§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidelines are currently produced by his Department for local authorities concerning the wording of site safeguard policies for conservation sites contained in development plans;
(2) if he will list the local authority development plans which contain specific protection for sites of special scientific interest, Ramsar sites and special protection areas.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesPlanning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside And The Rural Economy", includes advice on how local authority policies should take full account of designated areas, including particular references to national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and sites of special scientific interest. All future development plans will be expected to reflect this advice.
Policies to protect designated areas including sites of special scientific interest are contained in the approved structure plans for Dyfed, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, Gwent, Powys, Clwyd and Gwynedd. No approved structure plans in Wales refer to Ramsar sites or special protection areas.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local nature reserves have been designated within each county council area of Wales in each of the last five years.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsTwo local nature reserves have been designated within the last five years. These are Mumbles Hill in West Glamorgan designated by Swansea city council in March 1989, and Howardian in South Glamorgan designated by Cardiff city council in July 1991.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to local authorities recommending the inclusion of landscape conservation in policies on nature conservation.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) now requires local authorities, when drawing up their development plans, to include land use and development policies that are designed to secure the conservation of natural beauty and amenity of land and the improvement of the physical environment. Planning policy guidance note 12 (Wales), "Development Plans and Strategic Planning Guidance in Wales", advises that the development plan process should take account of the environmental implications of development, including the impact on landscape quality, and consider local options for conserving and improving the landscape.
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§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities which have offered specific protection from mineral development to sites of special scientific interest within their structure plans.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesClwyd, Dyfed, Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan. In addition, Gwent county council has a structure plan on deposit which includes such a policy.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to local authorities to secure that structural development plans(a) regard woodlands as a habitat and (b) have regard for the protection of habitats other than woodland.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesAdvice to local planning authorities on the content of development plans is contained in planning policy guidance note 12 (Wales) "Development Plans and Strategic Planning Guidance in Wales". This indicates that structure plans should include land-use policies on, inter alia, conservation of the natural environment. Further advice will be contained in the forthcoming guidance on nature conservation.