Management OverviewAbout half of the Island is AONB, mostly in the South and West, but with five parcels stretching across the whole land area, in total around 189 square kilometres. It was designated in 1963. The AONB represents the variety of landscapes found upon the Island, from high chalk downs to lush green pastures. It also includes around half of the coastline including all of the Heritage Coast. Centuries of land management have shaped the existing landform to create today's landscape. Any persons' perception of beauty is an individual thing and one which is very often different from our forebears. This makes it hard to generalise, however there are many landscapes that have widespread appeal. The Isle of Wight has that special feel. When comparing the Island with other protected landscapes it is clear that it is unusual because our AONB is fragmented. This should not take anything away from the rest of our countryside, since they are inextricably linked and complementary. The AONB's fragmentation and spread reflects the variety of landscape types held in such a small area, including some real gems. The combination of this variety with the maritime influence, have produced the special feel of the Isle of Wight AONB. The grand chalk cliffs and rolling downs, muddy creeks and estuaries, lush green pastures and trees and hedgerows sharing the same designation. It is this very variety that has made the Island’s finest landscapes of national importance, and highlights the need for its integrated management, both inside and outside of the designated area. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 conferred a statutory obligation on all local authorities or conservation boards to produce and subsequently review an AONB management plan for the area. The plan ‘should formulate their policy for the management of their Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for the carrying out of their functions in relation to it’ (CroW Act 2000, Part iv s89 (1) & (2)). As well as being a legal requirement, this new duty also represents an opportunity to draw together all interested parties to generate a long-term vision for the area, set an agenda for change and manage change effectively. AONB Management Plan 2004-2009: - Highlights the distinctive qualities of the AONB
- Identifies the changes and issues affecting the AONB
- Presents a vision for the future of the AONB as a whole, in light of other national, regional and local priorites
- Sets priorities incorporating specific objectives that will help to secure that vision
- Clarifies the role of partners and other stakeholders, identifying what needs to be done, by whom, and when, in order to achieve the Plan’s objectives
- Identifies how the objectives and actions will be measured and reviewed
- Raises the profile of the AONB and its purpose
Click here to download a full copy of the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan 2004-2009. Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan Review - 2008 The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 additionally requires all AONB Management Plans to be reviewed within five years of their publication. The Countryside Agency and latterly Natural England, have published guidance on the review process and the additional requirements of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment. The required review of the current plan commenced at the AONB Partnership's Annual General Meeting and Open Forum meeting in September 2007. The anticipated Timescale and Milestones for the review is as follows: | Formal Notification of Review | October 2007 | | Workshop - Reviewing Plan Threats & Challenges | 29th November 2007 | | Workshop - Reviewing Plan Policies, Aims & Objectives | 24th January 2008 | | Workshop - Delivering the new Plan | 18th March 2008 | | Drafting | March/April 2008 | | First Consultation (AONB Partnership & Statutory Bodies) | May 2008 | | Public Consultation | September/October 2008 | | Amendments | November 2008 | | Isle of Wight Council Adoption | January 2009 | | Publish Review/Updated Plan | March 2009 | | Submit Copy to Secretary of State | March 2009 |
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