SCHEME

As well as having a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that reflect its national importance for nature conservation, the Hamble estuary is also of international importance for wildlife, as reflected by the inclusion of parts of the estuary in the following designated areas:

_ Candidate Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (cSAC)

_ Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA)

_ Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site

These sites are known collectively as the Solent European Marine Sites (SEMS).

Under the Habitats Regulations 1994, the relevant authorities are required to exercise their functions in a way that ensures the internationally designated sites remain in favourable condition . In order to ensure that this happens, the relevant authorities are to produce and comply with a management scheme. In the Solent area there are more than 30 relevant authorities, and they have formed a management group and appointed a project officer to prepare the management scheme, in consultation with a strategic advisory group of interested organisations. The final management scheme will:

· Audit ongoing activities and their management.

· Identify activities which may cause deterioration or damage to the site.

· Develop actions/measures for activities which are shown to be damaging

· Provide a timetable for the delivery of actions

· Identify research and monitoring requirements in order to assess the site's condition and status in the future.

The management scheme will ensure that it integrates with existing and future plans and initiatives concerned with management of the coast.

It is intended that the first draft of the management scheme will be produced by the end of 2003.

Contact: Rachael Bayliss, SEMS Project Officer, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8UE.

Tel: 01962-846925.

E-mail: [email protected]

C - OTHER PLANS AND INITIATIVES

BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS

The Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan (HBAP) is being prepared by a partnership comprising more than 30 organisations, including the local authorities, English Nature, the Environment Agency, Countryside Agency, environmental organisations and landowner representatives.

As part of the HBAP, a Coastal Habitats BAP is being prepared, covering the main habitats: mudflats and sandflats, saltmarsh, coastal grazing marsh, lagoons, maritime cliffs, shingle and sand dunes. The BAP follows the standard format: Current Status; Factors Affecting the Habitat; Current Action; Plan Objectives; and Proposed Action. Proposed actions are listed for each habitat and there is a list of generic actions that apply to all or most habitats. Actions are grouped under the following headings: Habitat Protection; Habitat Management; Species Action; Survey, Research and Monitoring; and Communication and Publicity.

Consultation on the Coastal Habitats BAP has been completed and the final version is to be published early in 2003.

Contact: Alan Inder, Coastal Manager, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UE. Tel: 01962-846759.

E-mail: [email protected].

In June 2002 the Borough Council published `Wild About Eastleigh - a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Borough' The document is a plan of action for the conservation and enhancement of habitats and species, through work co-ordinated by local government bodies, statutory agencies, voluntary groups and conservation organisations. It contains a section on `Action for the Solent' which describes the habitats and priority species associated with the tidal Hamble, and the threats to biodiversity. Six issues are identified, and current and proposed actions are listed for each issue.

Contact: Suzanne Mazdon, Conservation Officer (Biodiversity), Eastleigh Borough Council, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9YN. Tel: 02380-688352.

E-mail: [email protected]

Contact: Lindsay McCulloch, Countryside Officer, Planning Department, Fareham Borough Council, Civic Way, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 7PU.

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY PLANS

The Environment Agency produces plans known as Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAPs) which show how the Agency will discharge its functions and deliver its services within each catchment. The River Hamble is one of several rivers draining to the Solent that are covered by the East Hampshire LEAP, published in August 2000. The LEAP contains an appraisal of the environment and identifies 22 issues; for each issue proposed actions are listed with a summary of costs and benefits.

Contact: Lucy Sheffield, Development Control Officer, Environment Agency, Wessex Way, Colden Common, Hampshire SO21 1WP. Tel: 01962-764964.

E-mail: [email protected]

SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLANS

Coastal defence is a generic term that covers both sea defence (protection from flooding) and coast protection (protection from erosion). Responsibilities for coastal defence are vested in two types of operating authority: local authorities (the Borough Councils in the case of the Hamble) have permissive responsibility for coast protection and the Environment Agency has for sea defences. The Department of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has a supervisory role which includes providing an overarching policy framework and administering grant aid. The government has encouraged operating authorities to jointly produce shoreline management plans for coastal cells based on natural processes.

The River Hamble is at the boundary between the Western Solent and Southampton Water SMP and the East Solent SMP, and is covered by the former. For the purposes of shoreline management, the Hamble river is divided into 8 management units; the preferred strategy for each unit is indicated below:

Contact: Alan Inder, Coastal Manager, Strategy Group, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UE. Tel: 01962-846759.

E-mail: [email protected].

SOCIETIE

Hampshire County Council, on behalf of the River Hamble, has been the lead partner in a bid for North-West Europe Interreg IIIB funding for the SOCIETIE project (Developing Social Capital and Economic benefits Through Investing in the Environment). The other partners are from the UK, Ireland and France. The overall aim of the project is to assist the sustainable management of Natura 2000 sites (SPAs and SACs) by increasing social input into management planning, and actions were proposed to assist in raising understanding of the issues and encouraging integration of society into the management planning and decision-making processes.

In November 2002 the partners heard that the bid had failed at the first round. However, the partners involved in the Hamble part of the project are keen to obtain funding from other sources for following initiatives:

_ Streamlined Consents Programme

_ Sectoral planning Programme

_ Implementation of Estuary Management Plan (EMP)

_ Habitats, species and other indicator monitoring for EMP

_ Understanding the requirements of river users for services, access and information

_ Local Environmental Improvements

_ Information and Interpretation

_ Visitor Management through Understanding (codes of practice, etc)

_ Alternative methods of public transport (e.g. river bus)

Contact: Katie MacDonald, Environment Projects Officer, Environment Department, Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UE. Tel: 01962-846775.

E-mail: [email protected]

TOURISM STRATEGY

In Eastleigh Borough Council's Tourism Strategy, the Hamble valley (which is marketed as `The Strawberry Coast') is considered to be the Borough's main attraction. The strategy recognises the maritime heritage and history of the area, and aims to promote more events along the riverside to complement those taking place on the water. The strategy is linked to the integrated access project led by the County Council, which seeks to improve walking routes and public transport services, including the introduction of a river bus service.

Contact: Cheryl Butler, Tourism Manager, Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9YN. Tel: 02380-688187.

E-mail: [email protected]

COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT PLANS

The County Council owns and manages Manor Farm Country Park, and the nature reserves on the west bank of the river at Hacketts Marsh, Mercury Marshes, and those on the east bank at Bunny Meadows and Hook-with-Warsash. Management plans have been produced for the Country Park and the nature reserves to guide their management and balance the potentially competing objectives of nature conservation and public access and use. Similarly, Eastleigh Borough Council has produced a management plan for Hamble Common.

Contacts:

Country Park: Barbara Newbury, Park Manager, Manor Farm Country Park, Brook Lane, Botley, Southampton SO30 2ER. Tel: 01489-787055.

E-mail: [email protected]

West bank nature reserves: Kate Tobin/Phil Halliwell, Westwood Office, Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley Abbey, Southampton SO31 5GA. Tel: 02380-456484.

E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

East bank nature reserves: Kim Stiles, Haven House Visitor Centre, Cliff Road, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire PO14 3JT. Tel: 01329-662145.

E-mail: [email protected]

Hamble Common: Rick Sharp, Countryside Ranger, High Wood Barn, Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton SO30 3HG. Tel: 02380-475084. E-mail: [email protected]

Drafted by Alan Inder, Coastal Manager, Hampshire County Council.

Tel: 01962-846759. E-mail: [email protected].

November 2002.

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