Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
November 2023
Extract from Minutes of Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 13th November 2023
Minute Ref: 3069.3 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
To give further consideration to the application and the results of the public consultation.
250 surveys were delivered to all properties in the village as well as reminders via the village email. This should have reached the approx.543 population (2021 census). 66 responses received and many of these were responses from more than one resident from each property (perfectly understandable and everyone was entitled to respond) but the actual percentage of responses was considered low.
The results were: 39 join the application, 20 not join and 7 wait to see what the government plans. Councillors were not satisfied that this provided strong enough support.
Further considerations and research had been carried out including the opinion that the suggested area was not large enough to be successful and should encompass a larger area of land.
RESOLVED that having looked at the results of the survey and also taken into consideration the costs, time and resources required to administer the application (especially within a very limited timescale) compared against the likelihood of the application being successful and the pros and cons that it may bring, they do not currently support joining the application. They will keep this under review for the future.
October 2023
Woodham Walter Parish Council are currently looking into joining with Little Baddow and Danbury in an application for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are investigating the pros and cons and seeking local opinion. Please see the leaflet above and then click on the following link to answer the consultation electronically https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiyh-RTxA5SbvXWFua5At-eIBfaTHdDc_MJe_GuSluvgp1oA/viewform?usp=pp_url
An area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) is land protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act). It protects the land to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.
Under the CROW Act, Natural England can make orders to designate AONBs or vary the boundaries of existing ones
Before Natural England proposes an area becomes an AONB, it must meet the ‘natural beauty criterion’. This could be a combination of factors, such as:
- landscape quality, where natural or man-made landscape is good quality
- scenic quality, such as striking coastal landforms
- relative wildness, such as distance from housing or having few roads
- relative tranquillity, where natural sounds, such as streams or birdsong are predominant
- natural heritage features, such as distinctive geology or species and habitat
- cultural heritage, which can include the built environment that makes the area unique, such as archaeological remains or historic parkland
External Links to useful information
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/areas-of-outstanding-natural-beauty-aonbs-designation-and-management