Agenda item

Riverside Nature Reserve SANG improvement

Minutes:

The Council considered a report which sought approval to carry out a capital project for replacement and improvement of the access infrastructure at Riverside Nature Reserve and Parsonage Water Meadows, and to create an additional staff resource of one Project Manager Post for project delivery.

Councillors noted that Riverside Nature Reserve was a designated Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to avoid increased recreational pressure on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) resulting from new housing development.

This mitigation was required to enable the Council to comply with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 by providing alternative recreation areas that provide a similar experience to the SPA.

It was anticipated that the estimated project cost of £1,133,500 would be funded from financial contributions from developers that were collected to deliver new SANG sites, improve existing SANG land, provide infrastructure and site maintenance and cover staff costs associated with management. The project would include access and site improvement to the SANG to enable additional use of the site.

The report to the Council outlined the need for the project to improve existing   infrastructure and facilitate increased visitor numbers. These pressures provided a challenge managing visitor conflicts, safe access to natural green space, naturally occurring changes, whilst retaining the site’s natural character in line with SANG guidelines, GBC Countryside Vision, and the Environment Act 2021.

The existing boardwalk on Riverside Nature Reserve was a key piece of SANG infrastructure that required replacement as a matter of urgency. Parts of the existing boardwalk were currently closed for health and safety reasons.

Officers were also seeking to improve access for firefighting equipment to mitigate increased wildfire risks.

Proposed works comprised of re-designing and replacing the existing boardwalk and improving pathways, signage, and seating, following recommendations from an access audit commissioned in 2020. Officers proposed to include public consultation during the project.

The project aimed to ensure that the Council fulfilled its duties under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, the Equality Act 2010, and the Environment Act 2021.

The Council also noted that the Executive, at its meeting on 12 June 2024, had considered and had endorsed the recommendation in the report.

Upon the motion of the Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, Councillor George Potter, seconded bythe Leader of the Council, Councillor Julia McShane, the Council

RESOLVED:

 

(1)    That capital expenditure of £1,133,500 be approved from existing development contributions to improve SANG capacity and improvement of the SANG access infrastructure at Riverside Nature Reserve and Parsonage Water Meadows.

 

(2)         That an additional staff resource of one Project Manager Post for project delivery be approved.

Reasons:

·      Officers consider the project proposal the most efficient option to maintain SANG capacity to mitigate the recreational pressure resulting from the developments the SANG contributions have been collected from.

·      The project will deliver necessary works to achieve health and safety compliance under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957.

·      The delivery of the project will provide added benefits to the Council by demonstrating compliance with the public duties for biodiversity under the Environment Act 2021 and the duties under the Equality Act 2010.

 

Supporting documents: