Areas that need the most stringent protection
are those which have international and national designations. There are
many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the Stour Valley and
development should not pose a direct threat to these but indirect effects
of development might include a lowering of the water table influencing
sites such as Hothfield Common SSSI - the only lowland valley bog system
in Kent. In landscape terms the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty is nationally protected and it is important to recognise that it is
not only beautiful to walk through but also to enjoy views looking out
from it.
Other designated areas include Conservation Areas of
towns, villages and parkland; scheduled ancient monuments; and the North
Kent Marshes Environmental Sensitive Area. Sites of Nature Conservation
Interest (SNCIs) have no statutory protection but most local authorities
recognise their importance to wildlife and protect them through the
planning process. Areas such as South Willesborough Dykes SNCI in Ashford
have been nibbled away at in the past and it is tremendously important
that these areas are protected, not least as semi-natural green space for
future residents, and actively managed for conservation by the owners.
It is now widely accepted that attractive water courses
onto which developments face can add 25% to the value of property and so
there are economic reasons not to ‘lose’ watercourses through
development. It is also important to plan for enhancement to wildlife
habitat and recreation. Where opportunities arise for linking habitats
such as woodland these should be imaginatively planned.
Of course any development on semi-natural habitat should
be resisted and there should always be buffer areas left so that
development does not abut protected sites or semi-natural habitat. There
should be a focus on development on brownfield and intensively farmed
agricultural land. Finally many of us know buildings or whole areas of
towns that serve little purpose and there should be a target of
re-developing these under utilised areas before green field sites are
built over.
Jon Shelton,
Countryside Manager
