APPENDIX 5
Extracts from Devon County Council five year
Maritime Role and Action Programme—"Our Coast: Our
Common Asset", March 2003.
The overall vision within the document for the
coasts and seas of Devon is that "We should strive for the
coast of Devon and the seas that surround it to be a rich and
diverse natural, historic, cultural and economic environment that
provides a place to live and work and an escape from the busy
world, for its communities"
The document contains a number of policies around
goals for the economy, transport, the environment, culture &
heritage and safety. Of particular relevance to coastal towns
and the issues brought out in this response are:
— Commerce: support for measures that
favour development of those industries dependent on a coastal
location, such as ports, mariculture, fishing, shipbuilding etc.
provided they are environmentally sustainable.
— Towns: support for initiatives to
re-generate coastal towns.
— Transportation (Congestion): DCC
will assume the view, when devising transportation policy, that
coastal areas require special treatment because of seasonal congestion
and that the provision of real choices of transport mode is fundamental.
— Transportation (Ports): support proposals
that unlock the potential of ports, rail links and infrastructure
that are environmentally sustainable.
— Spatial Planning: DCC will assume
the view, when devising spatial planning policy, that the coast
is an invaluable resource that must only be developed in such
a way that the ability of future generations to make choices regarding
it is not compromised.
— Biodiversity: DCC will value the
unique biodiversity of the coast and marine environment and consider
our actions that affect it carefully against its conservation.
— Knowledge, awareness, networking
and good practice: DCC will consider participating in initiatives
that increase the knowledge base, public awareness and that promote
dialogue, discussion and exchange of good practice on issues relating
to the maritime environment at a local, regional, national and
European level.
The objective of the policies of the programme
include:
— To realise a prosperous and competitive
coastal economy that is inclusive of all.
— To maintain an efficient, effective
and integrated transport system that meets the needs of Devon,
its coastal communities and visitors.
— To secure spatial planning policy
that supports sustainable development of the coast.
— To conserve the natural, cultural
and historic environments.
— To ensure that European, national,
regional and local policy frameworks reflect the needs of Devon's
coast.
— To secure additional funding which
will support the County Council's coastal role.
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