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One of Environmental Planning Service's objectives is to promote best practice in the management of Cheshire's natural and built resources and the Council's own operations to secure the county a safe and prosperous future.
To achieve this, the following activities are undertaken:
Improving and enhancing Cheshire's landscapes
The Service plays an important role in the promotion of Environmental Management in the Cheshire Community through the County Council leading by example in relation to good landscape practice:
The Service's priorities for this include:
- Advising the Council's Engineering Service on the long tern management of road side planting schemes
- Development of exemplar sites in relation to good landscape practice.
- Contributing to the preparation and implementation of Bio-diversity Action Plan's
- Providing specialist landscape and forestry advice
- Managing the database of local Sites of Biological Importance
Environmental Management
The Service plays an important role in improving environmental performance across Cheshire, for example, co-ordinating the environmental component of the Cheshire Community Strategy.
The service leads the County Council initiative to improve environmental performance in its own actions and encourages the wider Cheshire community through the promotion of Environmental Management across the county and through leading by example.
The Service's priorities for this includes:
- Publishing an annual summary of the actions being taken to improve environmental performance in the Council.
- The implementation of environmental projects within the Community Strategy
- The publication of a schools Education for Sustainable Development guidance note.
- Work to improve energy performance in schools
Fact: In 2002 the County Council was awarded the national award as "Best Council" for its environmental performance programme.
Life ECOnet Project
The Service also co-ordinates the life ECOnet Project, which promotes the use of ecological networks (suitable habitats) to protect wildlife in Cheshire.
Fact: As a result of the Life ECOnet Project, Cheshire became the first English county to have a scientific and community-based ecological framework for habitat management, benefiting wildlife and people.
Suitable habitats for wildlife - known as nature corridors or networks in ecological terms - are vital to provide enough food and opportunities to migrate and mate. Modern day activities like building new roads break up the landscape and prevent the movement of many species.
Life ECOnet is seeking further funding after August 2003 to enable it to help pay for the creation of 617 acres of new heathland, 4522 acres of peatland, 3088 acres of woodland, 9390 acres of grassland, 740 acres of wetland sites and 370 miles of stream and river bank improvement for wildlife and people by 2020.
For further details visit the Life ECOnet Project website
Environmental Protection (Air and Noise)
The Service assesses potential air and noise quality impacts of transport initiatives and development proposals
Air quality is predicted using computer equipment, which is also linked to an emissions database covering the whole of Cheshire, including road, rail, domestic and industrial emission sources. The predicted levels are checked using air quality monitors. The Council has three of these measuring nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates.
Conditions on noise levels are imposed on mineral extraction and waste sites, with facilities to monitor noise and vibration from transport available.
County Farms
The Service carries out the day to day and longer term management of the County Council's Farms.
Its responsibilities include:
- Devising management plans for 12 woodlands
- Developing appropriate woodlands for wildlife and public access
- Preparing and implementing a Best Value improvement plan to ensure that the service is being provided to the best possible standard
- Devising and delivering a programme to manage the farms as a whole.
- The Service directs the strategic management of the County Council's Farms Estate.
The key objectives of the County Farms service are:
- To provide opportunities for new entrants into farming
- To encourage best practice and improve environmental performance through whole farm management plans.
- To promote wider access to the Cheshire Countryside
- To encourage diversification and a wider contribution to the rural economy
- The Service has consulted on a Best Value improvement plan to ensure that the County Farms Service delivers the key objectives for the community.
Fact: Cheshire County Council Farms Estate is located in various locations consisting of almost 11,000 acres, that's 153 farms ranging in size from 35 to 165 acres. Each farm is assessed for its environmental and conservation value and several have taken up agri-environment schemes to improve habitats for wildlife.
Facts: There are 7 woodlands in active management, 60 acres and 2 new woodlands planted of 20 acres. 7.5 kilometres of permissive path links have been created. There are 9 countryside Stewardship schemes. 25% of sales from redundant units in our active farms are reinvested. For every farm tenant 4 jobs in the rural economy are created.
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