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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

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