Governments Landscape review document - 'Antisocial' national park visitors will face 'Asbo orders' and Green Lanes Under Threat Again.

[JimC]

Interesting article in the Mail Online - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10404943/National-park-visitors-face-Asbo-orders-new-plans-stop-hostile-behaviour.html

Link to the Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): government response - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response

 

England's national parks will have the power to issue Asbo-style orders to visitors who exhibit 'hostile behaviour' under new plans being drawn up by Government ministers. 

The increase in the number of people taking trips to England's national parks as a result of the Covid pandemic has also seen a higher number of incidents of antisocial behaviour at the sites.

And now, The Times reports that plans are being put forward that would grant National Park authorities the power to issue 'public space protection orders'.

Current laws dictate that these orders can only be handed out by local authorities, but with nearly 50 per cent of the population claiming to be spending more time outside, ministers believe National Parks need greater authority. 

 

The proposal is just one of a number that have been put forward by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The new plans come in response to a review by Julian Glover, which called for a complete rewrite of the structure and organisation of England's national parks.

Commenting on the proposed new powers for National Park authorities, The Times reports Defra said: 'Rangers in protected landscapes have observed increased visitor numbers and an increase in antisocial and hostile behaviour'.

The new powers given to the authorities will permit them to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone caught breaching behavioural standards.   

 

Among the other plans to help nature recover and safeguard England's national parks have been put forward by the Government is the scrapping of the term 'areas of outstanding natural beauty' in favour of 'national landscapes'.

The aim of the proposals is to increase access to nature and ensure protected landscapes play a key role in tackling climate change, protecting biodiversity and supporting the nation's health and wellbeing for the next 70 years and beyond.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the plans represent 'a new chapter in the story of our protected landscapes'.

 

Those who are in charge of and manage England's national parks and AONBs are to join forces as part of a new national landscapes partnership - where they can share knowledge and tackle issues such as nature recovery and improved public access.

Under the plans, they will also be expected to help local leaders work together nationally through schemes including campaigns, organised events and volunteering projects that bring people closer to nature.

Mr Eustice said: 'These reforms will play a pivotal role in meeting our international commitment to protect 30% of land for biodiversity by 2030 as we build back greener.'

A 12-week consultation on the plans will also ask for views on proposals to drive nature recovery and support for the communities that live and work in those areas.

 

Mr Glover, who led the review, said: 'This is our chance to make England's landscapes more beautiful, better for people who visit and live in them and far more alive with nature.

'Our countryside is there for all of us, but from the heaths of the New Forest to the high fells of the Lake District, it is under pressure in an urban world.

'It won't be enough just to try to conserve what we have inherited - we can change the story from decline to recovery, to make them greener, more welcoming and full of hope.'

Covid-19 has seen many people spending more time outside than before the pandemic - but some, particularly those on the lowest incomes, do not have access to greenspaces, according to Natural England.

The Government has previously pledged within the 25-Year Environment Plan to protect 30% of the UK's land by 2030 and to achieve net zero by 2050.

 

 

[JimC]

This is taken from the Governments Landscape review document - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response#chapter-3-people-and-place

 

Managing visitor pressures

Since the review was published, rangers in protected landscapes have observed increased visitor numbers and an increase in anti-social and hostile behaviour. In response, Natural England has revised the Countryside Code, and run a communications campaign to improve people’s understanding of the countryside and promote socially and environmentally responsible behaviours. However, providing visitors with clearer information has not been sufficient to fully address these ongoing issues.

 

We are therefore considering making a greater range of enforcement powers available to National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority to help manage visitor pressures and make National Parks a more pleasant and safe place to live and visit. These are powers to:

 

• issue Fixed Penalty Notices for byelaw infringements - this would simplify the process and reduce enforcement costs. Increasing the penalties would also act as a stronger deterrent and provide reassurance to local communities
   
• make Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – this would reduce administration costs where multiple local authorities have jurisdiction across a National Park and ensure there is a consistent approach where PSPOs are deemed necessary to deter genuinely antisocial behaviour. This would only be used following consultation with LAs
   
• issue Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to control the amount and type of traffic on roads – this would help to tackle and deter problems caused by vehicles that could lead to damage to sensitive environments or wildlife and allow National Park Authorities to respond more quickly to emerging traffic issues
   

Some country public rights of way and unsealed unclassified roads known as ‘green lanes’ allow for the legal recreational use of motor vehicles. Whilst many users make use of these rights in a responsible way, we have become increasingly aware of damage and disturbance caused by excessive use of off-road motor vehicles on some unsealed routes. This can result in impacts on local wildlife, the special qualities of an area e.g., tranquillity, and make the route less accessible for other users such as those on foot, bicycles, horseback, or in vehicles used by disabled people. In protected landscapes, these impacts could undermine the statutory purposes of the area.
 

We are also aware that these unsealed routes often provide essential vehicular access for local residents and businesses, and recognise that many people enjoy using motor vehicles responsibly on green lanes without causing damage or disturbance. Vulnerable groups such as disabled or elderly people are also likely to be particularly reliant on vehicular access in rural areas including via community transport.
 

We therefore would like to explore the options available for protecting our green lanes while maintaining most public and private access rights, particularly for residents or businesses. This could be achieved by giving greater discretion for National Park Authorities and local highway authorities to use existing powers to restrict use on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, the government could consider restricting the use of certain motor vehicles on unsealed roads through legislation, but only if this could carefully balance the needs of all users including motorised vehicle users, horse riders, cyclists and walkers, whilst also protecting private access rights.

 

We will also continue to work to manage visitor pressures through visitor dispersal. A key objective in the government’s Tourism Recovery Plan is for visitor spending to grow year on year in every nation and region of the UK, not only within but beyond the usual tourist ‘hotspots’ to smaller, lesser-known destinations - including the lesser-visited protected landscapes. For example, we have supported this through many Discover England Fund projects, which are well suited to meet the renewed interest in outdoor experiences and showcase lesser-known destinations.

 

For details of how to provide your views on this issue, see our consultation on implementing the review.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response#chapter-3-people-and-place

 

[V]

The consultation is on another website . If you want to go green laning after this consultation you have to fill this in. Otherwise, the civil servants are likely to repeat what they did in 2006 with NERC, following 2001 CRoW.

 

It would be nice if they could put forward an alternative compensatory proposal to guarantee planning permission acreage for off road driving parks. This should be equivalent in land area to the sum of the area of all golf courses within the planning authority. By restricting vehicle use on some byways they increase use on the remaining byways. Take the pressure off the byways by allowing off road parks to exist in the same district.

[TimC]

“We will also continue to work to manage visitor pressures through visitor dispersal. A key objective in the government’s Tourism Recovery Plan is for visitor spending to grow year on year in every nation and region of the UK, not only within but beyond the usual tourist ‘hotspots’ to smaller, lesser-known destinations - including the lesser-visited protected landscapes. For example, we have supported this through many Discover England Fund projects, which are well suited to meet the renewed interest in outdoor experiences and showcase lesser-known destinations.”

 

and we are going to do this by restricting access to lesser known destinations and lesser visited protected landscapes…….genius!

[V]

I have submitted my response. It's just like CRoW and NERC, possibly the final stage in making recreational 4x4 use illegal. It's probably a done deal already like the last two swindles, but at least you will have some satisfaction in knowing you objected instead of doing nothing.

[Surfer]

I think what they are saying is that due to extensive cut backs we no longer have enough rangers to patrol the areas affected and rangers do not have enough power to enforce any legislation or the means to remove anti social people from any National Park.  That is of course if the people are seen by the ranger.