December 2008
Severn Estuary Forum:
The 3rd Annual Severn Estuary Partnership Forum was held on the 19th
of September 2008 at the Paget rooms in Penarth, Cardiff. Over 100 delegates
attended the morning session which consisted of an update on tidal energy
options in the Severn and a series of talks entitled 'Secrets of the
Severn'. Over 70 delegates then boarded the M.V. Balmoral for an afternoon
cruise on the Severn Estuary. Full details of the day including copies
of the morning presentations can be found on the forum
web page.
Estuary Groups Day - Monday 27th October:
The Severn Estuary Partnership hosted the biannual Estuary Groups Day
at the Walton Park Hotel on Monday the 27th of October. The day included
an ASERA Management Group Meeting, a Joint Advisory Committee meeting
and a Severn Estuary Coastal Group meeting. Minutes from the meetings
can be found on the websites below:-
- ASERA Management Group Minutes
- Joint Advisory Committee Minutes
- Severn Estuary Coastal Group Minutes
ASERA AGM - Monday 8th December 2008:
The Association of Severn
Estuary Relevant Authorities held their Annual General Meeting on
Monday the 8th of December at the Newport Wetlands Centre. 22 Members
attended the meeting, where a work programme for 2009 was discussed
and members were voted in. Matthew Lewis agreed to carry on in his role
as ASERA chair. After the formalities, delegates were treated to presentations
on the Water Framework Directive and Severn River Basin Management Plan
by Conar Doherty (Environment Agency) and The Marine Bill and its effects
on ASERA by Natasha Barker (World Wildlife Fund).
SEP Website Development:
The Partnership has continued to develop its Gateway
website and associated webpages with the assistance of a new part-time
web designer Gwilym Owen. Current developments include a tidal energy
resource page and interactive tourist map. It is hoped that both these
pages will be completed in early 2009.
Severn Estuary Partnership Membership:
Response to the new partnership membership scheme has been good, with
many organisations, charities, companies, clubs and individuals joining
in recent months.
Further SEP Staff Changes:
The Partnership are pleased to announce the appointment of a New Severn
Estuary Partnership Manager, Jonathan Mullard and Assistant, Paul Parker
who will both be post in early 2009. SEP also hope to employ a new Severn
Estuary Partnership and European Marine Site Officer in early 2009.
Severn Estuary Coastal Group (SECG) start work
on the Shoreline Management Plan Review (SMP2):
The Shoreline Management Plan Review (SMP2) for the Severn Estuary is
now due and is being developed by the Severn Estuary Coastal Group (SECG).
Atkins Limited, in partnership with ABPmer are helping the SECG to prepare
and consult on the SMP2, with additional support from SEP. The purpose
of the Severn Estuary SMP2 is to provide a large-scale assessment of
the risks associated with a changing coast and to set out a policy framework
over three 'epochs' of 20, 50 and 100 years to manage the risks to people
and the developed, historic and natural environment in a sustainable
way. The coastline around the Severn Estuary will be divided into 'Policy
Units'. There is a choice of four policies that can be applied to a
Policy Unit in each epoch:
- Hold the existing defence line - maintain or upgrade the level of protection provided by defences.
- Advance the existing defence line - build new defences seaward of the existing line.
- Managed realignment - allow retreat of the shoreline, with management to control or limit movement.
- No active intervention - a decision not to invest in providing or maintaining defences.
Flood Risk Management Strategy Update:
A Briefing Note intended for those with an interest in flood management
issues in the estuary has been produced by the Environment Agency. It
outlines how the EA is producing a long-term strategy for flood management
and how this links to other similar initiatives. December
2008 Briefing Note 
Tidal Energy Developments:
The study into Severn tidal power options has continued to develop with
proposals from the strategic environmental assessment (SEA), undergoing
ministerial review on the 17th of December. The public consultation
process is planned to commence early 2009. More information can be found
at The Department
of Energy and Climate Change. Also BERR's
Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study Introductory Page
UK Wide News:
The Marine Bill:
The Marine and Coastal Access Bill was published on Friday the 5th of
December and underwent its second reading in the House of Lords on Monday
15th December 2008. Royal assent will be given by next autumn although
it could be as early as Aril 2009. The Marine Bill is primary legislation
that is trying to achieve a planning system for the sea. Further developments
and amendments on the bill are detailed here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/marineandcoastalaccess.html
A DEFRA webpage detailing important information on the Regulatory Impact
Assessment on the Bill as well as links to the latest newsletters, publications
and guidance relating to the marine bill can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/legislation/index.htm
Consultation to amendments to the Marine Works (EIA) Regulations:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-works/index.htm
Further updates on the Marine bill can be found on the Welsh Coastal
Maritime Partnership Website: Marine
Bill
The English ICZM Strategy publication is expected to be published in the early New Year.
River Basin Management Plan – E-Consultation:
The Draft
River Basin Management Plan will contain the proposed environmental
objectives for water bodies and the proposed programme of measures to
achieve them. The consultation process will start by the 22nd of December
2008.
European News:
COREPOINT:
The outputs of the Interreg IIIB COREPOINT project on Integrated Coastal
Zone Management (ICZM) in North West Europe are now available on the
COREPOINT website. Outputs include:
- Guidelines for Local Information System development.
- ICZM training materials based on the European principles of ICZM.
- A wide range of reports and other publications on best practice in ICZM, collaborative working and the effectiveness of current spatial policies.
There is extensive reference to the Severn Estuary and Severn Estuary Partnership in many of these documents - happy reading!
IMCORE:
The Interreg IVb IMCORE (Innovative Management for Europe’s Changing
Coastal Resource) project has just started. Cardiff University and the
Severn Estuary Partnership are involved in this exciting new project
which will be building on the successes and experience of the COREPOINT
project. Further details on this project and what it will mean for the
Severn will be included in the next e-news. IMCORE
website.
