Local Flood Risk Management Strategy€¦ · 3.4 Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities 17 3.5...

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

Issue | 20 September 2012

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Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Local Flood Risk Management StrategyStrategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

| Issue | 20 September 2012

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REPORT ISSUE [200912].DOCX

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Contents

Page

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Purpose of SEA 1

1.2 SEA Process and Legislation 1

1.3 Structure of the Environmental Report 2

2 The Merthyr Tydfil Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 3

2.1 Strategic Context and Guidance 3

2.2 Spatial Scope 4

2.3 Local Flood Risk Planning: Overview 6

2.4 Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report 6

2.5 Summary of the Local Strategy 9

2.6 Local Strategy Implementation Measures 10

3 SEA Objectives, Baseline and Method 13

3.1 Overview 13

3.2 Identifying Other Relevant Plans and Programmes and Environmental Protection Objectives 14

3.3 Merthyr Tydfil Environmental Baseline 15

3.4 Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities 17

3.5 The SEA Framework 18

3.6 Assessment of Objectives and Measures 20

3.7 Limitations, Data Gaps and Assumptions 20

4 Assessment of Local Strategy Objectives and Measures 21

4.1 Consideration of Alternatives 21

4.2 Assessment of Local Strategy Objectives 23

4.3 Local Strategy Proposed Measures 27

5 Conclusions and Recommendations 38

5.1 Recommendations and Mitigation 38

5.2 Monitoring Recommendations 38

5.3 Habitats Regulations Appraisal 42

Appendices

Appendix A

SEA Scoping Consultation Responses



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Appendix B

Review of Plans and Programmes

Appendix C

Baseline Environment



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1 Introduction

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 provides for better and more comprehensive management of flood risk for people, homes and businesses. The Act implements Sir Michael Pitt’s recommendations requiring urgent legislation, following his review of the 2007 floods.

As part of the Act, Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFA) are required to develop, maintain, apply and monitor the application of a strategy for local flood risks in their area.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC) is the LLFA for the administrative area of Merthyr Tydfil. Having considered the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004, MTCBC have determined that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required for their Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (the ‘Local Strategy’).

MTCBC have commissioned Arup to deliver aspects of the SEA for the Local Strategy on their behalf. This SEA Environmental Report documents the environmental assessment and the likely significant effects of the draft Local Strategy. The Environmental Report is part of the public consultation documents on the draft Local Strategy.

The results of the SEA and the public consultation will be taken into account in the development of the final Local Strategy and its adoption.

1.1 Purpose of SEA

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a process that provides for the high level protection of the environment, by ensuring that the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation of strategies and plans and to contribute to the promotion of sustainable development and environmental protection.

1.2 SEA Process and Legislation

SEA for certain plans and programmes is a legal requirement under the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC). In Wales, this is transposed and implemented through the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004 (referred to as the SEA Regulations in this report).

MTCBC have determined that the Local Strategy is a ‘plan or programme’ described in the SEA Regulations and that therefore SEA is required.

In summary, SEA process requires MTCBC and the Local Strategy to:

• prepare an Environmental Report on the likely significant effects of the draft Local Strategy;

• consult on the draft Local Strategy and the accompanying Environmental Report;




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• take into account the Environmental Report and the results of consultation in decision-making; and

• provide information when the Local Strategy is adopted and show how the results of the environmental assessment have been taken into account.

Welsh Government guidance1 to LLFAs on local strategies outlines this

requirement and directs LLFAs to consider detailed SEA advice2 produced by the

Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (now Communities and Local Government).

Further Welsh Government guidance3 on how to address Sustainable

Development in local flood risk strategies is relevant both for the development of the Merthyr Tydfil Local Strategy and its SEA.

1.2.1 SEA Scoping

The SEA Regulations require responsible authorities - when deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included in an SEA Environment Report – to consult with the consultation bodies. Where a consultation body wishes to respond to such a consultation, it must do so within the period of 5 weeks beginning with the date on which the consultation begins.

MTCBC have consulted the following organisations on the scope of the SEA:

• Environment Agency Wales (EAW)

• Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)

• Cadw

The consultation responses have been documented in Appendix A, together with how each comment has been taken forward into the SEA.

1.3 Structure of the Environmental Report

Following this introduction, the Environmental Report is structured in this format:

Chapter 2: Gives the strategic context for the Local Strategy and an overview of

the Local Strategy objectives and measures

Chapter 3: Provides the context and methodology for the SEA

Chapter 4: Reports on the SEA results

Chapter 5: Summarises the likely environmental effects of the Local Strategy and

makes recommendations for environmental benefit.

1 Welsh Government, 2011. Local Flood Risk Management Strategies: Local Strategy.

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waterflooding/flooding/nationalstrategy/gu

idance/localstrategy/?lang=en 2 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2005. A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental

Assessment Directive. 3 Welsh Government 2011. Sustainable Development: Guidance to Risk Management Authorities




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2 The Merthyr Tydfil Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 places a responsibility upon LLFAs to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management (referred to as the Local Strategy).

The Act defines ‘local flood risk’ as that arising from:

• Surface run off;

• Groundwater; and

• ‘Ordinary watercourses’ – including risks from a lake, pond or other area of water which flows into an ordinary watercourse.

2.1 Strategic Context and Guidance

The Welsh Government is required –under the same Act - to develop, maintain and apply a flood and coastal erosion strategy for Wales. The first National Strategy

4 was published in November 2011 and sets four overarching objectives

for the management of flood and coastal erosion risk in Wales:

• reducing the consequences for individuals, communities, businesses and the environment from flooding and coastal erosion;

• raising awareness of and engaging people in the response to flood and coastal erosion risk;

• providing an effective and sustained response to flood and coastal erosion events; and

• prioritising investment in the most at risk communities

In preparing their Local Strategy, MTCBC must ensure that it is consistent with the National Strategy and that they consult with the public and the other Risk Management Authorities affected. This consistency will ensure that the objectives set out within the National Strategy are delivered through the work of all the Risk Management Authorities in Wales.

In the development of their Local Strategy, MTCBC are expected to balance the needs of communities, the economy and the environment. The Local Strategy will form the framework within which communities have a greater say in local risk management decisions.

4 Welsh Government 2011. National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in

Wales. November 2011.

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waterflooding/flooding/nationalstrategy/str

ategy/;jsessionid=Q1fvP2TJygQWQp2ygbthJNyz6QnX3LhRCM2h631VKXXfq2wG6v47!-

278964247?lang=en




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Welsh Government guidance advises that high level strategic objectives for the Local Strategy should be developed around the reduction of potential adverse consequences of flooding for human health, the environment, cultural heritage, economic activity and if considered appropriate on local community facilities, non-structural initiatives and/or on the reduction of the likelihood of flooding.

2.2 Spatial Scope

The Merthyr Tydfil Local Strategy will address local flood risk in the Merthyr Tydfil administrative area, including that part within the Brecon Beacons National Park. This area is identified in Figure 1.

The Local Strategy also needs to identify – in collaboration with adjacent LLFAs – how local flood risk sources and receptors interact across administrative boundaries, i.e. managing flood risk sources within Merthyr Tydfil affecting areas covered by adjacent strategies, and vice versa.




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Figure 1. Merthyr Tydfil Local Strategy Area




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2.3 Local Flood Risk Planning: Overview

The Flood Risk Regulations came into force in December 2009 and the Flood and Water Management Act became law in April 2010. Under this legislation Merthyr Tydfil CBC is identified as the LLFA for the area, with a number of key responsibilities. The Flood Risk Regulations place a duty on LLFAs to prepare a number of documents by key dates:

• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) Report - 22nd June 2011 (now completed and approved by Welsh Government)

• Flood Hazard and Flood Risk Maps - to be completed by 22nd June 2013

• Flood Risk Management Plans to be completed by 22nd June 2015

In addition, the Flood and Water Management Act requires Merthyr Tydfil CBC to ‘develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management’. Welsh Government anticipates that all LLFAs will have completed their local strategies by 31 March 2013.

The Act sets out nine issues to be specified within the Strategy:

• the Risk Management Authorities in the Local Authority’s area;

• the flood and coastal erosion risk management functions that may be exercised by those authorities in relation to the area;

• the objectives for managing local flood risk;

• the measures proposed to achieve those objectives;

• how and when the measures are expected to be implemented;

• the costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for;

• the assessment of local flood risk for the purpose of the strategy;

• how and when the strategy is to be reviewed; and

• how the strategy contributes to the achievement of wider environmental objectives.

Merthyr Tydfil CBC have indicated that the Local Strategy will be subject to reviews on a 6-year cycle.

2.4 Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report

2.4.1 Methodology

The methodology was based on using the flood maps produced by the EAW to identify 1km squares where flood risk exceeds a defined threshold. These squares are known as ‘Areas above Flood Risk Threshold’ (Blue Squares). The key flood risk indicators and their thresholds are:

• a minimum of 200 people;

• a minimum of 20 businesses;




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• 2 or more critical services.

The EAW has identified 20 blue squares within MTCBC which are Areas above the Flood Risk Threshold.

A cluster of these blue squares is an indication that an area of concentrated flood risk has been identified. Where there are four or more touching blue squares within a 3km x 3km square the whole 3km x 3km square has been considered as an area which could form part of an indicative Flood Risk Area.

The key flood risk indicator for establishing an indicative Flood Risk Area is numbers of people at risk of being affected by flooding. If there is a minimum of 5,000 people within a series of connecting 3km x 3km grids, as identified above, then an indicative Flood Risk Area has been established.

2.4.2 Level of Flood Risk

A total of 22 blue squares have been identified by Merthyr Tydfil CBC and using the methodology given about 20 of these squares are contained within the Flood Risk Area of 58 km

2. The flood risk area and blue squares are shown in Figure 2.

The Key Flood Risk Indicators for the Merthyr Tydfil CBC Flood Risk Area have been calculated as:

Human health consequences –

Number of people (2.23 multiplier) 7,923

Other human health consequences –

Number of critical services flooded 26

Economic consequences –

Number of non-residential properties flooded 818


Figure 2. Flood Risk Area and Blue Squares for Merthyr Tydfil CBC

MTCBC FLOOD RISK AREAAND BLUE SQUARES FOR MTCBC

April 2011

Fig. 3 NTS

�This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the

permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of

Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Crown Copyright.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Licence 100025302. 2011.




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2.5 Summary of the Local Strategy

2.5.1 Local Strategy Objectives

Merthyr Tydfil CBC has set the following overall strategy objective, to:

“Reduce Flood Risk in all of the areas identified as being subject to significant flood risk”

Merthyr Tydfil CBC has developed a set of 16 Detailed Objectives that satisfy the four overarching objectives set out in the National Strategy by the Welsh Government:

Overarching Objective 1 - Reducing the consequences for individuals,

communities, businesses and the environment from flooding and coastal

erosion

1 Reduce distress by reducing the number of people exposed to the risk of

flooding;

2 Reduce community disruption by reducing the number of residential and

commercial properties affected by the risk of flooding;

3 Reduce risk to life by reducing the number of people exposed to risk of

flooding of significant depth and velocity;

4 Reduce disruption to critical infrastructure or prepare plans to allow the

operations to be maintained;

5 Protect and improve Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Sites of

Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs);

6 Contribute to the delivery of Merthyr Tydfil Biodiversity Action Plan;

7 Minimise damage to known historic assets.

Overarching Objective 2 - Raising awareness of and engaging people in the

response to flood

8 Provide systems to give early warning of potential flooding to individuals and communities;

9 Provide efficient systems for the management and maintenance of surface assets;

10 Reduce economic damage;

11 Endeavour to reduce cost of management.




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Overarching Objective 3 - Providing an effective and sustained response to

flood events

12 Improve naturalness including the creation of natural channels and water bodies with minimal modifications;

13 Protect and Improve water quality;

14 Provide Flood Risk management Plans for each area subject to flood risk;

15 Ensure that measures are designed and constructed in a sustainable way;

16 Ensure that MTCBC works in partnership with all other Risk Partners and works collaboratively with adjacent Authorities.

Overarching Objective 4 - Prioritising investment in communities most at

risk

17 Ensure that investment decisions for the implementation of flood risk management schemes are made on a consistent, defendable basis and are subject to cost benefit analysis.

2.6 Local Strategy Implementation Measures

Welsh Government guidance identifies the following high level themes for the

delivery of a Local Strategy:

• development planning and adaptation (encompassing both new and

adaptations to existing developments/landscapes);

• flood forecasting, warning and response;

• land, cultural and environmental management;

• asset management and maintenance;

• studies assessments and plans;

• high level awareness and engagement (to increase individual and community resilience);

• monitoring of local flood risk issues

Merthyr Tydfil CBC has identified potential measures under the following three categories:

• Prevention of flooding;

• Preparedness for flooding;

• Protection against flooding.




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A measure is defined as an activity which will be undertaken to manage risk and

achieve the agreed objectives. A wide range of measures have been considered –

both structural and non-structural, with a time scale for implementation on the

following basis:

• Short-term (0-20 years)

• Medium-term (20-50 years)

• Long-term (50-100 years)

At this stage, the Local Strategy requires more data and information on local flood

risks in the area before considering the most appropriate measures to be

employed. Some of these measures are already in place (e.g. the Local

Development Plan – which steers development out of areas of flood risk); others

may only be employed as a last resort (e.g. relocation).

The full list of measures is identified in the table below.

THEMES AND MEASURES

6.13 Development Planning and Adaption

6.13.1 Sustainable and Strategic Development Planning

6.13.2

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)/Strategic Flood

Consequences Assessment (SFCA)

6.13.3 Water Cycle Strategies

6.13.4 Relocation

6.13.5 Mineral and Waste Plans

6.13.6 Sustainable Drainage (SuDS)

6.13.7 Contaminated Land

6.13.8 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings

6.14 Flood forecasting, Warning and Response

6.14.1 Flood Awareness

6.14.2 Flood Warning

6.14.3 Flood Forecasting

6.14.4 Emergency Response Plans

6.14.5 Community Flood Plans

6.14.6 Multi-Agency Flood Plans

6.14.7 Major Incident Plans

6.15 Land, Cultural and Environmental Management

6.15.1 Land Management

6.15.2 Resilience

6.15.3 Resistance

6.15.4 Restoration

6.15.5 Environmental Enhancement

6.15.6 Water Level Management Plans

6.15.7 Habitat Creation




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THEMES AND MEASURES

6.16 Asset Management and Maintenance (SAMPs)

6.16.1 System Asset Management Plans

6.16.2 Defence/Structure Management

6.16.3 Channel Maintenance

6.16.4 Culvert Maintenance

6.17 Studies, Assessments and Plans

6.17.1 Investigation

6.17.2 Risk Assessment

6.17.3 Strategy Plan

6.17.4 Local Property-level Flood Mitigation – Resilience

6.17.5 Local Property-level Flood Mitigation – Resilience

6.17.6 Pre-feasibility Studies, Feasibility Studies

6.17.7 Project Plans

6.17.8 Surface Water Management Plans (SWMP)

6.18 High Level Awareness and Engagement

6.18.1 Partnership Working

6.19 Monitoring

6.19.1 Erosion Monitoring

6.19.2 Habitats Monitoring

6.19.3 Topographical Survey

6.19.4 Aerial Photography

2.6.1 Local Strategy Development

In determining objectives and measures, Merthyr Tydfil CBC has worked with other Risk Management Authorities within its area (including D�r Cymru – Welsh Water and Environment Agency Wales) to realise the benefits of collaborative working, e.g. shared solutions and funding, and also to ensure that there is a shared vision and agreed outcomes.

In developing objectives and measures Merthyr Tydfil CBC has also considered the impacts of climate change to ensure that the measures are designed and are resilient to the changing climate. Sustainable development is a central core operating principle of the Welsh Government and has and will continue to be reflected through the work of the LLFA, in line with the statutory duty set out in Section 27 of the Act.




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3 SEA Objectives, Baseline and Method

3.1 Overview

In general, the assessment has been be undertaken with regard to the available guidance and advice outlined in section 3.1.

Welsh Government guidance is clear that:

‘LLFAs will need to ensure that their Local Strategy is proportionate to the risks identified; where the risks are low, the strategy should be simple and concise.’

In parallel, it is anticipated that this principle will apply to the scope and level of detail required for the SEA.

The potential for environmental effects resulting from the strategy is likely to arise from:

• The objectives for managing local flood risk; and

• The measures proposed to achieve these objectives

At this stage – given the current level of information available on local flood risks – the draft Local Strategy is only able to identify a suite of proposed objectives, with a range of potential measures that could be employed in their delivery.

