Current Consultations
To view Solent Forum consultation responses visit our consultation response page.
Consultation on Delivering Marine Conservation Zones and European Marine Sites: A draft strategy for marine protected areas
This draft strategy sets out Defra's proposed vision and framework for marine protected areas in territorial waters adjacent to England and UK offshore waters over the next ten years. It will allow anyone with an interest in marine conservation to understand why Defra are creating an MPA network and how they intend to deliver it. The draft strategy sets out how existing obligations for marine protected areas under European Directives together with Marine Conservation Zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill and other designated sites will deliver an ecologically coherent network by 2012.
You are invited to comment by 13 July 2009.
Consultation on the Draft Flood and Water Management Bill
On the 21 April the government published the draft Flood and Water Management Bill for consultation. The Bill seeks to:
- deliver improved security, service and sustainability for people and their communities
- it will be clear who is responsible for managing flood risk
- protect essential water supplies
- modernise the law for managing flood risk and reservoir safety
- encourage more sustainable forms of drainage
- enable water companies to control more non-essential uses of water during droughts
- make it easier to resolve misconnections to sewers
The deadline for responses is 24 July 2009.
Draft Ecosystems Approach policy
This paper sets out Natural England's draft policy on ecosytems approach, Natural England believes that:
- Our decisions about the natural environment should seek to maintain the provision of ecosystem services wherever this is compatible with our responsibilities for the natural environment, and our respect for its intrinsic value.
- The value of the natural environment is not adequately recognised by society and it is crucial that people understand the links between their own well-being and the value of services provided by the natural environment.
- Action is necessary from all sectors of society, including government, business, NGOs and local communities, to support the provision of ecosystem services.
- We require new mechanisms for the delivery of an ecosystem services approach including innovative financial and other instruments.
- Investment in the natural environment informed by economic analysis, is necessary to deliver ecosystem services which are critical to the well-being of present and future generations.
Please provide written responses on the response form. The closing date is 31 July 2009.
Consultation on Proposed Minor Amendments to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994
This consultation proposes minor amendments to the Habitat Regulations 1994 and seeks views on those proposed amendments.
The aim of the amendments is to make clear that provisions to make a special nature conservation order (SNCO) under regulations 22 - 27 and Schedule 1 of the Habitats Regulations can be used to restrict operations taking place on water as well as those on land, in order to protect European sites. The proposed amendments would come into force on 1st October 2009.
The closing date for the consultation is 3 August 2009.
Consultation on secondary legislation for England and Wales under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill: Part 4 Marine Licensing
This is a first consultation on some of the secondary legislation that will be produced under ‘Part 4: Marine licensing’ of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
The consultation sets out some initial ideas for how applications for a marine licence should be processed and determined; what the appeals process for appealing decisions of the marine licensing authority should like; and which activities should be exempt from the need for a marine licence and on what conditions.
The closing date for this consultation is 22nd September 2009.
Coastal Change Policy - 15/6/09
Defra has launched a consultation on Coastal Change policy. This sets out our ideas for how coastal communities can successfully adapt to the impacts of coastal change, and Government’s role in supporting this.
The consultation also provides details of a new coastal change pathfinder programme that Defra are intending to establish. Bids are invited from coastal local authorities interested in becoming coastal change pathfinders. Pathfinders would be able to explore some of the ideas and approaches set out in the consultation. A new coastal change fund of up to £11 million is available to support their work.
They are also asking for views on a proposed approach to enabling local authorities to provide practical assistance to home owners experiencing complete loss of a home as a result of coastal erosion.
The closing date for this consultation is 25 September 2009.
