There is a requirement to review the Northumberland Coast AONB Management Plan every five years, and so we need to have a new plan in place by April 2019. Work on the review has commenced, and we are very keen to ensure that there are opportunities for local communities, businesses, land managers and others with an interest in the management of the AONB to contribute to this.
The statutory purpose of the Management Plan is to formulate Northumberland County Council’s policy for the management of the AONB and for the carrying out of the Council’s functions in relation to it. This next plan will guide the Council and other public bodies, and help direct the work of the AONB Staff Unit and Partnership from 2019 to 2024.
This consultation concerns the first section of the plan: the special qualities of the AONB and the forces for change that are impacting on these. The consultation document sets out the existing special qualities of the landscape, natural environment and cultural environment of the AONB, with consultation questions at the end of each section to help guide responses and add any suggested changes you may have. It then moves on to detail the existing pressures or forces for change that are, or could, degrade these special qualities, again with a series of consultation questions. Finally, the vision statement and three existing priorities of the Management Plan are listed, which will form the themes for the next part of the plan.
We would be very grateful to receive your comments and suggestions for change regarding the consultation document by 10 July 2018. Please return these using this form where possible, or otherwise in writing to Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. We are undertaking this consultation by email in order to minimise costs; however if you would prefer to receive a paper copy please let us know.
Consultation Date: 29 May 2018
Consultation Closes: 10 July 2018