However, it is not likely that measures proposed will actually be identified for implementation until the development of the Flood Risk Management Plans for ‘at risk’ areas (programmed to be completed by June 2015). Beyond identifying the LLFA area and those areas potentially at risk from the PFRA, the Local Strategy gives no indication of where activity or measures are likely to be employed.

The SEA has therefore concentrated on assessing the potential for effects arising from the Local Strategy objectives and the range of potential measures under consideration. The SEA results will flag potential environmental issues that will need to be addressed in the subsequent development of the Flood Risk Management Plans and the appraisals and/or implementation of the individual measures.

There is limited information on which measures will be implemented –and when when or where; any appraisal of secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary effects would be –at best – speculative. Similarly, attributing a scale to these effects (to determine their significance) would probably be unrealistic. The SEA has therefore concentrated on identifying:

• potential negative effects and how these could be mitigated;

• potential environmental benefits and how these opportunities could realised;

• recommendations for improving the Local Strategy for environmental benefit; and




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• recommending how decision-making processes in the next stages of Local Flood Risk Management should incorporate environmental considerations.

In summary of the methodology described in the sections below, the SEA is based on the following:

• Identifying environmental protection objectives set out elsewhere in policy or legislation;

• Identifying the current environmental character of the area and how it may change in the future; and using these to

• Distil the key environmental issues in the area that the Local Strategy will interact with; and

• Developing a set of SEA objectives in a framework, against which the Local Strategy is assessed against.

3.2 Identifying Other Relevant Plans and Programmes and Environmental Protection Objectives

The Local Strategy may be influenced in a range of ways by other plans and programmes, or by environmental protection objectives set out elsewhere in policy or legislation. Identifying and reviewing those plans, policies, programmes and objectives allows any inconsistencies or constraints for the Local Strategy to be addressed and shape the SEA framework.

Analysis of the relationship of the Local Strategy with other plans and environmental objectives helps to:

• Identify external factors that will influence the Strategy development

• Identify other environmental, social or economic objectives influencing the SEA process

• Determine whether policies or objectives in other plans and programmes may produce cumulative or synergistic effects in combination with the Local Strategy.

This review allows the Local Strategy to take advantage of any potential synergies and address any potential conflicts or constraints. This review has been undertaken and is reported on in Appendix B. The plans and programmes in the review have been classified in a hierarchy of influence – from international, national, sub-regional and local.

Those plans, programmes and objectives reviewed that are of direct relevance to flooding are already integral to the Local Strategy and its development. Key additional considerations of the review (in Appendix B) for the Local Strategy are to ensure that it:

• Aligns with the objectives and priorities of the Community Plan and Local Development Plans in the area;




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• Contributes toward – and does not compromise – the objectives of the Water Framework Directive and Severn River Basin Management Plan;

• Considers climate change mitigation and adaptation in its development and implementation;

• Contributes toward protecting and improving local biodiversity;

• Protects the landscape and the historic environment;

• Considers the potential effects on (and opportunities for improving) public access to land;

• Safeguards water resource assets in the area;

• Is assessed for potential effects on internationally important wildlife sites.

3.3 Merthyr Tydfil Environmental Baseline

Collation of baseline information is required under SEA legislation; it is fundamental to provide a background evidence base for identifying environmental problems and opportunities in Merthyr Tydfil, and provides the basis for predicting and monitoring effects of the Local Strategy.

To consider how the developing Local Strategy may affect the environment, it is is essential to understand the current environment characteristics of the area and how the environment is likely to change in the future. Given the focussed nature of the Local Strategy – to deal with surface water flooding in the area – the SEA has aimed to collate only relevant and sufficient data on the present and future state of the County Borough, to allow the adequate identification of potential effects of the Local Strategy.

Full details of the environmental baseline are provided in Appendix C. The baseline sought to identify targets and trends, while also summarising the key issues arising for particular environmental topics. A brief overall summary is provided in the paragraphs below.

Merthyr Tydfil is situated in the Heads of the Valleys Region and is the smallest local authority in Wales with an area of around 11,100 hectares. Approximately one fifth of the County Borough lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park to the north. The County Borough’s neighbouring authorities are:

• Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to the west;

• Caerphilly County Borough Council to the east and south; and

• Powys County Council to the north.

Merthyr Tydfil has a population of approximately 59,000, of which approximately 44,000 reside in the main town of Merthyr Tydfil which functions as the main commercial, retail and service centre of the County Borough and the Heads of the Valleys Region. The town includes the administrative centre of the Council, the primary shopping areas, the majority of employment opportunities, a hospital and many other higher order services and facilities which serve surrounding settlements. The remainder of the population are distributed amongst eight interdependent settlements situated further south along the Taff and Taff Bargoed




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river valleys. These settlements contain a range of lower order services and facilities serving local needs.

The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2011 takes information produced for local areas across different factors – including exposure to flood risk for example -which affect the lives of individuals and communities. WIMD brings this information together to paint a picture of relative deprivation across Wales. Merthyr Tydfil has 25% of its local areas in the 10% most deprived in Wales. Merthyr Tydfil has one of the poorest health profiles in Wales with a lower life expectancy than the national average for males and females.

The PFRA identified those areas at potential risk from local flood sources. There are is an additional limited number of properties in the Local Strategy area that are at risk from flooding from main rivers.

The area will need to be prepared for climate changes predicted for Wales as a consequence of past and current greenhouse gas emissions. In summary, the expected trend is for:

• A generally warmer, wetter climate; with

• Less precipitation in summer and more in winter; and

• An increase in the frequency and intensity of storm events.

Merthyr Tydfil fulfils a key strategic role at the centre of the Heads of the Valleys region, benefitting from high levels of accessibility through its location at the intersection of the A470 (T) and A465 (T) strategic transport corridors in the north, and the A470 (T) and A472 strategic transport corridors in the south. The County Borough lies just 25 minutes north of Cardiff and the M4 corridor.

The County Borough comprises of a mixture of urban, semi-urban and rural communities living in a rich and varied environment containing exceptional wildlife habitats, historic landscapes and archaeological features. The steeply sloping valley sides with their high ridges and moorland vegetation define the landscape character of the area and provide an environmental and ecological context for the settlements of the County Borough.

More than two thirds of the Local Strategy area is semi-natural in character. It consists of a complex of landscape types including open moorland, common land, broad-leaved and coniferous woodlands, agriculturally productive land, semi-improved grassland, old industrial landscapes and reclaimed areas.

Merthyr Tydfil benefits from a range of environmental resources with a number of sites in the County Borough identified as having particular biodiversity/ geodiversity importance. These include 1 Local Nature Reserve, 4 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and more than 60 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. There are no European protected sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas or Ramsar Sites) within the County Borough. A significant proportion of the area comprises semi-natural Biodiversity Action Plan habitats, including broadleaved woodland, grassland, heathland and wetland. Other habitats such as conifer plantation, disused mineral workings/spoil and urban areas also contribute to local biodiversity.

The range of soil types varies across the area, but most are wet acidic soils with peats and clays. The slow permeability of these soils, combined with the steep




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valley topography increase the risks of surface water flooding in periods of intense rainfall. The main water environment features of the area are the River Taff and its tributaries ((Taf Fechan, Nant Morlais and Taf Bargoed) and the drinking water reservoirs at the head of the catchment (Lwyn-on, Pentwyn and Pontsticill).

The natural basin at the head of the Taff valley contains an internationally recognised iron and coal industrial landscape of the 18

th and 19

th centuries. The

area includes large ironworks, associated coal mining industry, waste tips power and transportation systems, terraced industrial housing, Cyfartha Castle house and gardens, and important related religious, literary and political associations. Across the County Borough there are two areas on the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest, seven Conservation Areas, and over 200 Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings.

3.4 Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities

It is important to distil the key environmental issues, problems and opportunities relevant to the County Borough (and appropriate to the Local Strategy) from the collated information and consideration of the particular character of the area. These issues are considered to be priorities for consideration through the SEA and its framework objectives.

The following key sustainability issues are considered to be the environmental priorities for the the Local Strategy and SEA to consider, arising from the particular characteristics, pressures and opportunities currently affecting Merthyr Tydfil:

• Addressing local flood risk within the area and seeking opportunities to address flood risk from other sources and in collaboration with other risk partners;

• Reducing/managing flood risks as a contribution to reducing relatively high levels of multiple deprivation in the area compared to Wales as a whole;

• Seeking to improve mental and physical wellbeing of local people through encouraging access to and provision of formal and informal open space;

• Emphasise the safeguarding and enhancing the historic environment;

• Promoting sustainable management of the landscape, and protecting/ enhancing existing landscapes;

• Protect recognised biodiversity/ geodiversity features and incorporate opportunities for habitat creation/enhancement;

• Ensures the protection and enhancement of the water environment;

• Promote the effective and sustainable use of land and soils; and

• Take account of predicted climate change and enable the County Borough to adapt to its consequences.




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3.5 The SEA Framework

The SEA Framework provides a structure to describe, analyse and compare the environmental effects of the Local Strategy. The framework includes a number of objectives, assisted by some prompting questions.

These have been developed from the information collated during the review of relevant Plans and Programmes (Section 3.2), review of baseline information (Section 3.3) and identification of the key issues (Section 3.4). Consultation with the SEA consultation bodies has also influenced the SEA objectives.

The SEA objectives seek to address and progress the main environmental issues and opportunities identified as important in Merthyr Tydfil. The decision-aiding questions assist by clarifying the detail of the issues, improving objectivity, ensuring that the appraisal is relevant to local flood risk management

The SEA Directive requires that the effects of the Local Strategy on a number of environmental topics. Air Quality is unlikely to be affected by the Local Strategy and has therefore been scoped out of the framework and SEA. The SEA framework shows how the other environmental topics are progressed in which objective.

No. SEA Objectives by SEA Directive

topic area

Does the Local Strategy…?

Population and Human Health; Material Assets

1 Address and reduce flood risk now

and in the future

• Manage or reduce local flood risk to people, properties and critical infrastructure

• Contribute to reducing flood risk from other sources

• Collaborate with other risk partners

2 Improve health and wellbeing of

local people

• Improve health and well-being through

a reduction in exposure to flood risk

• Provide opportunities for creating safe

open spaces for public use

• Constrain public access to existing

accessible open space




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topic area


Biodiversity (including flora and fauna)

3 Protect recognised

biodiversity/geodiversity features

and enhance the diversity, extent and

distribution of habitats and species

• Protect SSSIs, LNRs and SINCs

• Prevent habitat fragmentation and

improve connectivity

• Create and enhance existing habitats

• Discourage the spread of non-desirable

species, e.g. Japanese knotweed,

Himalayan Balsam

Water

4 Protect and enhance the water

environment

• Safeguard water resource assets in the

area

• Compromise the achievement of good

ecological status/potential of river and

lake waterbodies

• Seek opportunities to assist in

achieving good ecological

status/potential

• Seek to reduce pollution from point and

diffuse sources

Cultural Heritage

5 Safeguard and enhance the historic

environment

• Protect buildings, structures and

landscapes of significant interest

Climatic Factors

6 Help to minimise the cause and

effects of climate change

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Protect, enhance or create habitats

acting as carbon sinks

• Incorporate climate change adaptation

measures




Page 20


topic area


Landscape

7 Protect and enhance the countryside

and landscape character

• Promote the sustainable management

of landscape, geology and ecology

• Protect and enhance existing

landscapes

Soils

8 Promote sustainable and effective

use of land and soils

• Encourage control of pollution from

contaminated land and mineral

workings

• Conserve quality and extent of soil

resources

3.6 Assessment of Objectives and Measures

Each of the Local Strategy objectives and potential measures were assessed against the SEA framework objectives. The framework table results indicate the following assessments in a matrix, each of which is clarified with notes and recommendations:

+ Positive effect

0 No identified effect

- Negative effect

? Effect Uncertain

3.7 Limitations, Data Gaps and Assumptions

Merthyr Tydfil CBC has no information currently available relating to future flooding other than that provided by the EAW. It is the intention to carry out electronic modelling within the Flood Risk Area and including other all other areas at risk of flooding with the Local Strategy area, as part of the preparation of Flood Hazard and Flood Risk Maps and the Flood Risk Management Plan.

There is therefore limited information on which measures will be implemented –and when - or their spatial reference; any appraisal of secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary effects would be –at best – speculative. Similarly, attributing a scale to these effects (to determine their significance) would probably be unrealistic.




Page 21

4 Assessment of Local Strategy Objectives and Measures

4.1 Consideration of Alternatives

The development of the Local Strategy considered three high-level options for the management of flood risk. The three options are:

• Do nothing – where existing assets and ordinary watercourses are abandoned;

• Maintain Current Flood Risk – where existing assets and watercourses are maintained to keep pace with climate change so that there is no net increase in flood risk. Existing infrastructure is improved over time and all new development will need to take the effects of climate change into account; and

• Reduce Flood Risk – Take action to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact due to flooding.

A high-level comparison of these options is only possible at this stage; this is

provided in the table on the following pages. However, MTCBC have concluded

that the only realistic option is to set its high level strategy is to:

‘ Reduce Flood Risk in all the the areas identified as being subject to

significant flood risk’

This conclusion has been taken in the context of:

• the statutory duties of MTCBC as the LLFA;

• WG guidelines on the production of Local Strategies; and

• the overarching objectives provided by the National Strategy for Flood

and Coastal Erosion Risk Management.

Implementation of the Local Strategy (through Flood Risk management plans and delivery measures) in subsequent stages may allow consideration of options/alternatives with differing emphasis on delivery themes.




Page 22

High-level options and effects

SEA Objective

Do nothing Maintain Reduce Flood Risk

1- Address

and reduce

flood risk

now and in

the future

Increased exposure to flood risk from a combination of no management and increasing frequency/intensity of storm events

Maintains current risk levels into the future

Directly compatible option

2- Improve

health and

wellbeing of

local people

Increased exposure to flood risk from a combination of no management and increasing frequency/intensity of storm events

No improvements to health and well being as existing risk maintained

Directly compatible option

3-Protect

recognised

biodiversity/

geodiversity

features and

enhance the

diversity,

extent and

distribution

of habitats

and species

Potential for both adverse and beneficial effects, e.g. abandonment of assets/ watercourses may lead to more natural systems in the long term, but leaves problem species (e.g. Japanese Knotweed) to spread

Little/no identified potential change to current baseline

Potential for both adverse and beneficial effects resulting from active management of flood risk

4-Protect and

enhance the

water

environment

Potential for both adverse and beneficial effects, e.g. abandonment of assets/ watercourses may lead to more natural systems in the long term. No management of water quality issues resulting from legacy of extensive mineral workings

Little/no

identified

potential

change to

current

baseline

Opportunities for managing watercourses and water quality for wider environmental benefit




Page 23

High-level options and effects

SEA Objective

Do nothing Maintain Reduce Flood Risk

5-Safeguard

and enhance

the historic

environment

Historic environment assets exposed to damage/deterioration through increased exposure to flood risk

Little/no

identified

potential

change to

current

baseline

Potential for both adverse and beneficial effects resulting from active management of flood risk

6-Help to

minimise the

cause and

effects of

climate

change

No adaptation/response to climate change

Maintains management to adapt to climate change

Full consideration of climate change adaptation

7-Protect and

enhance the

countryside

and landscape

character

No management that would protect character

Little/no

identified

potential

change to

current

baseline

Potential for managing and promoting this objective

8-Promote

sustainable

and effective

use of land

and soils

No management of land contamination risks and subsequent effects

Little/no

identified

potential

change to

current

baseline

Potential for managing and promoting this objective

4.2 Assessment of Local Strategy Objectives

The Local Strategy objectives have been considered and cross-checked with those developed for the SEA Framework. This cross-check identifies where there are:

• Local Strategy objectives that are likely to contribute to the delivery of wider environmental objectives;

• Uncertainties and potential tensions between the Local Strategy objectives;

• Clear conflicts that should be addressed.

