Environment and the Countryside

The quality of our environment is central to our very existence and general well being. The superb countryside of Wales offers a significant competitive edge in the drive to deliver sustainable development. Local authorities play a critical role in ensuring the balanced use of this resource ensuring social, economic and environmental viability.

Councils are custodians of the local environment. They manage sensitive environments including heritage coasts, foreshores and beaches, areas of outstanding natural beauty, parks and open spaces, country parks, and heritage sites. Councils are responsible for monitoring and regulating the environment through services such as air quality monitoring and enforcement, and decontaminating polluted land. Some of the most visible environmental management work of councils is in the removal of fly tips, graffiti and litter.

Councils make possible public enjoyment of the environment through the management of the extensive network of public rights of way and key sites. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which came into force in 2005, extends the public rights of access to the countryside. Much of this work is done in partnership with other agencies such as the Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission. Through their statutory planning function councils designate land use and control development.

The role of the Community Strategy and the local development plan are vital in delivering the balanced growth required to ensure the continued prosperity of communities.

The three national park authorities (Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire) conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of 20% of the landmass of Wales and promote usage and enjoyment of these designated park areas.

Important national challenges are:

• Ensuring balanced growth which ensures social, economic and environmental well being.
• Adapting and managing our response to the implications of climate change enabling Wales to become more resilient.
• Mitigating our impact on the environment so as to halt climate change.
• Implementation of the Environment Strategy published in 2006.
• Understanding the impact of climate change and what this means for our communities.
• Concerns over the condition of the rights of way network and the costs of maintenance.
• Ensuring that councils understand the impact of their decisions on the environment and promote sustainable development.
• Ensuring that the Rural Development Plan delivers real benefit for communities across Wales.
• Delivering the Sustainable Development statutory duty within the Local Planning Authority function.
• Delivering the new biodiversity duty upon local authorities.
• Providing a clean, vibrant local environment reducing the amount of local nuisance such as litter, graffiti, fly-tipping etc.

Facts and Figures

• 17,000 full-time jobs in Wales are associated with the use, management and appreciation of the natural environment. This is worth £8.8bn to Wales each year
• over 25% of Wales is designated as a protected area due to its wildlife, cultural and landscape value
• there are 40,000 km of public footpaths, bridle-ways and byways in Wales
• urban air quality is worse in Wales than in England - there are 10 air quality management areas in Wales
• In 2005/06 there were almost 50,000 incidents of fly tipping costing local government around £2.4m.
• In Biodiversity terms 46% of priority habitats are declining – a real concern as biodiversity is vital to Wales’ eco system.

Further Reading
Environment Strategy for Wales, WAG
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Office of Public Sector Information, UK Government (English language only/ Saesneg yn unig)
Working Better Together WLGA
Rural Development Plan 2007 - 2013: Wales Strategic Approach

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