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Landscapes Review


Bytheriver

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Well I managed to get through it. I even managed to understand at least a couple of words!

"Strengthened local partnerships

We would like to see greater integration of advisory panels into the development and implementation of statutory management plans by providing specialist expertise and ensuring local voices are heard on decisions that impact local communities."

I wonder if that will be local individuals' voices or local councillors who represent them?

"While we are seeing positive change in our national appointments, these comprise a minority of the overall board members. We disagree with proposal 26 that all members be appointed nationally given the important role locally elected members play in giving the boards democratic legitimacy. Instead, we are considering removing the strict legislative requirements for a specific ratio between appointment types. Boards would still need national, parish, and local authority members but they would have more flexibility to balance diversity and expertise with strong democratic oversight in accordance with the needs of their specific area.

Another option would be to introduce a more merit-based approach to local nominations, encouraging local authorities to put forward their best candidates considering similar desirable criteria as Secretary of State appointees. This would retain vital democratic accountability while helping to identify the best local representatives to create engaged, diverse, and appropriately skilled boards."

I see this as a positive in that people should be able to be appointed on merit and not just to balance up the diversity numbers. 

"Protected landscapes have a strong national, and in some cases international, recognition as sites of exceptional environmental importance, natural beauty, and cultural heritage. It is this that drives an estimated 270 million visitors a year from the UK and overseas. The Lake District alone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, received 19.9 million visitors in 2019. Despite this, evidence gathered during the review indicates that average commercial income of National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority other than fees for chargeable activities such as planning, parking and navigation, is understood to have been in the region of half a million pounds per annum each. This presents a huge, missed opportunity to date but also means there is a significant, largely untapped opportunity to be taken. We expect protected landscapes, individually and collectively, to develop and harness the commercial and sponsorship opportunities provided by their unique brand identity. "

Can anyone tell me the clearance under the Emirates Potter Heigham Bridge please? Or the Cinch Bridge at Ludham? :default_hiding:

Looking forward they are clearly planning doing something rather than nothing. As I have hinted at before, if the right people get together and use the same language to propose ways to improve the Broads (opening up closed Broads, dredging away the "hump" etc) then there would be the best chance of getting something done. 

I see a lot of money being spent on committees and the formation of new companies to sub-contract the work and off-load responsibility.

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I have just read an astounding article in the EDP following the publication of these proposals, which says new powers could be given to BA rangers.

The new powers being proposed would allow rangers to issue fixed penalty notices if byelaws were broken.  In addition, rangers could be permitted to make public space protection orders to deter "genuinely antisocial behaviour".

I would be most vehemently against such a proposal and I speak as an ex Broads special constable.  The rangers have no role as policemen and never have had.  This must remain a role for the police and especially the Broadsbeat patrol launches.  That is what they are there for.

What will be next? Rangers in stab vests and combat boots?  Rangers bearing arms?  You may think me hysterical but this is a slippery slope which we must not go down.

Is this what the new National Park thinking will bring to the Broads?

Whoops, I have posted this on the wrong thread - it should be on the landscapes review. Perhaps a mod could move for me?

 

Edited by Vaughan
wrong thread
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1 hour ago, Vaughan said:

I have just read an astounding article in the EDP following the publication of these proposals, which says new powers could be given to BA rangers.

The new powers being proposed would allow rangers to issue fixed penalty notices if byelaws were broken.  In addition, rangers could be permitted to make public space protection orders to deter "genuinely antisocial behaviour".

I would be most vehemently against such a proposal and I speak as an ex Broads special constable.  The rangers have no role as policemen and never have had.  This must remain a role for the police and especially the Broadsbeat patrol launches.  That is what they are there for.

What will be next? Rangers in stab vests and combat boots?  Rangers bearing arms?  You may think me hysterical but this is a slippery slope which we must not go down.

Is this what the new National Park thinking will bring to the Broads?

Whoops, I have posted this on the wrong thread - it should be on the landscapes review. Perhaps a mod could move for me?

 

I think that's just another bit of provocative journalism of the type we have come to expect from the EDP. I'm not sure without reading through it the review all again but it mentions that fixed penalty notices may be worth considering, but does it specify who should be implementing them? I would think a ranger would be able call in the police to issue the notice. Who would want to be a ranger if part of the job was stepping into an angry confrontation between fishermen and boat crews, and standing up to drunken youths?

Thankfully it's all ideas at the moment and if it stimulates practical solutions, that's all well and good. Provocative journalism only serves to raise emotions and possibly cloud thinking.

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thats funny that they have picked up on this , all it says is that the rangers would be given additional powers to enforce the bylaws, eg on the spot fines, nothing about handling anti social behaviour, that would to me still be in the remit of Broads Beat, still when has the truth ever deterred the press.

the anti social behaviour part (quoted below), is in regard to public space protection orders, and would only be used in consultation with local authorities, the penalty notices are in regard to bylaw infringements. (which I would guess is overstaying on 24 hour moorings and speeding mostly)

Quote

We are therefore considering making a greater range of enforcement powers available to National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority to help manage visitor pressures and make National Parks a more pleasant and safe place to live and visit. These are powers to:

issue Fixed Penalty Notices for byelaw infringements - this would simplify the process and reduce enforcement costs. Increasing the penalties would also act as a stronger deterrent and provide reassurance to local communities

make Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – this would reduce administration costs where multiple local authorities have jurisdiction across a National Park and ensure there is a consistent approach where PSPOs are deemed necessary to deter genuinely antisocial behaviour. This would only be used following consultation with LAs

issue Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to control the amount and type of traffic on roads – this would help to tackle and deter problems caused by vehicles that could lead to damage to sensitive environments or wildlife and allow National Park Authorities to respond more quickly to emerging traffic issues

 

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It will be interesting to see how all this develops but, as a guide, a number of motoring offences that have to be dealt with by the police, are  likely to be transferred to local authorities (or others) to deal with. Many without the option of going to a court to argue your case.

Transferring powers to the BA through its rangers seems a logical extension of how power is being devolved.

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24 minutes ago, Ray said:

I wonder if the article was inspired by a briefing from the BA rather than an approach to them from the press? It may explain the emphasis on certain points as the BA seek to set the agenda from their viewpoint.

From the quote from Dr Packman that they are considering the review before making further comment, I would say the press contacted the BA for a reaction.

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8 hours ago, Andrewcook said:

 WAnti-social behaviour will this be included in the powers for the Rangers to deal with this  or not? 

from my quote above they will have the power to raise public space protection orders (in consultation with the local authority, I am not sure this means they will have enforcement duties other than those related to enforcing the bylaws.

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