The following table details the results of this assessment. The key points to note from the assessment are:

• As expected from a strategy to manage local flood risks, the Local Strategy objectives are anticipated to make positive contributions to reducing flood risk




Page 24

and consequential environmental improvements that benefit the local population and human health (SEA objectives 1&2) directly through this reduced risk. Additional benefits could be realised by clarifying how opportunities for integrating public access improvements will be considered in appraisal and delivery;

• Local Strategy objectives 1-10, 12 and 13 give clear commitments to improving wider environmental conditions;

• Uncertainties around objective 11 (Endeavour to reduce the cost of management) result from how this will be applied and the potential for environmental effects. Reducing costs could lead to environmental benefits e.g. less intensive land management (requiring less resources, reducing chemical application and run-off) but may also lead to undesirable effects e.g. less management of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed. Clarity could be provided around how this objective will be applied in relation to the other Local Strategy objectives and wider environmental issues;

• Local Strategy objective 16 ensures collaboration with other stakeholders and should realise benefits through sharing intelligence, research and best practice;

• Environmental effects of Local Strategy objectives 14, 15 and 17 are uncertain at this stage. These objectives are around delivering the next stages for local flood risk management planning and delivery. The provision of Flood Risk Management Plans for areas at risk (objective 14) will not – in itself – have environmental consequences; however, the management plans will specify what measures are likely to be required to address the flood risks. Subsequent decisions on how these are decided on, developed and constructed may have environmental consequences. These uncertainties can only be resolved through the next stages planning and with further information on local flood risks. However, the Local Strategy could at this stage clarify how the Flood Risk Management Plans, investment decisions and construction of physical measures will assess and address the potential for environmental effects in their development.

Mert

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gem

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Str

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5 L

ocal

Str

ate

gy O

bje

ctiv

e S

EA

Ob

jecti

ve

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1 R

educe

dis

tres

s by r

educi

ng t

he

num

ber

of

peo

ple

expose

d t

o t

he

risk

of

floodin

g

+

+

+

2 R

educe

com

munit

y d

isru

pti

on b

y r

educi

ng t

he

num

ber

of

resi

den

tial

and c

om

mer

cia

l pro

per

ties

aff

ecte

d b

y t

he

risk

of

floodin

g

+

+

+

+

3 R

educe

risk

to l

ife

by r

educi

ng t

he

num

ber

of

peo

ple

expose

d t

o r

isk o

f fl

oodin

g o

f si

gnif

ican

t dep

th a

nd

velo

city

+

+

+

+

4 R

educe

dis

rupti

on t

o c

riti

cal

infr

astr

uct

ure

or

pre

pare

pla

ns

to a

llow

the

opera

tions

to b

e m

ainta

ined

+

+

+

+

5 P

rote

ct

and i

mpro

ve

Sit

es o

f S

pec

ial

Sci

enti

fic

Inte

rest

(S

SS

Is)

and S

ites

of

Import

ance

for

Nat

ure

Conse

rvat

ion

(SIN

Cs)

+

+

+

+

+

6 C

ontr

ibute

to t

he

del

iver

y o

f M

erth

yr

Tydfi

l B

iodiv

ersi

ty A

ctio

n P

lan

+

+

+

+

+

7 M

inim

ise

dam

age

to k

now

n h

isto

ric

asse

ts

+

8 P

rovid

e sy

stem

s to

giv

e ea

rly w

arn

ing o

f pote

nti

al

floodin

g t

o i

ndiv

idual

s and c

om

munit

ies

+

+

+

9 P

rovid

e ef

ficie

nt

syst

ems

for

the

man

agem

ent

and m

ain

tenan

ce o

f su

rfac

e as

sets

+

10 R

educe

eco

nom

ic d

amage

+

+

11 E

ndeav

our

to r

educe

cost

of

manag

emen

t

+

?

? ?

? ?

?

12 I

mpro

ve n

atura

lness

incl

udin

g t

he

crea

tion o

f natu

ral

channel

s an

d w

ater

bodie

s w

ith m

inim

al m

odif

icat

ions

+

+

+

+

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

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Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

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ana

gem

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Str

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Environ

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6 L

ocal

Str

ate

gy O

bje

ctiv

e S

EA

Ob

jecti

ve

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

13 P

rote

ct

and i

mpro

ve

wate

r qual

ity

+

+

+

14 P

rovid

e F

lood R

isk m

anagem

ent

Pla

ns

for

each

are

a su

bje

ct t

o f

lood r

isk

+

+

? ?

? +

?

?

15 E

nsu

re t

hat

mea

sure

s are

des

igned

and c

onst

ruct

ed i

n a

sust

ainable

way

+

?

? ?

+

?

16 E

nsu

re t

hat

MT

CB

C w

ork

s in

part

ner

ship

wit

h a

ll o

ther

Ris

k P

artn

ers

and w

ork

s coll

abora

tivel

y w

ith a

dja

cent

Auth

ori

ties

+

+

+

17 E

nsu

re t

hat

inves

tment

deci

sions

for

the

imple

men

tati

on o

f fl

ood r

isk m

anag

emen

t sc

hem

es

are

made

on a

consi

sten

t, d

efe

ndab

le b

asis

and a

re s

ubje

ct t

o c

ost

benef

it a

naly

sis

+

?

? ?

+

? ?




Page 27

4.3 Local Strategy Proposed Measures

As discussed in Chapter 3, the measures identified in the Local Strategy range from those already in place (e.g. for other reasons and duties) through to those that may never be required or employed only as a last resort.

For the avoidance of doubt, the environmental assessment of these measures is can only be generic at this stage as the Local Strategy does not determine which measures will be employed or in what location. The assessment is aimed at identifying the potential for environmental effects that should require further assessment as the Local Strategy is implemented.

The table on the subsequent pages reports on the assessment of each individual measure. This is followed by an overall table identifying and summarising effects against each SEA objective.

Mert

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Tyd

fil C

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Boro

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Coun

cil

Loca

l F

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ana

gem

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[200

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8

Ref

Loca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

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S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

3

Dev

elop

men

t P

lan

nin

g a

nd

Ad

ap

tion

6.1

3.1

S

ust

ain

able

and S

trate

gic

Devel

opm

ent

Pla

nnin

g

+

+

0

0

0

+

0

0

The L

DP

is

an

adopte

d pla

n re

quir

ed by

pla

nnin

g

legis

lati

on.

The

Local

S

trat

egy

must

pro

vid

e a

sound ev

iden

ce bas

e an

d

obje

ctiv

es m

ust

info

rm a

nd r

efin

e th

e L

DP

.

6.1

3.2

S

trat

egic

Flo

od R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

(SF

RA

)/S

trate

gic

Flo

od C

onse

quen

ces

Ass

essm

ent

(SF

CA

)

+

+

0

0

0

+

0

0

Ass

essm

ents

re

quir

ed

and

alre

ady

com

ple

ted

for

the

adopte

d

LD

P.

Futu

re

revie

ws

of

the

LD

P s

hou

ld b

e in

form

ed b

y

the

Loca

l S

trat

egy

6.1

3.3

W

ater

Cycl

e S

trat

egie

s

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

G

ener

ally

li

kel

y

to

hav

e only

posi

tive

envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s.

How

ever

, dec

isio

n

to

pro

ceed

w

ith

this

m

easu

re

should

inclu

de

consi

der

atio

n o

f w

hat

‘added

valu

e’

it

would

bri

ng

over

an

d

above

exis

ting

stra

tegie

s in

the

area

.

6.1

3.4

R

elocat

ion

+

+

0

0

- +

0

0

A l

ast

res

ort

m

easu

re.

If

im

ple

men

ted i

t

wil

l re

move peo

ple

fr

om

ar

eas

of

sever

e

flood r

isk,

but

likely

to c

ause

str

ess

to t

hose

peo

ple

aff

ecte

d.

Im

ple

men

tati

on m

ay a

lso

abandon

his

tori

c fe

ature

s e.

g.

list

ed

buil

din

gs.

-

6.1

3.5

M

iner

al a

nd W

ast

e P

lans

+

+

0

+

0

0

0

+

Min

erals

and w

aste

pla

nnin

g r

equir

ed a

nd

imple

men

ted t

hro

ugh o

ther

leg

isla

tion a

nd

the L

DP

. T

he

Loca

l S

trat

egy m

ust

pro

vid

e

a so

und e

vid

ence

bas

e an

d o

bje

ctiv

es m

ust

info

rm

and

refi

ne

the

LD

P

and

oth

er

stra

tegic

pla

nnin

g

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

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gy

Str

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Environ

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Ref

Loca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

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S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

3.6

S

ust

ain

able

Dra

inag

e (

SuD

S)

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

S

uD

s m

ay p

rovid

e a

wid

e ra

nge

of

dir

ect

and

indir

ect

envir

onm

enta

l benef

its.

As

‘Adopti

ng a

nd A

ppro

vin

g’

bod

y f

or

Su

DS

,

the

LL

FA

co

uld

ensu

re

that

appro

val/

adopti

on

pro

cess

es

asse

ss

each

schem

e agai

nst

the

full

ran

ge o

f pote

nti

al

ben

efit

s.

6.1

3.7

C

onta

min

ated

Lan

d

0

+

+

+

? 0

?

+

Contr

ol

of

devel

opm

ent

on

–

and

rem

edia

tion o

f – c

onta

min

atio

n o

n l

and i

s

thro

ugh

th

e L

DP

and

pla

nnin

g

pro

cess

.

Mea

sure

co

ntr

ibute

s to

th

e evid

ence

bas

e

on l

and c

onta

min

atio

n i

n t

he

area

and w

ill

refi

ne/

pri

ori

tise

im

ple

men

tati

on

of

oth

er

area

s.

Pote

nti

al u

nce

rtai

nti

es

and t

ensi

ons

around r

emed

iati

on o

f la

nd a

nd e

ffec

ts o

n

bio

div

ersi

ty/l

andsc

ape

or

his

tori

c val

ue.

-

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

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Str

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Environ

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0

Ref

L

oca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

res

S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

3.8

S

ched

ule

d A

nci

ent

Monum

ents

and H

isto

ric

Buil

din

gs

0

0

0

0

+

+

0

0

Mea

sure

as

sist

s in

id

enti

fyin

g

and

manag

ing l

oca

l fl

ood r

isk t

o h

isto

ric

ass

ets.

6.1

4

Flo

od

fore

cast

ing,

Warn

ing a

nd

Resp

on

se

6.1

4.1

F

lood A

war

eness

+

+

0

0

0

0

0

0

Suit

e

of

mea

sure

s fo

r im

pro

vin

g

fore

cas

ting,

war

nin

g

and

awar

enes

s of

flood

events

, ai

min

g

to

reduce

th

e

conse

quence

s of

floodin

g.

No

ph

ysi

cal

acti

vit

ies

causi

ng

stra

tegic

en

vir

onm

enta

l

effe

cts.

6.1

4.2

F

lood W

arnin

g

6.1

4.3

F

lood F

ore

cast

ing

6.1

4.4

E

merg

ency

Res

ponse

Pla

ns

+

+

?

? ?

? ?

? E

mer

gen

cy

pla

nnin

g

to

imple

men

t in

resp

onse

to

in

ciden

ts

and

support

com

munit

ies

duri

ng

and

post

-inci

dent.

Envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s ar

e unce

rtai

n,

as

they

wil

l depen

d

on

the

inci

dent

and

its

locat

ion

and

the

resp

onse

.

How

ever

resp

onse

pla

ns

could

be

advis

ed

by

the

Local

S

trate

gy

to

consi

der

en

vir

onm

enta

l

effe

cts.

6.1

4.5

C

om

munit

y F

lood P

lans

6.1

4.6

M

ult

i-A

gen

cy F

lood P

lans

6.1

4.7

M

ajor

Inci

dent

Pla

ns

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

Envir

onm

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tal R

eport

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l S

trate

gy M

easu

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S

EA

Ob

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ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

3.8

S

ched

ule

d A

nci

ent

Monum

ents

and H

isto

ric

Buil

din

gs

0

0

0

0

+

+

0

0

Mea

sure

as

sist

s in

id

enti

fyin

g

and

manag

ing l

oca

l fl

ood r

isk t

o h

isto

ric

ass

ets.

6.1

5

Lan

d,

Cu

ltu

ral

an

d E

nvir

on

men

tal

Man

agem

ent

6.1

5.1

L

and M

anag

em

ent

+

+

+

+

?

+

+

+

Pote

nti

al f

or

the

Loca

l S

trat

egy t

o i

nfl

uence

land m

anag

emen

t fo

r fl

ood r

isk b

enef

it i

s

recognis

ed b

ut

acce

pte

d a

s li

mit

ed.

Eff

ects

wil

l dep

end o

n s

cale

, lo

cati

on a

nd n

ature

of

imple

men

tati

on.

Red

uct

ion o

f fe

rtil

iser

and

oth

er

changes

in f

arm

ing p

ract

ice

may b

e

ben

ign a

nd b

ring b

enef

its

for

wat

er q

ual

ity

and bio

div

ers

ity,

but

oth

er

mea

sure

s m

ay

e.g.

woodla

nd p

lanti

ng m

ay h

ave

effe

cts

on

landsc

ape

chara

cter

or

his

tori

c fe

ature

s.

- -

6.1

5.2

R

esil

ience

0

0

+

+

? +

?

+

Mea

sure

s to

ass

ess

risk

s, c

onse

quence

s of

(and

recover

y

from

) fl

oodin

g

on

land,

pri

ori

tisi

ng

SIN

Cs

and

SS

SIs

.

Imple

menta

tion o

f physi

cal

mea

sure

s – i

f

requir

ed

–

may

hav

e co

nse

quen

ces

fo

r

landsc

ape

or

his

tori

c ch

arac

ter.

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

Envir

onm

en

tal R

epo

rt

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2

Ref

L

oca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

res

S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

5.3

R

esis

tance

6.1

5.4

R

esto

rati

on

+

?

+

+

? +

?

+

Mea

sure

s fo

r re

stora

tion

of

min

era

l

work

ings/

spoil

.

Mea

sure

li

kel

y

to

bri

ng

gen

era

l envir

onm

enta

l ben

efit

s e.

g.

wate

r

qual

ity i

mpro

vem

ents

, but

oth

er e

ffec

ts w

ill

dep

end

on

loca

tion

and

nat

ure

of

the

rest

ora

tion.

There

m

ay

be

posi

tive

or

neg

ati

ve

effe

cts

on

loca

l bio

div

ers

ity,

landsc

ape

or

his

tori

c ch

ara

cter

. T

he L

oca

l

Str

ateg

y s

hould

ensu

re a

sses

smen

t of

thes

e

effe

cts

is in

tegra

l to

th

e dec

isio

n-m

akin

g

pro

cess

. O

pport

unit

ies

for

faci

lita

ting

publi

c ac

cess

should

als

o b

e co

nsi

der

ed.

-

6.1

5.5

E

nvir

onm

enta

l E

nhan

cem

ent

0

? +

+

0

+

+

+

Gen

eral

envir

onm

enta

l benef

its

aris

ing

from

this

mea

sure

. C

ould

be i

mpro

ved b

y

consi

dera

tion

of

opport

unit

ies

for

facil

itat

ing

publi

c ac

ces

s as

an

envir

onm

enta

l en

hance

men

t.

6.1

5.6

W

ater

Lev

el

Man

agem

ent

Pla

ns

+

+

0

+

0

0

0

0

Mea

sure

surv

eys

and m

ainta

ins

dat

abas

e of

wat

er

bodie

s to

as

sist

in

em

erg

ency

pla

nnin

g a

nd s

tatu

tory

req

uir

emen

ts

6.1

5.7

H

abit

at C

reat

ion

+

+

+

+

?

+

+

+

Eff

ects

wil

l dep

end o

n s

cal

e, l

oca

tion a

nd

nat

ure

of

spec

ific

mea

sure

s.

Pote

nti

al

for

both

posi

tive

and

neg

ativ

e eff

ects

on

bio

div

ersi

ty,

landsc

ape

chara

cter

or

his

tori

c

featu

res.

- -

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

Envir

onm

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tal R

epo

rt

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Ref

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oca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

res

S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

6

Ass

et M

an

agem

ent

an

d M

ain

ten

an

ce

(SA

MP

s)

6.1

6.1

S

yst

em

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t

Pla

ns

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

An a

sset

man

agem

ent

dat

abas

e al

ready i

n

use

wit

h n

o e

xpec

ted e

nvir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s

6.1

6.2

D

efe

nce

/Str

uct

ure

Manag

emen

t

+

+

?

? ?

? 0

? E

nvir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s unce

rtain

–

dep

enden

t on s

cale

, lo

cati

on a

nd n

ature

of

manag

emen

t.

Ongoin

g m

anag

emen

t pla

ns

for

thes

e as

sets

co

uld

co

nsi

der

envir

onm

enta

l is

sues

/asp

ects

in

th

eir

imple

men

tati

on.

6.1

6.3

C

han

nel

Mai

nte

nan

ce

+

+

?

? ?

? ?

? E

nvir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s unce

rtain

–

dep

enden

t on s

cale

, lo

cati

on a

nd n

ature

of

manag

emen

t.

