Let the Rivers flow

According to the news today The Environment Agency has reported that three quarters of Rivers in England and Wales fall below a new European environmental standard - although the state of rivers has improved.

River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) now have to be prepared. SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) has already prepared and consulted on these RBMP for Scotland, including one for North Highland.

'Water Environment' is a section heading in The Main Issues Report for the Highland-wide Local Development Plan and under this heading it is suggested:

"Our current local plans do not include reference to these documents and it is important that these Plans are considered, as development proposals can cause impacts on water quality. We could therefore promote the aims of the River Basin Management Plan for the Scotland River Basin District and Area Management Plans by addressing development-related issues."

"We think we should:

• clearly indicate the quality and status of water bodies in the LocalDevelopment Plan;
  

• ensure the water environment will be an important consideration in making decisions on planning applications; and
  

• not support development that is shown to have a negative impact if there are no acceptable plans in place to reduce that impact."

A link is provided from the MIR 'Water Environment' section to the SEPA web site.

In the SEPA North Highland Plan The A96 Corridor is included as a case study entitled,

"Development pressures and strategic planning"

"SEPA and Scottish Water continue to work together to identify strategic sewage and water supply solutions for the A96 Corridor proposals. Scottish Water’s current proposals for the A96 corridor are to develop and expand Inverness Water Treatment Works to keep pace with planned development. Longer term, incorporating the developments around Nairn will include a new Wastewater (sewage) Treatment Works. It is working with Highland Council and developers to ensure infrastructure is planned in a strategic manner across a number of development sites. Scottish Water and the Highland Council support SEPA’s policy of connection to the public sewerage system in built up areas. It is also planned to expand the water supply via a new abstraction arrangement."

What alternative is given to the Local Authorities preferred option?

"A reasonable alternative is not to include a policy on this within the Highland wide
Local Development Plan. If this was the case, greater reliance would be placed on
the role of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the conservation and
enhancement of the water environment and the Highland Council would continue to
consult SEPA on individual applications."

APTSec is busily trying to work out the implications here; what do you think?

(Community councillors and APT members alike attended the local consultation meetings that SEPA held on the River Basin Managment Plans. The APT committee submitted a written response)