Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Access Newsletter No. 50, May 2012
The newsletter covers the latest position on coastal access, details
of consultations on rights of way and National Trails, and the launch of
the Paths for Communities scheme.
Red Tape Challenge - Water and Marine Theme
February 2012
The Government’s ‘Red Tape Challenge’ was launched in April last year to
open up Government regulation to the scrutiny and challenge of the
public, businesses and experts. On the Red Tape Challenge website,
regulations are divided into themes, each featured on the front page for
a ‘spotlight’ period of around five weeks.
The Water and Marine theme will be in the spotlight from 17 February
till the 23 March and will include: flood and coastal erosion; water
quality; water resource; inland waterways*, fisheries and marine
conservation
You can leave your comments and ideas on the regulations on the website
http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/ or send a private submission to the Red Tape Team at redtapechallenge@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk
The Red Tape Challenge website is being used to gather innovative ideas
on how the aims of regulations can be fulfilled in the most successful
and least burdensome ways. There is no intention to reduce environmental
protection.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation: UK Initial Assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status
Consultation Start: 27 March 2012
Consultation End: 18 June 2012
For the UK, the directive is part of a package of policies, united by our vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas’. The directive’s aims are consistent with this vision and current policies, such as the implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy will play a major role in helping us achieve Good Environmental Status (GES).
The directive is very wide-ranging and sets out eleven descriptors of GES relating to biological diversity, non-indigenous species introductions, commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations, food webs, human-induced eutrophication, sea floor integrity, hydrographical conditions, concentrations of contaminants, contaminants in fish and other seafood, litter, and noise.
Further Information
Find more information on the MSFD including consultation Q&A and factsheets by
using this link
Kayak Recycling Project
October 2011
It's fair to say that we’re all pretty switched on when it comes to
recycling our everyday household waste - glass bottles, tin cans and
newspapers - but have you ever wondered what you’d do with your plastic
kayak when it breaks or when it’s too old and worn to pass on?
During the week, Beth Ripper works as a Waste Management Consultant,
helping organisations to find the best ways to manage their materials
and reduce their waste. At the weekends, she’s a keen white-water
kayaker and she wondered why the two roles couldn’t mix! Beth wanted to
find out what we were doing to minimise waste associated with our sport
and see how our manufacturers, retailers and local authorities have been
supporting waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
Environment Agency Strategy for Water Related Recreation - Enjoying Water
The Environment Agency is encouraging people to have their say on the
future of water sport and leisure development in London and the South
East and the Midlands with the launch of public consultations for its
Enjoying Water projects.
The Environment Agency has been developing its Enjoying Water plan that
aims to place the environment at the heart of future opportunities to
develop water recreation. The final plan will help decision makers such
as local authorities take an informed view on how to create, protect
and improve water sports and leisure development across London and the
South East.
In developing the plan the Environment Agency has already spoken to more
than 220 recreation users and managers of water based activities, and
sites to gather their views, and is now encouraging anyone else with an
interest in water sports and leisure pursuits to visit www.brighton.ac.uk/waterrecreation and comment on the findings and opinions already expressed. The consultation is open from 5 July until 30 September 2010.
Strategic Plans for the South West England, East of England and North
West of England have also been produced by consultants from the
University of Brighton and are available from www.brighton.ac.uk/recreation.
A New Era for the Waterways Consultation - DEFRA