Ongoin

g m

anag

emen

t pla

ns

for

thes

e as

sets

co

uld

co

nsi

der

envir

onm

enta

l is

sues

/asp

ects

in

th

eir

imple

men

tati

on.

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

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4

Ref

L

oca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

res

S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

6.4

C

ulv

ert

Mai

nte

nan

ce

+

+

?

? ?

? ?

? E

nvir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s unce

rtain

–

dep

enden

t on s

cale

, lo

cati

on a

nd n

ature

of

manag

emen

t.

Ongoin

g m

anag

emen

t pla

ns

for

thes

e as

sets

co

uld

co

nsi

der

envir

onm

enta

l is

sues

/asp

ects

in

th

eir

imple

men

tati

on.

Where

culv

erts

re

quir

e

repla

cing,

consi

der

atio

n s

hould

be

giv

en t

o

whet

her

a cu

lver

t is

st

ill

requir

ed,

e.g.

could

it

be

repla

ced

wit

h a

n o

pen c

han

nel

,

wit

h

opport

unit

ies

for

envir

onm

enta

l

enhance

men

t?

6.1

7

Stu

die

s, A

sses

smen

ts a

nd

Pla

ns

6.1

7.1

In

ves

tigati

on

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Surv

ey

and

asse

ssm

ent

wit

h

no

pote

nti

al

for

stra

tegic

envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s.

6.1

7.2

R

isk A

sses

smen

t

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Ass

essm

ent

of

flood r

isk –

no p

ote

nti

al f

or

stra

tegic

envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s.

6.1

7.3

S

trat

egy P

lan

+

+

?

? ?

? ?

? T

he

Loca

l S

trat

egy,

pro

vid

ing

the

fram

ework

fo

r th

e pre

par

atio

n

of

Flo

od

Ris

k

Man

agem

ent

Pla

ns.

Over

all

unce

rtai

nty

over

en

vir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s;

pri

ori

tisa

tion of

mea

sure

s and pre

par

ati

on

of

Man

agem

ent

Pla

ns

should

cla

rify

how

envir

onm

enta

l is

sues

are

to b

e in

tegra

ted.

6.1

7.4

L

oca

l P

roper

ty-l

evel

Flo

od

Mit

igati

on –

Resi

lience

+

+

0

0

?

0

0

0

Buil

din

g

impro

vem

ents

to

in

div

idual

pro

per

ties

. Im

ple

men

tati

on

of

mea

sure

s

should

id

enti

fy

if

pro

per

ties

are

li

sted

buil

din

gs

or

have

any

his

tori

c

val

ue/

feat

ure

s th

at m

ay b

e af

fect

ed.

6.1

7.5

L

oca

l P

roper

ty-l

evel

Flo

od

Mit

igati

on –

Resi

stan

ce

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

Envir

onm

en

tal R

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[200

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5

Mert

hyr

Tyd

fil C

ounty

Boro

ugh

Coun

cil

Loca

l F

lood R

isk M

ana

gem

en

t S

trate

gy

Str

ate

gic

Environ

me

nta

l A

ssessm

ent

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6

Ref

L

oca

l S

trate

gy M

easu

res

S

EA

Ob

ject

ives

N

ote

s an

d R

ecom

men

dati

on

s

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6.1

7.6

P

re-f

easi

bil

ity S

tudie

s,

Feas

ibil

ity S

tudie

s

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Pla

ns

and

studie

s th

at

wil

l not

dir

ect

ly

affe

ct

the

envir

onm

ent.

How

ever

th

eir

pre

para

tion

and

revie

w

pro

cess

es

should

incorp

ora

te

asse

ssm

ent

of

envir

onm

enta

l

issu

es a

nd b

enef

its.

6.1

7.7

P

roje

ct P

lans

6.1

7.8

S

urf

ace

Wate

r M

anag

emen

t

Pla

ns

(SW

MP

)

6.1

8

Hig

h L

evel

Aw

aren

ess

an

d E

ngagem

ent

6.1

8.1

P

art

ner

ship

Work

ing

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Good

work

ing

pra

ctic

e w

ith

no

pote

nti

al

for

envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s.

6.1

9

Mon

itori

ng

6.1

9.1

E

rosi

on M

onit

ori

ng

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Monit

ori

ng a

nd s

urv

ey a

ctiv

itie

s only

, w

ith

no p

ote

nti

al f

or

envir

onm

enta

l ef

fect

s.

6.1

9.2

H

abit

ats

Monit

ori

ng

6.1

9.3

T

opogra

phic

al S

urv

ey

6.1

9.4

A

eri

al P

hoto

gra

phy

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report



Page 37

No. SEA objective Summary conclusion of effects

1 Address and reduce flood

risk now and in the future

As expected of a strategy for managing flood risk,

none of the measures are considered to have negative

effects on this objective.

2 Improve health and

wellbeing of local people

Broadly similar to 1, but recognising:

• the potential stress effects of relocation on people

affected; and

• uncertainties over how some measures my affect

public access to open space


biodiversity/geodiversity

features and enhance the

diversity, extent and

distribution of habitats

and species

Positive effects from some topic-specific measures and

benefits from wider environmental improvement.

Uncertainties largely from a dependency on the

location, nature and scale of implementation measures

Some potential for negative effects arising from how

land is managed/altered for flood risk reasons if

current interest features are not considered

4 Protect and enhance the

water environment

No negative effects identified. Uncertainties largely

from a dependency on the location, nature and scale of

implementation measures

5 Safeguard and enhance

the historic environment

Relocation measure may expose/abandon historic

buildings and structures to increased flood risk.


location, nature and scale of implementation measures.

6 Help to minimise the

cause and effects of

climate change



implementation measures.


countryside and

landscape character


location, nature and scale of implementation measures.

Some potential for negative effects arising from how

land is managed or altered for flood risk reasons if

current interest features are not considered

8 Promote sustainable and

effective use of land and

soils



implementation measures.




Page 38

5 Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Recommendations and Mitigation

The conclusions of the SEA of the Local Strategy are generally positive. Aligning with the National Strategy and relevant guidance, there has been a clear consideration to integrate environmental issues and opportunities into the objectives of the Local Strategy. Many of the proposed measures have the potential for direct and indirect environmental benefits. However, the SEA makes a number of recommendations to avoid, reduce or otherwise mitigate the potential for negative effects, and ensure the potential for positive opportunities are considered.

The recommendations are that the Local Strategy should:

• Provide clarification on how opportunities for integrating public access improvements will be considered in appraisal and delivery;

• Ensure that objective 10 (Endeavour to reduce the cost of management) is applied in the context of achieving all other objectives and considers the environmental consequences of management changes;

• Be clear that the processes for developing the next stages of flood risk planning, appraisals, implementation and construction of measures will address the potential for environmental effects;

• Use the results of the SEA as an initial guide to the above processes

Finally, it is unclear at this stage whether subsequent flood risk planning/strategy activities may require SEA. MTCBC should consider the potential for the Flood Risk Management Plans to be a ‘plan or programme’ requiring SEA under the SEA Regulations.

5.2 Monitoring Recommendations

The SEA Regulations require MTCBC to monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan – with the aim of identifying unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and to allow appropriate remedial action to be taken. The Environmental Report is required to include a ‘description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring’ in this regard. These monitoring measures may be those implemented specifically for the monitoring of the Local Strategy or include arrangements already established for other reasons.

Merthyr Tydfil’s Local Development Plan (LDP) -adopted May 2011- was subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating SEA). Welsh Government also require local planning authorities to produce Annual Monitoring Reports to track progress of LDP implementation.

In this context, the Local Strategy/SEA has considered the requirements for monitoring of the Local Strategy with the monitoring already proposed for monitoring the LDP. The table below outlines the monitoring proposals for the Local Strategy; the table identifies meaningful indicators of the SEA




Page 39

environmental objectives and indicates how these are to be collated/collected. The monitoring proposals will be refined/ finalised as the Local Strategy is finalised.

No. SEA objective Proposed Indicator Information

Sources

Update/

Frequency

1 Address and reduce flood

risk now and in the future

NB - SEA objective

delivery is the core

purpose of the Local

Strategy. Indicators to be

developed by the Local

Strategy.

Amount of development

within C1 and C2 flood

zones as defined by

TAN 15.

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

Annual

Percentage of new

developments with

Sustainable Drainage

Systems (SuDS)

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

Annual

Number of properties at

risk of flooding – all

sources

Local

Strategy Risk

Partners

Annual

Number of flood

incidents – all sources

Local

Strategy Risk

Partners

Annual

2 Improve health and

wellbeing of local people

Proportion of the

populations living in

wards that rank amongst

the 100 most deprived in

Wales

Wales Index

of Multiple

Deprivation

3 years

(next

update

2014)

Number of properties at

risk of flooding – all

sources

Local

Strategy Risk

Partners

Annual

Number of households

within 400m of

parks/open space

LDP

monitoring

MTCBC

Annual


biodiversity/geodiversity

features and enhance the

diversity, extent and

distribution of habitats

and species

Total area of Local

Biodiversity Action Plan

(LBAP) Priority habitats

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

5-10 years

Percentage change in

total areas of SINCs

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

5 years




Page 40


Sources

Update/

Frequency

Favourable condition

status of SSSIs

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

5 years

Total area affected by

non-native invasive

species

MTCBC 5 years

Area of successfully

eradicated non-native

species

LDP

Monitoring

Annual

Areas of habitat

lost/gained/enhanced

through Local Strategy

implementation

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years

Changes in populations

of selected local

characteristic species in

the LBAP

LDP

monitoring

MTCBC

Annual

Length of linear habitats

created/ maintained or

enhanced, which

increase the connectivity

of biodiversity habitats

LDP

monitoring

MTCBC

Annual


water environment

WFD waterbodies at

‘good ecological

status/potential’

Environment

Agency

6 years

Number of projects that:

create/enhance

naturalness of

channels/waterbodies

incorporate water quality

improvement measures

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years

5 Safeguard and enhance

the historic environment

Proportion of historic

environment assets

(Scheduled Monuments,

Listed Buildings,

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years




Page 41


Sources

Update/

Frequency

Conservation Areas) at

risk of flooding

Number of historic

environment assets

adversely affected by

Local Strategy

implementation

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years

Number of projects

affecting/enhancing

Historic

landscapes/Registered

Parks and Gardens

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years

6 Help to minimise the

cause and effects of

climate change

Number of projects

incorporating

consideration of carbon

emissions and adaptation

measures

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 Years


countryside and

landscape character

Number of projects

affecting/enhancing

nationally/locally

important landscapes

Local

Strategy

MTCBC

3 years

8 Promote sustainable and

effective use of land and

soils

Percentage of

contaminated land

remediated

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

Annual

Extent of non-permeable

surfaces

LDP

Monitoring

MTCBC

Annual




Page 42

5.3 Habitats Regulations Appraisal

In Wales, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 5 (referred to as

the ‘Habitats Regulations’ in this report), implements the EU ‘Habitats Directive’ (Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna) and certain elements of the ‘Birds Directive’ (2009/147/EC). This legislation provides the legal framework for the protection of habitats and species of European importance, identifying a network of protected sites.

The protected sites comprise Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). The Habitats Regulations are also applied to candidate SACs, potential Special Protection Areas (pSPA) and Ramsar sites (designated under the 1971 Ramsar Convention for their internationally important wetlands). All of these sites are referred to collectively in this report as ‘European sites’.

Regulation 9(5) of the Habitats Regulations requires that a ‘competent authority’ must consider the requirements of Habitats Directive in exercising any of its functions. Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive defines the requirements for assessment of plans and projects potentially affecting European sites. This requires that:

‘a competent authority, before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for a plan or project which is likely to have a significant effect on a European site, and is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of that site, must make an Appropriate Assessment of the implications for that site in view of that site’s conservation objectives’

The Local Strategy is likely to set the strategic framework to influence individual flood risk projects, and these could potentially result in significant effects on European sites. It is therefore considered that the Local Strategy does fit within the definitions of a ‘plan’ as defined by the Habitats Directive.

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken on the draft Local Strategy and included with this SEA Report in Appendix D. In summary, the HRA concludes that the draft Local Strategy is unlikely to have a significant effect on any European Site, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects.

5 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, SI 490, 2010)

Appendix A



Cadw (9 August 2012)

Scoping

Report

Reference

Comment Response/Action

2.3 The objectives in the table have been replicated from

the guidance but are only examples and there should be

one for the historic environment. Cadw would suggest:

• Minimise damage to known historic assets

This would not be limited to designated assets and

would encompass currently undesignated assets which

represent an important component of the historic

environment. It would also enable the landscapes

register to be taken into account. Any assets would

then need to be mapped before making the flood risk

assessments and modify any measures taken to achieve

this objective.

Local Strategy amended to

include objective

4.2 Review of

Plans, Policies

and

Programmes

(p.9)

A number of the national (Welsh) Plans, Policies and

Programmes (PPP) are overarching and not just

relevant to one environmental topic as shown in the

report. The same applies to some of the local PPPs, for

example Local Development Plans (LDP). It might be

better to show them in the usual hierarchy of plans

rather than try and match them to a single topic. Those

national policies relevant to the historic environment

include in particular Planning Policy Wales,

Environment Strategy for Wales and the LDPs are also

relevant. In the Cultural Heritage section Cadw suggest

adding 'Merthyr Tydfil Built Heritage Strategy (2008)'

as this has been adopted by Merthyr Tydfil County

Borough Council.

PPP rearranged. National

policies relevant to historic

environment noted. Merthyr

Tydfil Built Heritage

Strategy reviewed within

the PPP.

4.3 Baseline

Environmental

Information

(p.13)

Cultural Heritage - Historic Wales

Cadw suggest amending the second paragraph to read:

Glamorgan Gwent and Clwyd Powys Archaeological

Trusts' Historic Environment Records. Cadw GIS

datasets for Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings

and Registered Historic Landscapes Parks and Gardens.

Reference could also be made to data held by Merthyr

Tydfil County Borough Council and Brecon Beacons

National Park Authority on conservation areas.

Noted and considered

within baseline data review.


Countryside Council for Wales (13 August 2012)

Scoping

Report

Reference


General We recognise that this will be the first time that such a

Strategy has been produced for the County Borough.

Nevertheless, we have significant concerns about the

quality of this Scoping Report which currently does not

include much of the detailed content that would be

expected at this stage of the SEA process. Some of the

fundamental components of a Scoping Report, such as

baseline environmental data, identification of existing

environmental problems of relevance to the Plan and a

proposed methodology including a Framework with

draft objectives, are missing. As such, it makes a

detailed Scoping response from CCW difficult to

provide.

Components identified now

incorporated within the

Environment Report.

General We are also concerned that there is no recognition

within the document of the particular type of flooding

that will affect Merthyr Tydfil, no identification of the

factors that exacerbate this kind of flood risk and no

discussion about how to reduce this type of flooding.

We think it imperative that consideration is given to the

distinction between flood risk and flood hazard as the

SEA and Strategy progress. In seeking to reduce flood

risk, it is possible to increase the hazard, for example to

people and property. The SEA process could and

should play a vital role in clarifying the difference

between risk and hazard and in helping decision-

makers and communities to understand and distinguish

between the potential effects of different flood risk

management options in order to make informed

decisions.

Addressed in the Local

Strategy

2.0 The Local

Flood Risk

Strategy

We welcome this section as a useful summary of what

is required in the Local Flood Risk Management

Strategy.

Noted.

2.4 Spatial

Scope and

Programme

We welcome this reference to the importance of

managing flood risk across administrative boundaries

and the intention to work collaboratively with other

Lead Local Flood Authorities. It is important that

flooding is considered at a catchment scale and

collaboration with neighbouring Authorities is vital.

Noted.

3.1

Requirements

and Guidance

for SEA

Reference is made here to the Environment Agency’s

guidance on ‘SEA and Climate Change’. This guidance

does not cover the climate change/flooding issues

prevalent in a short, steep catchment area such as

Merthyr Tydfil. We recommend that you additionally

refer to CCW’s SEA Topic Guidance for Practioners,

which can be found on CCW’s website at:-

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/managing-

land-and-sea/environmentalassessment/

strategic-environmental-assess.aspx?lang=en

Noted and referred to in the

SEA process.



