Comment
Draft Local Plan
Representation ID: 15531
Received: 10/05/2016
Respondent: Environment Agency
The plan is very land centric and only mentions water bodies or waterways in passing. We would like to see further detail regarding the rivers within the Borough and specifically the headwaters of the Rivers Wid and Mardyke for our area. Given the improvements suggested above, we consider that this could be addressed through a completely separate policy, which should address water quality, the requirements of the WFD and RBMP objectives. We would like to see a new policy on the protection, enhancement and buffering of watercourses to help in the achievement of WFD objectives. This should include the provision of ecological buffer strips and corridors, native tree planting and the new wetland areas to help manage flood risk and reduce diffuse pollution whilst connecting people to nature. This could also include de-culverting, removal of redundant structures, alien species removal where appropriate. The need for this is supported in paragraph 21.1.4 of the Interim Sustainability Appraisal.
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