Core Strategy Preferred Options document - Amazon Web Services

Strategies, Activities and Actions – Environmental Issues
Crouch and Roach
The Roach and Crouch estuary complex drains into the Outer Thames
Estuary between two areas of reclaimed marshes; the Dengie Peninsula
to the north and the islands of Foulness, Potton, and Wallasea to the
south.
The Crouch and Roach Estuary Management Plan has established some
objectives in order to strive to ensure the sustainable future of the Crouch
and Roach estuaries. Objectives include:
• Have regard to and promote the need for sustainability of the
estuary system;
• Seek to ensure that the natural landscape and wildlife is properly
protected;
• Seek to ensure sustainable public transport to and from the
estuary;
• Encourage eco-tourism through the delivery of a sustainable
tourism package;
• Disseminate and deliver information on water quality and raise
awareness about improving water and air quality and promote a
healthier environment;
• Seek to ensure that the historic environment is conserved and
enhanced.
Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
Rochford has two sites that have been confirmed as SPAs, they are the
Foulness (classified in 1996) and Crouch and Roach Estuaries (classified
in 1998), see Annex1.
We will endeavour to avoid any significant pollution, disturbance to or
deterioration of these designated sites.
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
Part of the Essex Estuaries SAC lies within the District. It covers the
whole of the Foulness and Crouch and Roach Estuaries from the point of
the highest astronomical tide out to sea. As such it relates to the
seaward part of the coastal zone.
Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance)
There are two listed Ramsar sites in Rochford District: Foulness and the
Crouch and Roach Estuaries. The same sites are also designated as
SPAs, under the Natura 2000 network.
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The Crouch and
Roach estuaries
support internationally
important
assemblages of
waterfowl and
internationally
important populations
of regularly occurring
migratory species.
Sites with Special
Protection Area status
are safeguarded
specifically for their
importance to wild
birds. SPAs are
protected under
European law - the
Wild Birds Directive
(79/409/EEC on the
Conservation of Wild
Birds) to prevent the
degradation of wild
birds’ natural habitat.
Guidance on the
designation and
conservation of
protected areas are
outlined in PPS 9
(Biodiversity and
Geological
Conservation).