Scoping

Report

Reference


4.0 SEA

Scoping

The guidance used in preparation of this Scoping

Report – ‘A Practical Guide to the Strategic

Environmental Assessment Directive’, ODPM, 2005 –

clearly sets out in sections 5.A.1 to 5.A.18 what is

expected at this stage of the SEA process and what

information should be provided to the consultation

bodies during consultation. A Scoping Report should

contain baseline environmental data and the

identification of existing environmental problems of

relevance to the Plan. There should be a proposed

methodology for the assessment, including a

Framework with draft objectives, as well as at least an

outline of the alternatives or options to the proposals

put forward in the Plan. A clear indication of what the

likely significant effects are and an outline of the

content of the Environment Report would also be

expected. All of these are missing from this Scoping

Report.

All elements of assessment

not included within the

Scoping Report now

present in the Environment

Report for further

consultation

4.1

Environmental

Topics

The environmental topic ‘biodiversity’ should also

include reference to geodiversity.

We agree with the decision to scope the topic “Air

Quality’ out of further SEA assessment with respect to

this particular Strategy

Now referenced

Air Quality scoped out

4.2 Review of

Plans, Policies

and

Programmes

We welcome the reference to a review of Plans,

Policies and Programmes. A thorough review of Plans,

Policies and Programmes is an essential part of the

SEA process in order to help develop the assessment

Framework. From the small amount of information

here in this section, it is unclear whether this review

has yet taken place.

PPP review complete and

included in Annex B.

4.2 Review of

Plans, Policies

and

Programmes

While we welcome the identification of some key

national, regional and local Plans, we would

recommend widening the scope to include

International, European and UK Plans and Policies too.

We suggest that the following should also be

considered (please refer to CCW’s ‘SEA Topic

Guidance for Practitioners’ for a more complete list:-

International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International

Importance especially as wildfowl habitat

(1971)

Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory

Species of Wild Animals (1979)

Bern Convention on the Conservation of European

Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)

The Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de

Janeiro (1992)

Noted and referenced in the

PPP.



Scoping

Report

Reference


EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

(79/409/EEC)

EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)

EU Biodiversity Strategy (EU, 1998)

European Landscape Convention

World Heritage Convention

National

Countryside Rights of Way Act (2000)

Future Biodiversity Action in Wales, The Wales

Biodiversity Group (May 2002)

Woodland Trust – Space for Nature (2002)

Woodlands for Wales (Forestry Commission, 2009)

Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest

Relevant Water Resources Management Plan

Regional

Regional Transport Plan

Regional Waste Plan

4.3 Baseline

Environmental

Information

In CCW’s opinion, no baseline environmental

information is presented here. Instead a list of potential

sources of information is presented. Baseline

environmental information is vital in providing the

basis for predicting and monitoring environmental

effects and helping to identify issues and alternatives

for dealing with those issues. Aspects of baseline

information to be considered are contained within

Annex 1 of the SEA Directive. Sections 5.A.5 and

5.A.9 of ‘A Practical Guide to the Strategic

Environmental Assessment Directive’, ODPM, 2005,

will also be informative.

At the very least, this section should include:-

• Identification of rivers/watercourses within the

Plan area with identification of flood risk

• Identification of essential public infrastructure and

housing in relation to flood risk

• Identification of designated biodiversity sites and a

description of biodiversity ‘challenges’

• Identification of differing soil types and

contaminated land within the County Borough

• Identification of water-related infrastructure

(abstractions, discharges, sewage treatment works

• There should be a clear description of the particular

nature of Merthyr Tydfil’s flooding issues and the

factors that exacerbate flood risk

Identification of designations relating to landscape

and cultural/historic heritage

For those sources of data that are identified, we would

add the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest to

the Landscape topic.

Baseline information

present in Annex C of the

Environment Report.

However, further strategy

work is required to identify

what features are at risk

from local flood sources



Scoping

Report

Reference


4.4 Habitats

Regulations

Assessment

We welcome and support the intention to undertake a

Habitats Regulations Assessment of the LFRM

Strategy. However, in CCW’s opinion, it is not best

practice for the HRA process to be reported on within

the SEA Environment Report. The HRA process needs

to be undertaken in accordance with the process set out

in the Annex to TAN 5 and in accordance

with CCW guidance on the HRA of plans which can be

found at:-

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/managing-

land-and-sea/environmentalassessment/

habitats-regulations-assessmen.aspx?lang=en

HRA process is recognised

as discrete and stand-alone

in the SEA Scoping Report.

HRA screening conclusions

referred to in Environment

Report and HRA Report

included as a stand-alone

Annex (D).


Environment Agency Wales (received 16/08/12)

ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


1: Identifying

other relevant

Policies, Plans

and

Programmes,

and SA

objectives.

This is covered in Section 4.2 of the report where we

recommend that you consider inclusion and review of

other plans and programmes at International /

European/National and Local levels. The following list

does not appear to be included but will be relevant to

your SEA Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

(LFRMS) and should be considered by your

Authority/Consultant (Arup);

International Plans & Programmes EU Floods Directive – Directive 2007/60/EC

EU Water Framework Directive – Directive

2000/60/EC

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

National Plans & Programmes

• Flood & Water Management Act 2010

• Flood Risk Regulations 2009

• Water Resources Act 1991

• Land Drainage Act 1994

• Environment Act 1995

• Welsh Government National Strategy for

Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management

November 2011; Summary April 2012

• Welsh Government Local Flood Risk

Management Strategies; Local Strategy

November 2011

• Welsh Government Adapting to Climate

Change; Guidance for Flood & Coastal

Management Authorities in Wales December

2011

• Welsh Government Flood Risk Management;

Community Engagement Toolkit October 2011

• Welsh Government Guidance for the Transfer

of Ordinary Watercourse Regulatory Powers

for Lead Local Flood Authorities in Wales

(including the Appendices) February 2012

• Environment Agency’s National Coastal

Erosion Risk Mapping Project

• Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water (DCWW) Water

Resources

• Management Plan October 2011

• Current Planning Appraisal Guidance (PAG)

Guidance

� Climate Change Act 2008

� Strategic Environmental Assessment and

Climatic Change for Practitioners.

• CIRIA C687 Planning for SuDS

• CIRIA C690 Guidance for Water Cycle

Management for New Developments

Reviewed and consider

appropriately.

Many of the identified

plans and guidance are

directly relevant to the

Local Strategy rather than

the SEA.

The National Coastal

Erosion Risk mapping

project is not relevant to the

Merthyr Area



ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


• CIRIA C697 The SuDS Manual

Local Plans & Programmes

• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA);

Caerphilly CBC, Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC,

Powys CBC

• Other relevant documents including local

studies/modelling work

We also note and welcome the reference to the

objectives as per the National Strategy for Flood and

Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales

(November 2011).

Within the Table in Section 4.2 under the heading Soil

and Land-use, it is stated that “no topic specific plans

identified”. We recommend that as your Authority

have a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy, this is

referred to as it may provide useful information on

potential sources of pollution (as per the “Water”

section of the other Table shown in Section 4.1).

Noted

Inspection Strategy

referenced.

Task A2:

Collecting

baseline

information Section 4.3 –

There is no analysis of available baseline data within

the Report. This is a significant omission. Without

this, it is not possible to identify the environmental

issues / problems within the Local Authority area and

therefore set appropriate objectives for the SEA.

As a point of detail, under the Population and Human

Health topic, we suggest including the PFRA data from

neighbouring Authorities (ref. Section 2.4 of the

Report).

Baseline data now included

in Annex C and informs the

SEA objectives

MTCBC are consulting

adjacent LLFAs on

interactions between areas

Task A3

Environmental

Issues and

Problems Section 4.1 –

We note that environmental topics have been defined

for consideration in the Environmental Report.

However, these topics and the notes made on their

Relevance to the Local Strategy are entirely generic in

nature. No environmental issues / problems have been

identified specific to the Local Authority area. This is

an omission, which should be corrected.

Also, with regards to the notes on Relevance to the

Local Strategy, under the topic Population and Human

Health, we question why the only reference is to access

during flood events. The relevance is far more wider

reaching and should recognise the potential illness,

injury, risk to life, stress and anxiety associated with

flood events.

Environmental issues

identified.

Noted and incorporated into

assessment and directly in

the Local Strategy.



ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


Task A4

Developing the

SA

Framework

Doesn’t appear to be clear in this report – there is no

analysis of baseline data and no environmental

problems identified (as per comments above), there are

also no objectives set for the SEA and no monitoring

indicators or targets. We are concerned that without

these fundamentals, it will be very difficult to produce

a sound Environmental Report and properly assess the

likely significant effects of the LFRMS on the

environment. These omissions should be addressed

before work progresses to the Environmental Report.

Framework developed and

identified in the

Environment Report.

However, assessment of

effects is limited and

proportionate to the Local

Strategy. Refer to Chapter 3

of the Environment Report.



ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


1: Identifying

other relevant

Policies, Plans

and

Programmes,

and SA

objectives.

This is covered in Section 4.2 of the report where we

recommend that you consider inclusion and review of

other plans and programmes at International /

European/National and Local levels. The following list

does not appear to be included but will be relevant to

your SEA Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

(LFRMS) and should be considered by your

Authority/Consultant (Arup);

International Plans & Programmes EU Floods Directive – Directive 2007/60/EC

EU Water Framework Directive – Directive

2000/60/EC


National Plans & Programmes

• Flood & Water Management Act 2010

• Flood Risk Regulations 2009

• Water Resources Act 1991

• Land Drainage Act 1994

• Environment Act 1995

• Welsh Government National Strategy for

Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management

November 2011; Summary April 2012

• Welsh Government Local Flood Risk

Management Strategies; Local Strategy

November 2011

• Welsh Government Adapting to Climate

Change; Guidance for Flood & Coastal

Management Authorities in Wales December

2011

• Welsh Government Flood Risk Management;

Community Engagement Toolkit October 2011

• Welsh Government Guidance for the Transfer

of Ordinary Watercourse Regulatory Powers

for Lead Local Flood Authorities in Wales

(including the Appendices) February 2012

• Environment Agency’s National Coastal

Erosion Risk Mapping Project

• Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water (DCWW) Water

Resources

• Management Plan October 2011

• Current Planning Appraisal Guidance (PAG)

Guidance

� Climate Change Act 2008

� Strategic Environmental Assessment and

Climatic Change for Practitioners.

• CIRIA C687 Planning for SuDS

• CIRIA C690 Guidance for Water Cycle

Management for New Developments

Reviewed and consider

appropriately.

Many of the identified

plans and guidance are

directly relevant to the

Local Strategy rather than

the SEA.

The National Coastal

Erosion Risk mapping

project is not relevant to the

Merthyr Area



ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


We also note and welcome the reference to the

objectives as per the National Strategy for Flood and

Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales

(November 2011).

Within the Table in Section 4.2 under the heading Soil

and Land-use, it is stated that “no topic specific plans

identified”. We recommend that as your Authority

have a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy, this is

referred to as it may provide useful information on

potential sources of pollution (as per the “Water”

section of the other Table shown in Section 4.1).

Task A2:

Collecting

baseline

information

Section 4.3 –

There is no analysis of available baseline data within

the Report. This is a significant omission. Without

this, it is not possible to identify the environmental

issues / problems within the Local Authority area and

therefore set appropriate objectives for the SEA.

As a point of detail, under the Population and Human

Health topic, we suggest including the PFRA data from

neighbouring Authorities (ref. Section 2.4 of the

Report).

Baseline data now included

in Annex C and informs the

SEA objectives

MTCBC are consulting

adjacent LLFAs on

interactions between areas

Task A3

Environmental

Issues and

Problems

Section 4.1 –

We note that environmental topics have been defined

for consideration in the Environmental Report.

However, these topics and the notes made on their

Relevance to the Local Strategy are entirely generic in

nature. No environmental issues / problems have been

identified specific to the Local Authority area. This is

an omission, which should be corrected.

Also, with regards to the notes on Relevance to the

Local Strategy, under the topic Population and Human

Health, we question why the only reference is to access

during flood events. The relevance is far more wider

reaching and should recognise the potential illness,

injury, risk to life, stress and anxiety associated with

flood events.

Environmental issues

identified.

Noted and incorporated into

assessment and directly in

the Local Strategy.



ODPM SEA

Guidance

reference


Task A4

Developing the

SA

Framework

Doesn’t appear to be clear in this report – there is no

analysis of baseline data and no environmental

problems identified (as per comments above), there are

also no objectives set for the SEA and no monitoring

indicators or targets. We are concerned that without

these fundamentals, it will be very difficult to produce

a sound Environmental Report and properly assess the

likely significant effects of the LFRMS on the

environment. These omissions should be addressed

before work progresses to the Environmental Report.

Framework developed and

identified in the

Environment Report.

However, assessment of

effects is limited and

proportionate to the Local

Strategy. Refer to Chapter 3

of the Environment Report.

Appendix B

Review of Plans and Programmes

International Plans and Programmes

EU Floods Directive – Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks

(2007)

EU Water Framework Directive - Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the

Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy (2000)


Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as wildfowl habitat

(1971)

Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979)

Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)


The Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de Janeiro (1992)

EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC)


EU Biodiversity Strategy (EU, 1998)

European Landscape Convention

World Heritage Convention

National (UK and Wales) Plans and Programmes

Flood and Water Management Act (2010)

Flood Risk Regulations (2009)

Environment Act (1995)

Climate Change Act (2008)

Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000)

Wales Biodiversity Framework (2010)

Woodland Trust – Space for Nature (2002)

Woodlands for Wales (Forestry Commission (2009)

Planning Policy Wales, Edition 4 (2011)

Welsh Government: National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales

(2011)

Welsh Government: Local Flood Risk Management Strategies (2011)

Welsh Government. Adapting to Climate Change: Guidance for Flood and Coastal Management

Authorities in Wales (2011)

Welsh Government. Flood Risk Management: Community Engagement Toolkit (2011)

Welsh Government. Guidance for the Transfer of Ordinary Watercourse Regulatory Powers for Lead

Local Flood Authorities in Wales (2012)

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water . Water Resources Management Plan (2011)

Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales

Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15: Development and Flood Risk (2004)

Technical Advice Note (TAN) 5: Nature Conservation and Planning (2009)

Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010)

Technical Advice Note (TAN) 12: Design (2009)

Technical Advice Note (TAN) 22: Planning for Sustainable Buildings (2011)

Environment Strategy for Wales (2006)

Cadw Priorities 2011-16 (2011)

EA Policy: Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (2002)

Land Drainage Act (1991, as amended)

Civil Contingencies Act (2004)

Water Act (2003)

Sub-Regional Plans and Programmes

Environment Agency Wales: Taff and Ely Catchment Flood Management Plan (2010)

Environment Agency: Severn River Basin Management Plan (2009)

The Taff and Ely Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (2006, update report 2010)

South East Wales Regional Transport Plan. SEWTA

Regional Waste Plan

Local Plans and Programmes

The Community Plan for Merthyr Tydfil (2011)

Merthyr Tydfil Biodiversity Action Plan (2008)

Merthyr Tydfil Local Development Plan (2011)

Brecon Beacons National Park Local Development Plan (2011)

Brecon Beacons National Park Management Plan (2010)

BBNP Biodiversity Action Plan

Merthyr Tydfil Built Heritage Strategy (2008)

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments (PFRA) for adjacent LLFA areas – Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon

Taf, Powys.

Merthyr Tydfil Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy

International Plans and

Programmes

Summary of Aims and Objectives Relevance to the Local

Strategy/SEA

EU Floods Directive –

Directive 2007/60/EC on

the assessment and

management of flood

risks (2007)

Requires Member States to: assess if all

water courses and coast lines are at risk

from flooding; map the flood extent and

assets and humans at risk in these areas;

and take adequate and coordinated

measures to reduce this flood risk.

Aims to reduce and manage the risks that

floods pose to human health, the

environment, cultural heritage and

economic activity.

Local Strategy will

contribute to delivery of the

Directive Requirements

EU Water Framework

Directive - Directive

2000/60/EC of the

European Parliament and

of the Council

establishing a framework

for the Community action

in the field of water

policy (2000)

Prevents deterioration of aquatic

ecosystems and associated wetlands by

setting out a timetable until 2027 to

achieve good ecological status or

potential. Requires Member States to

manage the effects on the ecological

quality of water which result from

changes to the physical characteristics of

water bodies. It requires action in those

cases where these pressures have an

ecological impact which will interfere

with delivery of the Water Framework

Directive objectives.

The Strategy will need to

consider the requirements of

the WFD and ensure that it

does not cause deterioration

of waterbodies and should

consider opportunities to

improve waterbodies in

conjunction with local flood

risk management.

The Local Strategy should

promote sustainable

management of the water

environment by considering

current land use and future

climate scenarios, to

minimise the effects of

flooding and drought events

and to facilitate long term

improvements in water

quality, including the

protection of groundwater

near landfill sites and

minimise agricultural runoff.

