elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
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Chapter 6: Built and Natural Heritage<br />
Site Status Site Code Principal Habitat<br />
Annaghmore Lough cSAC, NHA 001626 Alkaline Fen<br />
Table 3: Natura 2000 Sites and NHAs<br />
Annaghmore Lough (<strong>Roscommon</strong>) is located north-west of Strokestown, Co. <strong>Roscommon</strong>. It lies in the<br />
centre of a network of small lakes in a rolling, drift covered landscape. The shoreline slopes gently to the<br />
lake and these low-lying margins are extensively flooded in winter. In summer, when water levels recede,<br />
substantial <strong>area</strong>s of this shallow calcareous lake dry out leaving flat expanses of exposed marl. A smaller,<br />
less calcareous lake occurs to the south of the site. Annaghmore Lough (<strong>Roscommon</strong>) is a candidate SAC<br />
selected for alkaline fen, a habitat listed on Annex I of the E.U. Habitats Directive, and for Vertigo geyeri,<br />
a species listed on Annex II of the E.U. Habitats Directive. The main lake is surrounded by Common<br />
Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris) backed by reedbeds of Common Reed (Phragmites australis). Extensive<br />
<strong>area</strong>s of alkaline fen, dominated by Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) occur around the shoreline<br />
(NPWS).<br />
Development in or near Heritage Areas<br />
Planning authorities must ensure that any development proposal which is likely to have a significant effect<br />
on a SAC, NHA or SPA for birds, or other <strong>area</strong> designated under statute for the conservation of features of<br />
natural or geological interest, or other designated <strong>area</strong>, is authorised only to the extent that the <strong>plan</strong>ning<br />
authority is satisfied it will not adversely affect the integrity of the <strong>area</strong>. Such a proposal must be subject<br />
to an Appropriate Assessment of its implications for the <strong>area</strong>, if it is clear, on the basis of a preliminary<br />
examination, that the project could have a significant effect on the <strong>area</strong>. All aspects of the proposal, which<br />
could, themselves or in combination with other proposals, affect the <strong>area</strong>’s conservation objectives, should<br />
be identified.<br />
6.3.2 Natural Heritage Strategy<br />
The Natural Heritage Strategy for Elphin aims to preserve and enhance the amenity and natural beauty of<br />
Elphin by preserving, in so far as possible, individual trees, hedgerows, and woodlands. It also aims to<br />
integrate the consideration of biodiversity into all <strong>Council</strong> actions and work programmes in order to<br />
ensure the protection of this important aspect of the <strong>local</strong> environment.<br />
Policies in relation to Natural Heritage<br />
Policy 72<br />
Policy 73<br />
Policy 74<br />
Policy 75<br />
Policy 76<br />
Protect proposed and designated NHAs and SACs.<br />
Protect geological NHAs as they become designated and notification is received by<br />
<strong>Roscommon</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong>.<br />
Protect sensitive landscapes from development.<br />
Protect any additional <strong>area</strong>s that may be designated during the lifetime of the <strong>plan</strong>, by<br />
resisting development which would detrimentally impact on the conservation status of<br />
those sites.<br />
Protect the character, appearance, quality and functionality of the habitats, semi-natural<br />
features and geological features in the <strong>plan</strong> <strong>area</strong>, by minimising the impact of<br />
development on them.<br />
Elphin Local Area Plan <strong>2009</strong>-<strong>2015</strong> Page 58