The Mendip Hills are naturally beautiful and nationally protected for us all to enjoy. But the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is under growing pressure from modern life. In the coming months we can all play a part in the future of this precious area.
Weston-super-Mare is lucky enough to sit on the edge of the Mendip Hills AONB. The hills are the backdrop to the seaside town. Locals and holiday-makers know and love the footpaths, woodlands and combes even if they don’t know or understand the official designation of AONB. Did you know AONBs offer the same level of protection from damaging developments in planning law as National Parks? And AONBs cost the British taxpayer 18p per person a year, compared to costs of 60p each for the queen and 80p for National Parks!
Currently the Mendip Hills AONB Management Plan is being reviewed. The plan points the direction for work to conserve and enhance the area. At the moment the AONB Service run lots of different projects to look after the hills. Dry stone walls are being surveyed and rebuilt above Hutton, the West Mendip Way that starts in Uphill has a new leaflet and waymarkers plus the Strawberry Line is being supported with grant money.
The Mendip Hills AONB Partnership, consisting of the local authorities, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Somerset Wildlife Trust, National Trust, together with parish councils want to hear from you. A scoping report that lists all the issues affecting the Mendip Hills is available on the AONB Service website at www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk
‘There is a vision – setting out where the Partnership wants the AONB to be in 20 years time, objectives that specify what the Partnership wants to achieve and policies stating how they will get things done. These are now being reviewed to reflect changing issues and priorities and we need local people’s help’ said Sarah Jackson, Mendip Hills AONB Manager. Comments on the Scoping Report are welcome by the deadline of 30th November 2007.
The Partnership is a group of organisations dedicated to the conservation and care of the Mendip Hills. It includes the five local authorities that cover the AONB, statutory bodies such as the Countryside Agency and English Nature together with parish councils and other organisations and groups that have an interest in the area.
The Partnership Committee meets twice a year. These are public meetings administered by Somerset County Council. Key items at these meetings are the Partnerships Annual Action Plan and the Partnership budget.
The Partnership holds an Annual Forum for the wider community and has two days per year where it will go out to see issues in the AONB. These days are important to encourage debate and to spread best practice in finding solutions to management issues.
The Partnership has a number of working groups to advise and develop its work. Currently these are The Resources Steering Group, the Planning Group, the Strategic Traffic Action Group, Heritage Group and Farmers Group.
The Management Plan is accompanied by an Action Plan for the same period, which reports on its activities.
The Partnership fund a staff unit, the Mendip Hills AONB Service, to carry out core AONB activities and develop project work to progress the Management Plan.
Click here to find Minutes of meetings which have been agreed by the Partnership.
The Value of an AONB