UN Framework

Convention on Climate

Change

International Convention with the aim of

preventing dangerous human interference

with the climate system

Ensure Local Strategy

considers climate change

mitigation and adaptation in

its development and

implementation

Ramsar Convention on

Wetlands of International

Importance especially as

wildfowl habitat

(1971)

Allows for the identification and

protection of wetlands of international

importance. Protection of these sites in

the UK is implemented through the

Habitats Regulations

The Local Strategy must


the Habitats Regulations.

Bonn Convention on the

Conservation of

Migratory Species of

Wild Animals (1979)

Aims to to conserve migratory species

and their habitats by providing strict

protection for endangered migratory

species. Implemented in the UK through

the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981,

as amended) and supplemented by parts

of the CRoW Act 2000.

Local Strategy to consider

the implications of the

Wildlife and Countryside

Act

Bern Convention on the

Conservation of

Aims to ensure conservation and

protection of wild plant and animal


the implications of the


Programmes


Strategy/SEA

European Wildlife and

Natural Habitats (1979)

species and their natural habitats.

Implemented in the UK through the

Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981, as

amended)

Wildlife and Countryside

Act

EU Habitats Directive

(92/43/EEC)

The Habitats Directive contribute towards

protecting biodiversity - the variety of life

- through the conservation of natural

habitats and wild plants and animals. The

Directive provides for the creation and

protection of a network of protected areas

across the European Union to be known

as ‘Natura 2000’ sites.

Maintain or restore in a favourable

condition habitats and species of

European importance. Linear structures

such as rivers/streams, hedgerows, field

boundaries, ponds, etc., that enable

movement and migration of species

should be preserved.

Consider the implications of

the Directive on the Local

Strategy.

The Convention on

Biological Diversity, Rio

de Janeiro (1992)

Sets out commitments to maintaining the

world's biodiversity so to achieve a

more sustainable economic development.

The Convention establishes three main

goals: the conservation of biological

diversity, the sustainable use of its

components, and the fair and equitable

sharing of the benefits from the use of

genetic resources.


consider biodiversity

impacts within its objectives.

It should take a holistic view

of ecosystems rather than a

focusing on ‘islands’ of

protected species. The Local

Strategy should not consider

the objectives of national

conservation strategies as

stated in the UK

Biodiversity Action Plan and

their local implementation

mechanisms- Merthyr Tydfil

Biodiversity Action Plan,

Brecon Beacons


EU Directive on the

Conservation of Wild

Birds (79/409/EEC)

Member States must sustain populations

of naturally occurring wild birds by

sustaining areas of habitats in order to

maintain populations at ecologically and

scientifically sound levels. Member States

are required to designate Special

Protection Areas (SPAs) for the 194

threatened species and all migratory bird

species.

Consider the implications of

the Directive on the Local

Strategy.

EU Biodiversity Strategy

(EU, 2011 )

Aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and

speeding up the EU's transition

towards a resource efficient and green

economy. Current resolutions stress the

need to integrate biodiversity concerns

into all EU and national sectoral policies,

to reverse the continuing trends of


how it should intergrate with

policies to protect and

improve biodiversity


Programmes


Strategy/SEA

biodiversity loss and ecosystem

degradation.

European Landscape

Convention

Promotes the protection, management and

planning of European landscapes and

organises European co-operation on

landscape issues

Local Strategy/SEA to

consider potential for

protecting and enhancing

landscape in the area

Unesco World Heritage

Convention (1972)

Promotes the protection of world cultural

and natural heritage

SEA to consider any

implications for the Local

Strategy

National (UK and

Wales) Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

Flood and Water

Management Act (2010)

Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA)

‘must develop, maintain, apply and

monitor a strategy for flood risk

management in its area’ including flood

risk from surface runoff, groundwater and

ordinary watercourses.

Implemented by the Local

Strategy

Flood Risk Regulations

(2009)

The Flood Risk Regulations implement

the requirements of the European Floods

Directive, which aims to provide a

consistent approach to managing flood

risk across Europe. The approach consists

of a six year cycle of planning based on a

four stage process of:

• Undertaking a Preliminary Flood

Risk Assessment (PFRA).

• Identifying flood risk areas.

• Preparing flood hazard and risk

maps.

• Preparing flood risk management

plans.

LLFAs are responsible for managing the

flood risk caused by precipitation. The

Environment Agency covers flooding

from the sea, main rivers and reservoirs.

Local Strategy will

contribute to delivery of the

Directive Requirements

Environment Act (1995) Created a number of new agencies

(including the Environment Agency and

National Park Authorities) and set new

standards for environmental management,

including for air quality and waste.

Limited relevance for the the

Local Strategy

Climate Change Act

(2008)

Aims to manage and respond to climate

change in the UK, by:

• setting ambitious, legally binding

targets taking powers to help meet

those targets

• strengthening the institutional

framework

• enhancing the UK’s ability to adapt to

the impact of climate change

• establishing clear and regular

accountability to the UK Parliament

and devolved government.

Ensure Local Strategy

considers climate change

mitigation and adaptation in

its development and

implementation

Countryside and Rights

of Way Act (2000)

Creates a new statutory right of access to

open country and registered common

land, updates the Rights of Way system,

give greater protection to Sites of Special

Scientific Interest (SSSIs), provide better

management arrangements for Areas of

Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs),

and strengthens wildlife enforcement

The Local Strategy/SEA

should consider potential

effects public access to open

country

National (UK and

Wales) Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

legislation.

Wales Biodiversity

Framework (2010)

Explains the roles, remits and processes

essential to biodiversity conservation and

enhancement in Wales

Ensure that the Local

Strategy considers how it

can contribute to the

protection and enhancement

of biodiversity in the area

Woodland Trust – Space

for Nature (2002)

Promoting landscape scale action for

conservation of woodland biodiversity

Consider how the Local

Strategy can contribute to

woodland biodiversity in the

area

Woodlands for Wales

Welsh Government

(2009)

50 year plan for developing and using

Welsh woodlands and trees to bring

maximum benefit to the people of Wales.

Four key themes:

•Responding to climate change

•Woodlands for people

•A competitive and integrated forest

sector

•Improving environmental quality

Consider how the Local

Strategy can contribute

toward the woodland

strategy, e.g. through the

provision of regulating

services such as the

protection of water and soil

resources, prevention of

flooding

Planning Policy Wales,

Edition 4 (2011)

Sets the national framework and policies

for Wales.

Sets the national framework

and policies for Wales.

Planning of developments

should take account of the

likely frequency and severity

of floods expected.

Welsh Government:

National Strategy for

Flood and Coastal

Erosion Risk

Management in Wales

(2011)

Sets the framework and overarching

principles flood risk management in

Wales.

Sets a higher level

framework for the Local

Strategy

Welsh Government:

Local Flood Risk

Management Strategies

(2011)

Guidance for LLFAs preparing local

strategies

Guidance to be followed in

preparation of the Local

Strategy

Welsh Government.

Adapting to Climate

Change: Guidance for

Flood and Coastal

Management Authorities

in Wales (2011)

Provides advice for Risk Management

Authorities to account for climate change

within their Flood and Coastal

Management investment decisions.

Guidance to be followed in

preparation of the Local

Strategy

Welsh Government.

Flood Risk Management:

Community Engagement

Toolkit (2011)

Best practice for community involvement

in flood and coastal erosion risk

management

Guidance to be considered in

preparation and consultation

on the Local Strategy

Welsh Government.

Guidance for the Transfer

of Ordinary Watercourse

Regulatory Powers for

Lead Local Flood

Guidance to help the transfer of powers

from Environment Agency Wales to Lead

Local Flood Authorities (LLFA)

Guidance to be considered in

preparation and consultation

on the Local Strategy

National (UK and

Wales) Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

Authorities in Wales

(2012)

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

Water Resources

Management Plan (2011)

Revised draft water resources plan setting

out intentions to deliver water

supply/demand balance

Consider the interactions of

the Local Strategy with key

water resource assets in the

area

Register of Landscapes of

Historic Interest in Wales

Advisory and non-statutory document

highlights what are considered to be the

best examples of different types of

historic landscape in Wales.

SEA to advise Local

Strategy on the areas

identified in the Register.

Local Strategy should avoid

effects on Register areas.

Technical Advice Note

(TAN) 15: Development

and Flood Risk (2004)

Aims to restrict development within areas

at risk of flooding.

Advises caution in respect of

new development in areas at

high risk of flooding, by

setting out a precautionary

framework to guide planning

decisions.


(TAN) 5: Nature

Conservation and

Planning (2009)

TAN5 provides guidance on how local

authorities should integrate nature

conservation issues in development plans

and in assessing development proposals.

Accept the primacy of nature

conservation objectives, and

take appropriate account of

designations in setting Local

Strategy objectives and

options. Consider how the

Local Strategy can conserve

and enhance the biodiversity

of the County Borough.

Conservation of Habitats

and Species Regulations

(2010)

Implements the Habitats Directive in

Wales. The Regulations provide for the

designation and protection of 'European

sites', the protection of 'European

protected species', and the adaptation of

planning and other controls for the

protection of European Sites.

The Local Strategy must


the Habitats Regulations.


(TAN) 12: Design (2009)

The design of development in the

environment is significant to the quality

of our lives and is a major factor in

sustaining a positive image for Wales.

Good design has the potential to assist

environmental sustainability, economic

growth, and social inclusion.

Measures and projects

developed under the Local

Strategy should use design

as a mechanism to achieve

sustainability objectives by:

by making prudent use of

natural resources,

incorporate sustainable

energy use, waste control

measures and provide the

means for effective long-

term maintenance, efficient

operation and management,

encouraging local

distinctiveness and adopting

inclusive design principles.

National (UK and

Wales) Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA


(TAN) 22: Planning for

Sustainable Buildings

(2011)

Advice to local planning authorities and

developers to implement the national

planning policy on sustainable buildings

Environment Strategy for

Wales (2006)

Recognises the importance of our

environment and explains how the Welsh

Government will tackle the challenges

facing it over the next 20 years

Five main environmental themes all of relevance to the Local Strategy/SEA:

• Addressing climate change

• Sustainable resource use

• Distinctive biodiversity

• Our local environment

• Environmental hazards

Cadw Priorities 2011-16

(2011)

Identifies priorities for an accessible,

well-protected historic environment in

Wales.

SEA/Local Strategy to

consider interactions with

Cadw priorities

EA Policy: Sustainable

Urban Drainage Systems

(2002)

Guidance on design and implementation

of systems. Not appropriate for SEA

review.

Not reviewed

Land Drainage Act

(1991, as amended)

Gives operating authorities (including the

Environment Agency) authorisation to

carry out works on watercourses for

certain purposes. Also paces

environmental and recreational duties on

the Environment Agency.

Should take account of the

duties and powers resulting

from this Act.

Civil Contingencies Act

(2004)

Sets out a single framework for Civil

Protection for a wide range of

emergencies. The Act moves the

emphasis of civil protection from being

one of just planning and responding to

emergencies towards resilience planning

arrangements (which also includes

response arrangements). This has placed a

range of new duties and responsibilities

on Local Authorities such as assessing the

risks of an emergency occurring, which

includes the need to carry out a risk

assessment on past incidents and likely

incidents happening in the future.


take account of the duties

and powers resulting from

this Act.

Water Act (2003) This Act:

• amends the Water Resources Act

1991 and the Water Industry Act


take account of the duties

and powers resulting from

National (UK and

Wales) Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

1991;

• makes provision with respect to

compensation under section 61 of the

Water Resources Act 1991;

• provides for the establishment and

functions of the Water Services

Regulation Authority and the

Consumer Council for Water; to

make provision in connection with

land drainage and flood defence;

• makes provision about contaminated

land so far as it relates to the

pollution of controlled waters

this Act.

Sub-Regional Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

Environment Agency

Wales: Taff and Ely

Catchment Flood


Assessment of flood risk from rivers,

groundwater, surface water and tidal

flooding. Identifies flood-risk

management policies to assist decision-

makers in the catchment.

The Local Strategy will need

to take into consideration the

policies set out in the CFMP.

Environment Agency:

Severn River Basin


This plan focuses on the protection,

improvement and sustainable use of the

water environment. It details the

pressures facing the water environment in

the Severn River Basin District, and the

actions that will address them. Prepared

under the Water Framework Directive,

and is the first of a series of six-year

planning cycles.

Implementing the Water

Framework Directive.

Protection, improvement and

sustainable use of the water

environment in the Severn

River Basin. Identifies key

water management issues,

and waterbody quality

objectives in MTCBC. Local

Strategy SEA should

identify potential effects on

water bodies.

The Taff and Ely

Catchment Abstraction

Management Strategy

(2006, update report

2010)

This strategy sets out how much water is

available in the Taff and Ely catchment

and the proposed options for managing

this water now and in the future.

The Local Strategy/SEA

should safeguard water

resources, manage and use

water efficiently and protect

the environment.

South East Wales

Regional Transport Plan

SEWTA (2009)

Statutory plan which sets out an

integrated and sustainable transport

strategy for South East Wales. The plan

includes :

•a strategic framework, setting out the

issues, analysis, vision, aims, and policies

•an implementation programme

identifying actions, proposals and a five

year programme

•a monitoring and review mechanism

Limited interaction with the

Local Strategy/SEA. Main

interactions on transport will

be through objectives in the

LDP.

Regional Waste Plan Long-term strategic waste management

strategy and land-use planning framework

for the sustainable management

of wastes and recovery of resources in

South East Wales

Limited relevance to the

Local Strategy. Framework

for identifying areas for

facilities will be

implemented through the

LDP

Local Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

The Community Plan for

Merthyr Tydfil (2011)

Sets objectives and priorities for the

delivery of local services


be aligned with the

Community Plan

Merthyr Tydfil


(2008)

Aims to conserve, protect and enhance

biodiversity in the County Borough of

Merthyr Tydfil for current and future

generations.


consider how its objectives

and measures can contribute

toward achievement of BAP

objectives to conserve and

enhance biodiversity.

Merthyr Tydfil Local

Development Plan (2011)

Adopted plan setting the framework for

land use and planning decisions for the

area in the area, including minerals

planning. Planning of developments

should take account of the likely

frequency and severity of floods

expected. Covers a wide range of

environmental protection objectives at the

relevant local level, including landscape,

biodiversity, and cultural heritage.


align with the LDP and

consider how it can assist in

delivery of LDP objectives

Brecon Beacons National

Park Local Development

Plan (2011)

Deposit plan setting the framework for

land use and planning decisions for the

area in the area, including minerals

planning. Planning of developments

should take account of the likely

frequency and severity of floods

expected. Covers a wide range of

environmental protection objectives at the

relevant local level, including landscape,

biodiversity, and cultural heritage.


align with the LDP and

consider how it can assist in

delivery of LDP objectives

Brecon Beacons National

Park Management Plan

(2010)

The National Park Management Plan is

the National Park Authority's leading

document, prepared under the 1995

Environment Act. It sets out a vision

for the Park and includes aims and

objectives for all the National Park’s

activities.


not conflict with these plan

aims and objectives

BBNP Biodiversity

Action Plan

Aims to conserve, protect and enhance

biodiversity in the National Park.


consider how its objectives

and measures can contribute

toward achievement of BAP

objectives to conserve and

enhance biodiversity.

Merthyr Tydfil Built

Heritage Strategy (2008)

Aims to improve the way that heritage

assets are identified, protected, managed

and promoted within the County Borough

Local Strategy should not

conflict with the Heritage

Strategy aims and objectives

Preliminary Flood Risk

Assessments (PFRA) for

adjacent LLFA areas –

Caerphilly, Rhondda

Identification of flood risk areas in

adjacent LLFAs. Local Strategy to consider how local flood risk sources and receptors interact across

Local Plans and

Programmes


Strategy/SEA

Cynon Taf, Powys administrative boundaries, i.e. managing flood risk sources within Merthyr Tydfil affecting areas covered by adjacent strategies, and vice versa

Merthyr Tydfil

Contaminated Land

Inspection Strategy

Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations

2001 require Local Authorities to inspect

land for contamination to ensure adequate

protection of people, property and the

environment. The Strategy demonstrates

the Council’s general approach for

meeting its primary responsibility for

enforcing the regulations

Local Strategy/SEA to

incorporate this Strategy and

any information arising

Appendix C

Baseline Environment

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Po

pu

lati

on

an

d H

um

an

Healt

h

Data

sou

rces

:

Wel

sh I

nd

ex o

f M

ult

iple

Dep

riva

tio

n (

WIM

D)

2011.

