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Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet has given its backing to management plans which have been drawn up for some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. 

The Countryside and Rights of Way (CroW) Act 2000 places a duty on local authorities to act jointly to produce management plans for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) within their administrative boundaries by 1stApril, and to review the plans every five years.

Cumbria is lucky enough to have three AONBs within its borders – the North Pennines, Arnside-Silverdale and the Solway Coast.

The County Council, together with the Countryside Agency and other local authorities, provides funding to management organisations which work to ensure all three areas are looked after.

The plans have been drawn up by these organisations on behalf of the local authorities following extensive consultations with local bodies and members of the public.

Each management plan:

•       Highlights the special qualities of the AONB and the importance of different features
•       Presents an integrated vision for the future of the AONB as a whole in the light of national, regional and local priorities
•       Sets out agreed policies or guidelines that incorporate specific objectives to secure the vision
•       Identifies what needs to be done, by whom and when in order to achieve these outcomes
•       States how the condition of the AONB and the effectiveness of its management will be monitored

Lawson Short, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment, says:

 “We have three AONBs in Cumbria, each very different in character, and these management plans have been tailored to meet their individual needs and the needs of local people.“They cover a wide variety of topics, including traffic and transport, land management, prudent use of natural resources, access to the countryside, tourism, supporting local communities and increasing public understanding and enjoyment of the area. As such it is crucial that all of the partner bodies work together in implementing the plans so that objectives are met and targets achieved.”