Sta

tist

ics

Wale

s

Mer

thyr

Tyd

fil

Pre

lim

ina

ry F

loo

d R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

(PF

RA

) an

d a

ssoci

ate

d d

ata

sou

rces

Cen

sus

data

(20

01, 2

011-

wh

ere

avail

ab

le),

Mer

thyr

Tyd

fil

LD

P.

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

pa

rato

rs a

nd

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l S

trate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Popu

lati

on

Mer

thyr

is t

he

loca

l au

thori

ty w

ith

the

smal

lest

popu

lati

on i

n W

ales

.

58

800 p

eople

wer

e re

cord

ed a

s

no

rmal

ly r

esid

ent

in t

he

area

in

the

201

1 c

ensu

s.

The

cen

sus

popula

tion

was

59

000 i

n 1

991. I

n 2

001 t

his

had

fal

len t

o 56000, w

ith

mid

-

term

est

imat

es (

20

02-2

005)

indic

ated

that

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l

exper

ience

d g

reat

er p

opu

lati

on

dec

line

than

an

y o

ther

Loca

l

Auth

ori

ty A

rea

in

Wal

es.

Pri

mar

y s

tate

d a

im o

f th

e L

DP

is ‘

to f

acil

itat

e a

reduct

ion i

n

curr

ent

level

s of

out

mig

rati

on

fro

m t

he

Co

unty

Boro

ugh s

o

that

popula

tio

n l

evel

s st

abil

ise

by 2

011 a

nd a

10-y

ear

per

iod

of

enhan

ced g

row

th i

s

ach

ieved

ther

eaft

er’

Incr

ease

in

popu

lati

on s

hould

not

resu

lt i

n a

n i

ncr

ease

in t

he

num

ber

s of

peo

ple

/pro

per

ties

at

risk

of

floodin

g.

Wel

sh I

ndex

of

Mult

iple

Dep

rivat

ion

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l h

as a

hig

her

pro

port

ion o

f L

ow

er S

uper

Outp

ut

Are

as (

LS

OA

s) i

n t

he

mo

st

dep

rived

10%

an

d 2

0%

than

any

oth

er l

oca

l au

thori

ty a

rea

in

Wal

es.

Fig

ure

1 s

how

s th

e L

ow

er

Lev

el S

up

er O

utp

ut

Are

as

(LS

OA

s) i

n M

erth

yr

Tyd

fil.

T

he

Co

unty

Boro

ugh c

om

par

es p

oorl

y

oth

er a

reas

in W

ales

in

res

pec

t o

f

all

key

soci

o-e

conom

ic i

nd

icat

ors

Th

e S

trat

egy s

hou

ld

aim

to

hel

p r

edu

ce

the

risk

of

floodin

g i

n

dep

rived

com

munit

ies

and

impro

ve

pub

lic

awar

enes

s fo

r th

ose

mo

st a

t ri

sk.

Flo

od R

isk

C

urr

ent

unce

rtai

nti

es a

rou

nd

level

s of

flo

od r

isk

fro

m l

oca

l

sourc

es a

re t

he

subje

ct o

f th

e

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y

M

TC

BC

has

set

the

key

flo

od

risk

indic

ato

r o

f peo

ple

at

risk

of

flood a

t a

thre

shold

of

200

(equiv

alen

t to

85 p

roper

ties

), a

min

imum

of

200 b

usi

nes

ses

Th

e S

EA

shou

ld

incl

ude

an o

bje

ctiv

e

to r

educe

th

e im

pac

t

on t

he

popula

tion

wher

e th

ere

are

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

pa

rato

rs a

nd

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l S

trate

gy a

nd

SE

A

and 2

or

mo

re c

riti

cal

serv

ices

in 1

km

squ

are

to d

ecid

e if

a

flood i

s of

loca

l si

gnif

ican

ce.

An a

rea

of

58km

2 h

as b

een

iden

tifi

ed a

s an

indic

ativ

e

flood r

isk a

rea

bas

ed o

n t

he

iden

tifi

cati

on

of

crit

ical

serv

ices

in t

his

are

a

hig

her

nu

mb

ers

iden

tifi

ed a

nd a

n

obje

ctiv

e to

im

pro

ve

publi

c aw

aren

ess

for

tho

se m

ost

at

risk

.

Wel

sh I

ndex

of

Mult

iple

Dep

rivat

ion

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l h

as a

hig

her

pro

po

rtio

n o

f

LS

OA

s in

the

most

dep

rived

10%

and 2

0%

than

any

oth

er l

oca

l au

thori

ty a

rea

in W

ales

as s

how

n i

n F

igu

re 2

bel

ow

.

T

he

mea

sure

s o

f d

epri

vat

ion

are

bas

ed o

n t

he

foll

ow

ing

indic

ators

:

•

Acc

ess

to s

ervic

es

•

Co

mm

un

ity s

afet

y

•

Educa

tio

n

•

Em

plo

ym

ent

•

Physi

cal

envir

onm

ent

•

Hea

lth

•

Hou

sing

•

Inco

me

Th

e S

trat

egy s

hou

ld

iden

tify

if

dep

rivat

ion

cou

ld b

e re

du

ced

thro

ugh a

red

uce

d

exp

osu

re t

o f

lood r

isk

to t

hose

com

mu

nit

ies.

Fig

ure

1 W

elsh

Gov

ern

men

t (2

011)

Wel

sh I

nd

ex o

f M

ult

iple

Dep

riva

tion

Wel

sh G

overn

men

t (2

01

1)

Wel

sh I

nd

ex o

f M

ult

iple

Dep

rivati

on

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Bio

div

ersi

ty (

incl

ud

ing G

eod

iver

sity

)

Data

sou

rces

:

MA

GIC

Map

CC

W S

pec

ial

Sit

es P

roje

ct

Mer

thyr

Tyd

fil/

BB

NP

Loca

l B

iod

iver

sity

Act

ion

Pla

ns

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce

for

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Inte

rnat

ional

Des

ignat

ions

(Spec

ial

Are

as o

f C

on

serv

atio

n,

Spec

ial

Pro

tect

ion

Are

as, R

amsa

r S

ites

)

No

ne

in t

he

Str

ateg

y A

rea

--

--

----

S

trat

egy u

nli

kel

y t

o

inte

ract

or

affe

ct

inte

rnat

ional

sit

es;

refe

r to

Ann

ex D

Sit

es o

f S

pec

ial

Sci

enti

fic

Inte

rest

(SS

SIs

)

•

Cw

m T

af F

ech

an (

also

Taf

Fec

han

Lo

cal

Nat

ure

Res

erve)

•

Cw

m G

lo a

Gly

nd

yry

s

•

Dar

en F

ach

•

Nan

t G

lais

Cav

es

Spec

ial

inte

rest

fea

ture

s in

clud

e both

bio

logic

al a

nd

geo

logic

al/

geo

morp

holo

gic

al f

eatu

res

Non

e id

enti

fied

C

CW

un

der

take

per

iodic

condit

ion a

sses

smen

ts.

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y s

hould

iden

tify

wher

e S

SS

I

feat

ure

s m

ay b

e af

fect

ed

by f

lood

ris

k (

or

po

tenti

ally

aff

ecte

d b

y

Str

ateg

y M

easu

res)

Lo

cal

Wil

dli

fe S

ites

T

he

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l L

oca

l D

evel

opm

ent

Pla

n i

ncl

udes

pro

vis

ion

for

pro

tect

ion

for

60 S

ites

of

Inte

rest

for

Nat

ure

Conse

rvat

ion (

SIN

Cs)

lo

cal

nat

ure

conse

rvat

ion s

ites

des

ignat

ed f

or

thei

r

loca

l im

port

ance

.

Ther

e ar

e no

SIN

Cs

in t

he

BB

NP

LD

P

for

the

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l ar

ea.

The

SE

A/L

oca

l S

trat

egy

sho

uld

incl

ude

an

ob

ject

ive

to p

rote

ct a

nd

enhan

ce b

iodiv

ersi

ty a

nd

sho

uld

ensu

re l

oca

l n

ature

site

s ar

e pro

tect

ed a

nd

enhan

ced

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce

for

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Lo

cal

Bio

div

ersi

ty

Act

ion P

lan H

abit

ats

and S

pec

ies

A s

ignif

ican

t pro

port

ion

of

the

area

com

pri

ses

sem

i-n

atura

l B

iodiv

ersi

ty

Act

ion P

lan h

abit

ats,

in

cludin

g

bro

adle

aved

woo

dla

nd,

gra

ssla

nd,

hea

thla

nd a

nd

wet

lan

d t

yp

es. O

ther

hab

itat

s su

ch a

s co

nif

er p

lanta

tion,

dis

use

d m

iner

al w

ork

ings/

spo

il a

nd

urb

an a

reas

als

o c

on

trib

ute

to

loca

l

bio

div

ersi

ty. T

her

e ar

e al

so a

ran

ge

of

spec

ies

(incl

udin

g o

tter

, gre

at c

reas

ted

new

t an

d l

apw

ing)

that

are

rec

ognis

ed

as o

f lo

cal

pri

ori

ty

A

ctio

ns

rep

ort

ed t

hro

ugh

LB

AP

and

UK

BA

RS

:

htt

p:/

/ukb

ars.

def

ra.g

ov.u

k/

The

SE

A/L

oca

l S

trat

egy

sho

uld

incl

ude

an

ob

ject

ive

to p

rote

ct a

nd

enhan

ce

bio

div

ersi

ty a

nd

sho

uld

ensu

re l

oca

l b

iod

iver

sity

feat

ure

s (b

oth

hab

itat

s

and s

pec

ies)

are

pro

tect

ed

and e

nhan

ced t

hro

ugh

ob

ject

ives

and

mea

sure

s

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Soil

an

d L

an

d-u

se S

EA

Data

sou

rces

:

La

nd

IS (

La

nd

In

form

ati

on

Syst

em

) – S

oil

Res

ou

rce

In

stit

ute

Wale

s A

gri

cult

ura

l L

an

d C

lass

ific

ati

on

EA

web

site

– h

isto

ric

lan

dfi

ll

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d T

ren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy

an

d S

EA

Soil

types

T

he

area

of

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l is

mad

e up

of

a m

ix o

f so

il t

ypes

mai

nly

of

slow

per

mea

bil

ity a

nd

wet

aci

d s

oil

s. T

he

gen

eral

lan

d

cov

er c

on

sist

s of

moorl

and

rough

gra

zin

g a

nd

fo

rest

ry

con

tain

ing m

ainly

hab

itat

s of

gra

ss m

oor

and h

eath

er m

oor

wit

h f

lush

an

d b

og c

om

mu

nit

ies

in w

ette

r par

ts.

The

south

of

the

dis

tric

t h

as a

mix

of

ver

y a

cid a

nd l

oam

y

upla

nd s

oil

s w

ith a

wet

pea

ty

surf

ace

and f

en p

eat

soil

s.

The

maj

ori

ty o

f th

e n

ort

her

n a

nd

centr

al a

rea

of

the

dis

tric

t

con

tain

s m

ainly

slo

w w

et a

cid

per

mea

ble

soil

s w

ith a

pea

ty

surf

ace

and c

layey

soil

s m

ain

ly

in t

he

centr

e. T

he

land u

se f

or

thes

e so

ils

is g

razi

ng a

nd

fore

stry

.

Par

t of

the

no

rth

ern

are

a of

the

dis

tric

t co

nta

inin

g w

ater

bodie

s

and

riv

ers,

co

nta

ins

a m

ix o

f

free

ly d

rain

ing a

cid a

nd r

ich

bas

ed s

oil

s.

Soil

types

fou

nd i

n

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l ar

e of

sim

ilar

res

ou

rces

to t

he

surr

oundin

g d

istr

icts

and

typic

al o

f th

e S

outh

Wal

es

val

leys

- a

mix

of

low

per

mea

bil

ity p

eaty

soil

s

and a

cid

loam

y u

pla

nd

soil

s.

Due

to t

he

slow

per

mea

bil

ity o

f th

e so

ils

the

area

s o

f lo

amy a

nd c

layey

soil

s ar

e at

gre

ater

ris

k o

f

surf

ace

wat

er f

loodin

g i

n

per

iods

of

inte

nse

hea

vy

rain

.

The

stra

tegy s

hou

ld t

ake

into

acc

ount

stra

tegie

s to

rest

rict

buil

din

g a

reas

wh

ere

ther

e ar

e fr

ee d

rain

ing r

ich

soil

s an

d l

oca

te t

he

area

s of

low

per

mea

bil

ity t

o b

e

targ

eted

for

pro

tect

ion f

rom

floo

din

g.

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d T

ren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy

an

d S

EA

Ther

e is

no h

igh

qu

alit

y

agri

cult

ura

l la

nd (

Gra

des

1-3

a)

in t

he

County

Bo

rough)

His

tori

c la

ndfi

ll,

min

eral

work

ings

The

area

has

an i

nte

nse

his

tory

of

signif

ican

t in

dust

rial

act

ivit

y.

Ther

e is

exte

nsi

ve

evid

ence

of

min

ing, qu

arry

ing, m

etal

pro

du

ctio

n a

nd p

roce

ssin

g a

nd

oth

er h

eavy i

ndu

stry

. T

her

e is

a

legac

y o

f ab

and

oned

min

eral

work

ings

– b

oth

know

n a

nd

unre

cord

ed.

Lar

ge

area

s of

acti

ve

op

enca

st

min

ing a

re i

n o

per

atio

n o

n t

he

east

sid

e o

f th

e to

wn.

Par

tial

rec

ord

s of

land

conta

min

atio

n e

xis

t, b

ut

no

com

pre

hen

sive

reco

rd o

f

area

s/is

sues

B

oth

know

n a

nd u

nk

now

n

land c

onta

min

atio

n s

ourc

es

wil

l dis

char

ge

into

the

wat

erco

urs

e net

work

and

may

aff

ect

wat

er q

ual

ity.

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y/S

EA

shou

ld

con

sider

pote

nti

al f

or

effe

cts

and

how

the

Str

ateg

y c

ould

contr

ibute

tow

ard i

mpro

vem

ent

(See

Wat

er E

nvir

onm

ent,

bel

ow

)

Fig

ure

2

Soil

Sca

pes

Vie

wer

, S

ou

rce:

Nati

on

al

Soil

Res

ou

rce

s In

stit

ute

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Wate

r E

nvir

on

men

t

Data

Sou

rces

: S

ever

n R

iver

Basi

n M

an

agem

en

t P

lan

(R

BM

P)

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

para

tors

an

d

Tre

nd

s

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets

/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rele

van

ce f

or

the

Local

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Gen

eral

M

ert

hyr

Ty

dfi

l is

sit

uat

ed i

n

the

upla

nds

catc

hm

ent.

The

trib

uta

ries

in

this

are

a su

pp

ort

a

div

erse

ran

ge

of

ecolo

gy

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

good w

ater

qual

ity. H

ow

ever

, th

e

hea

dw

ater

s o

f m

any s

trea

ms

along t

he

wes

tern

upla

nds

are

impac

ted b

y a

cid r

unoff

or

dra

inag

e fr

om

aban

doned

met

al

min

es.

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l is

sit

uat

ed

in t

he

Riv

er S

ever

n b

asin

.

The

Sev

ern R

iver

Bas

in

Dis

tric

t co

ver

s an

are

a of

21

,590km

2, w

ith

about

one

thir

d o

f th

e d

istr

ict

in

Wal

es.

Sev

ern

Riv

er

Basi

n:

29

% o

f su

rfac

e w

ater

s ar

e

at g

oo

d o

r bet

ter

ecolo

gic

al

stat

us

now

.

37

% o

f as

sess

ed w

ater

bo

die

s ar

e at

lea

st g

ood

bio

logic

al s

tatu

s now

.

Exce

ssiv

e pho

sphat

e le

vel

s

fro

m a

gri

cult

ure

, w

ater

trea

tmen

t w

ork

s,

urb

anis

atio

n, la

nd

dra

inag

e, a

nd

modif

icat

ion

of

flood

pro

tect

ion a

nd

wat

er s

tora

ge

are

key

issu

es f

or

the

bas

in n

ot

ach

ievin

g g

ood e

colo

gic

al

stat

us

or

pote

nti

al.

RB

MP

rev

iew

ed o

n 6

yea

r

cycl

e

The

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y s

hou

ld

incl

ude

poli

cies

to e

nsu

re

that

th

at d

evel

opm

ent

does

not

exac

erbat

e ex

isti

ng r

iver

and

wat

er q

ual

ity i

ssu

es.

The

SE

A s

hou

ld i

ncl

ude

obje

ctiv

es t

o e

nco

ura

ge

the

pro

tect

ion o

f th

e w

ater

envir

onm

ent

wh

ere

wat

er

qual

ity i

s lo

w.

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

para

tors

an

d

Tre

nd

s

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets

/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rele

van

ce f

or

the

Local

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Riv

er W

ater

bo

die

s T

her

e ar

e fo

ur

river

wat

erb

odie

s

in t

he

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y a

rea:

•

Riv

er T

af

•

Taf

Bar

go

ed

•

Nan

t M

orl

ais

•

Taf

Fec

han

The

Taf

Bar

goed

is

curr

entl

y

asse

ssed

as

bei

ng a

t poor

ecolo

gic

al s

tatu

s; a

ll o

ther

riv

ers

are

clas

sifi

ed a

s m

od

erat

e

stat

us/

pote

nti

al.

25

per

cen

t o

f ri

ver

s in

th

e

Sou

th E

ast

Val

leys

curr

entl

y a

chie

ve

goo

d

eco

logic

al s

tatu

s. 3

1 p

er

cen

t of

river

s as

sess

ed f

or

bio

logy a

re a

t le

ast

go

od

bio

logic

al s

tatu

s now

.

Tar

get

s to

ach

ieve

Go

od

Eco

logic

al S

tatu

s/P

ote

nti

al

on

all

wat

er b

odie

s

Consi

der

how

the

Loca

l

Str

ateg

y c

an a

ssis

t in

reco

ver

y o

f w

ater

bod

ies.

Gro

undw

ater

F

or

gro

un

dw

ater

, goo

d s

tatu

s

has

a q

uan

tita

tive

and

a

chem

ical

co

mpon

ent.

Toget

her

thes

e pro

vid

e a

single

fin

al

clas

sifi

cati

on:

good

or

po

or

stat

us.

Gro

und

wat

er b

odie

s in

the

area

hav

e bee

n c

lass

ifie

d a

s h

avin

g

quan

tita

tive

stat

us.

How

ever

th

e S

E W

ales

Val

leys

area

is

con

sid

ered

to b

e o

f p

oor

chem

ical

sta

tus,

in

dic

atin

g t

hat

ther

e ar

e is

sues

of

wid

espre

ad

dif

fuse

poll

uti

on w

ithin

the

gro

un

dw

ater

body,

the

qual

ity o

f

the

gro

un

dw

ater

is

hav

ing a

n

adv

erse

im

pac

t on w

etla

nd

s or

surf

ace

wat

ers

or

the

qual

ity o

f

wat

er u

sed f

or

pota

ble

supp

ly i

s

det

erio

rati

ng s

ignif

ican

tly.

For

gro

und

wat

er q

ual

ity,

the

mai

n r

easo

ns

for

po

or

stat

us

are

hig

h o

r ri

sing

nit

rate

co

nce

ntr

atio

ns,

wit

h

som

e fa

ilure

s fo

r pes

tici

des

and o

ther

chem

ical

s. T

he

mai

n r

easo

n f

or

poor

qu

anti

tati

ve

stat

us

in

gro

und

wat

er i

s th

at

abst

ract

ion l

evel

s – m

ainly

for

dri

nkin

g w

ater

ex

ceed

the

rate

at

whic

h a

quif

ers

rech

arge.

Unsu

stai

nab

le

abst

ract

ion f

rom

gro

und

wat

er i

s an

imp

ort

ant

issu

e fo

r th

e

river

bas

in d

istr

ict.

The

maj

ori

ty o

f th

e 25

per

cen

t

of

gro

und

wat

erbo

die

s at

po

or

quan

tita

tive

stat

us

are

the

pri

nci

pal

aquif

ers

use

d

for

dri

nkin

g w

ater

.

T

he

SE

A s

hou

ld i

mple

men

t

acti

ons

and a

sses

s th

e L

oca

l

Str

ateg

y i

n t

erm

s of

pre

ven

ting t

he

det

erio

rati

on

of

(an

d t

o i

mpro

ve)

gro

undw

ater

s el

emen

ts.

The

Str

ateg

y s

hou

ld n

ot

inte

rfer

e w

ith t

he

sust

ainab

le a

bst

ract

ion

of

gro

undw

ater

s.

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

para

tors

an

d

Tre

nd

s

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets

/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rele

van

ce f

or

the

Local

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Lak

es

The

Lw

yn

-Onn a

nd P

onts

tici

ll

Res

ervoir

s on t

he

per

ipher

y o

f

the

Loca

l S

trat

egy a

rea

sup

ply

dri

nkin

g w

ater

to

South

Wal

es.

They

are

cla

ssif

ied a

s hig

hly

mod

ifie

d w

ater

bo

die

s fo

r th

is

reas

on a

nd a

re b

oth

consi

der

ed

to b

e at

Mod

erat

e E

colo

gic

al

Po

tenti

al

T

arg

ets

to a

chie

ve

Go

od

Eco

logic

al P

ote

nti

al o

n a

ll

wat

er b

odie

s

Ord

inar

y

wat

erc

ours

es a

nd

oth

er

wat

erbodie

s

No d

ata

avail

able

to t

he

SE

A

on t

hese

fea

ture

s.

Loca

l S

trate

gy i

nclu

des

consi

der

ati

on o

f

coll

ecti

ng r

ele

vant

dat

a

on t

hese

feat

ure

s

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Cli

mati

c F

acto

rs

Data

Sou

rces

:

Ch

an

gin

g C

lim

ate

, C

hall

engin

g C

hoic

es:

Th

e im

pact

s of

clim

ate

ch

an

ge

in W

ale

s fr

om

now

to 2

080 (

2002)

MT

CB

C L

oca

l D

evelo

pm

ent

Pla

n

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e C

om

parato

rs a

nd

Tre

nd

s In

dic

ato

rs/T

arg

ets

/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rele

van

ce f

or

the

Local

Str

ate

gy a

nd

SE

A

Cli

mat

e C

han

ge

T

he

futu

re c

lim

ate

chan

ge

impac

ts i

n

Wal

es b

y 2

08

0 a

re p

red

icte

d t

o b

e:

•

Gre

ater

war

mth

all

yea

r ro

un

d b

y 1

.1-2

.9

oC

•

mo

re p

reci

pit

atio

n i

n w

inte

r by 7

-24

%

•

les

s pre

cipit

atio

n i

n s

um

mer

by 7

-14

%

•

gre

ater

annual

pre

cipit

atio

n b

y 2

-9 %

•

a ri

se o

f se

a le

vel

of

18-7

9 c

m

•

a hig

her

mea

n w

indsp

eed

by 1

-4 %

•

mo

re e

vap

otr

ansp

irat

ion b

y 1

3-2

7 %

•

more

var

iabil

ity f

rom

yea

r to

yea

r th

e

num

ber

of

extr

eme

yea

rs w

ill

incr

ease

•

mo

re f

requen

t an

d m

ore

rai

n i

n v

iole

nt

storm

s an

d i

nte

nse

sto

rms

•

mo

re d

rou

ght

yea

rs b

y 1

0 %

•

mo

re v

ery s

ever

e g

ales

T

he

nee

d f

or

adap

tion a

nd

mit

igat

ion t

o f

loodin

g w

ill

nee

d t

o b

e ce

ntr

al t

o t

he

obje

ctiv

es a

nd w

ill

nee

d t

o

con

trib

ute

to

pro

vid

e

effe

ctiv

e m

easu

res

to

enh

ance

and a

dap

t to

th

e

incr

ease

ris

k o

f fl

oodin

g.

To a

lign w

ith t

he

LD

P a

nd

oth

er s

trat

egic

docu

men

ts,

the

Loca

l S

trat

egy s

hou

ld

con

sider

the

hig

hes

t

stan

dar

ds

of

reso

urc

e /

ener

gy e

ffic

iency

and

achie

ve

redu

ced C

O2

emis

sions

aris

ing f

rom

con

stru

ctio

n a

nd o

per

atio

n.

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Cu

ltu

ral

Her

itage

Data

sou

rces

:

His

toric

Wale

s (m

ap

en

ab

led

port

al

for

his

tori

c en

vir

on

men

t in

form

ati

on

in

Wale

s)

Gla

morg

an

Gw

ent

an

d C

lwyd

Pow

ys

Arc

haeo

logic

al

Tru

sts'

His

tori

c E

nvir

on

men

t R

ecord

s. C

ad

w G

IS d

ata

sets

for

Sch

ed

ule

d

Mon

um

ents

, L

iste

d B

uil

din

gs

an

d R

egis

tere

d H

isto

ric

Lan

dsc

ap

es P

ark

s an

d G

ard

ens.

Con

servati

on

Are

a i

nfo

rmati

on

in

Mer

thyr

Tyd

fil

Cou

nty

Boro

ugh

Cou

ncil

an

d B

recon

Bea

con

s N

ati

on

al

Park

Au

thori

ty

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy

an

d S

EA

Lis

ted B

uil

din

gs

Mo

re t

han

20

0 L

iste

d B

uil

din

gs

thro

ughout

the

area

. M

ost

ly G

rad

e

II, but

Cyfa

rth

a C

astl

e (f

orm

er

ho

me

of

the

Cra

wsh

ay

Ironm

aste

rs)

is G

rade

1.

None

iden

tifi

ed

Num

ber

/pro

port

ion o

f

Lis

ted B

uil

din

gs

in g

ood

condit

ion a

nd/o

r at

ris

k o

f

floodin

g

Lis

ted b

uil

din

gs

should

be

pro

tect

ed f

rom

flo

odin

g a

nd

from

dam

age

fro

m L

oca

l

Str

ateg

y m

easu

res

Sch

edule

d M

onu

men

ts

Ther

e ar

e 43 S

ched

ule

d

Mo

num

ents

in t

he

Cou

nty

Boro

ugh, ra

ngin

g f

or

pre

his

tori

c

bu

rial

sit

es t

hro

ugh

to i

nd

ust

rial

age

her

itag

e si

tes.

None

iden

tifi

ed

Num

ber

/pro

port

ion o

f

Sch

edule

d M

onu

men

ts i

n

go

od c

ondit

ion a

nd

/or

at

risk

of

floo

din

g

Sch

edule

d M

onum

ents

should

be

pro

tect

ed f

rom

floo

din

g a

nd

fro

m d

amag

e

from

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y

mea

sure

s

His

tori

c L

and

scap

es,

Reg

iste

red

Par

ks

and

Gar

den

s

Mert

hy

r T

yd

fil

his

tori

c la

nd

scap

e

is m

ainly

indu

stri

al d

ue

to i

ts

his

tory

in i

ron-m

akin

g.

The

pri

mar

ily l

ate

18

th t

o 1

9th

cen

turi

es l

and

scap

e co

mpri

ses

nu

mer

ou

s re

lict

ele

men

ts a

nd

fo

ci

set

wit

hin

the

pre

sent

landsc

ape.

Thes

e in

div

idual

ele

men

ts c

onsi

st

of

the

rem

ains

of

larg

e ir

onw

ork

s,

rem

nan

ts o

f th

e as

soci

ated

coal

min

ing i

ndust

ry, w

ater

pow

er e

ats,

an e

arly

iro

n b

ridge,

com

munic

atio

n s

yst

ems,

incl

ud

ing

earl

y t

ram

road

s, t

ips,

ter

race

d

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y c

ould

ass

ess

pote

nti

al r

isk

s an

d

con

sequ

ence

s fo

r bo

th

His

tori

c L

andsc

apes

indust

rial

hou

sing, an

d t

he

ironm

aste

rs h

ouse

, C

yfa

rthfa

Cas

tle.

Cyfa

rth

a C

ast

le G

ard

en

is t

he

sin

gle

entr

y o

f R

egis

tere

d

Par

ks

and

Gar

den

s in

th

e ar

ea.

Gel

li G

aer

Co

mm

on

his

tori

c

land

scap

e var

ies

consi

der

ably

fro

m

the

moorl

and p

late

au o

f th

e

Com

mo

n i

n t

he

nort

h w

est,

wit

h

isola

ted f

arm

s an

d i

mpro

ved

,

encl

ose

d p

astu

re o

n i

ts w

este

rn a

nd

east

ern

fla

nks,

to t

he

encl

ose

d

farm

land o

f th

e so

uth

eas

t an

d t

he

ple

asan

t ru

ral

vil

lag

e of

Gel

ligae

r

whic

h i

s n

ow

adja

cent

to a

pri

mar

ily i

ndu

stri

al u

rban

land

scap

e of

the

Rh

ym

ney

Val

ley.

The

lan

dsc

ape

is d

iver

se b

oth

in i

ts

form

and i

n i

ts a

rchae

olo

gic

al a

nd

his

tori

cal

conte

nt,

wh

ich d

ispla

ys

a

rem

ark

able

conti

nu

ity o

f

occ

up

atio

n.

Co

nse

rvat

ion

Are

as

Ther

e ar

e se

ven

Co

nse

rvat

ion

Are

as w

ithin

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l (n

one

in t

he

BB

NP

sec

tion):

Cyfa

rthfa

Dow

lais

Cw

mfe

lin

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l T

ow

n C

entr

e

Mo

rgan

stow

n

Thom

asto

wn

Tre

har

ris

F

urt

her

Conse

rvat

ion A

reas

to b

e id

enti

fied

thro

ugh t

he

Bu

ilt

Her

itag

e S

trat

egy a

nd

Act

ion P

lan.

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y c

ould

iden

tify

those

Co

nse

rvat

ion

Are

as w

ith

in f

lood r

isk

area

s an

d a

sses

s

impli

cati

ons.

SE

A i

nfo

rmati

on

top

ic:

Lan

dsc

ap

e

Data

sou

rces

: L

AN

DM

AP

Data

/In

form

ati

on

B

ase

lin

e

Co

mp

ara

tors

an

d

Tren

ds

Ind

icato

rs/T

arg

ets/

Imp

lica

tion

s

Rel

evan

ce f

or

the

Loca

l

Str

ate

gy

an

d S

EA

Bre

con B

eaco

ns

Nat

ional

Par

k

One

fift

h o

f th

e ar

ea o

f th

e C

ounty

Boro

ugh i

s w

ithin

the

Bre

con

Bea

con N

atio

nal

Par

k.

Lo

cal

Str

ateg

y a

nd

its

imple

men

tati

on s

hould

con

sider

pote

nti

al e

ffec

ts o

n

the

BB

NP

.

LA

ND

MA

P

The

LA

ND

MA

P L

and

scap

e A

sses

smen

t se

ts a

conte

xt

for

an o

ngoin

g p

rogra

mm

e of

man

agin

g a

nd i

mpro

vin

g t

he

landsc

ape

in

Mer

thyr

Tydfi

l. H

um

an h

isto

ry i

n t

he

area

has

exte

nded

over

man

y c

entu

ries

and

has

serv

ed t

o i

nfl

uen

ce t

he

nat

ura

l en

vir

onm

ent,

oft

en, in

ver

y s

ignif

ican

t w

ays.

Hu

man

acti

vit

y, par

ticu

larl

y d

uri

ng t

he

indu

stri

al r

evolu

tion

, pro

duce

d a

ru

ral

and u

rban

land

scap

e o

f gre

at i

nte

rest

incl

ud

ing a

var

iety

of

landfo

rms,

buil

din

gs

and o

ther

fea

ture

s

that

tod

ay h

old

co

nsi

der

able

his

tori

c val

ue.

The

County

Boro

ugh c

om

pri

ses

of

a m

ixtu

re o

f urb

an, se

mi-

urb

an a

nd r

ura

l

com

munit

ies

livin

g i

n a

ric

h a

nd v

arie

d e

nvir

on

men

t co

nta

inin

g e

xce

pti

onal

wil

dli

fe

hab

itat

s, h

isto

ric

landsc

apes

and a

rch

aeolo

gic

al f

eatu

res.

Th

e st

eeply

slo

pin

g v

alle

y

sides

wit

h t

hei

r hig

h r

idges

and m

oorl

and v

eget

atio

n d

efin

e th

e la

ndsc

ape

char

acte

r o

f

the

area

and

pro

vid

e an

env

iron

men

tal

and e

colo

gic

al c

onte

xt

for

the

sett

lem

ents

of

the

County

Boro

ugh.

A s

uit

e o

f la

ndsc

ape

dat

a/as

sess

men

t th

at c

an b

e

use

d a

s a

bas

elin

e to

info

rm

futu

re s

trat

egy a

nd p

roje

ct

work

s.

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy€¦ · 3.4 Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities 17 3.5...

Documents

Transcript of Local Flood Risk Management Strategy€¦ · 3.4 Key Environmental Issues and Opportunities 17 3.5...