Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 71
When deciding on areas for designation, the costs and benefits for local stakeholders should be...
Recommendation
When deciding on areas for designation, the costs and benefits for local stakeholders should be carefully assessed, with consideration given to the potential impact on land adjacent to bathing waters. We recommend that DEFRA ensure its Environmental Land Management Scheme supports action by farmers with land adjacent to designated waters to minimise the risk of any faecal contamination from livestock which might pose a risk to bathing water quality.
Paragraph Reference:
71
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government does not agree that planning authorities should adopt a broad policy against farming infrastructure. As the NPPF sets out that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment, preventing new and existing development from contributing to, being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability. Development should, wherever possible, help to improve local environmental conditions such as air and water quality, taking into account relevant information such as river basin management plans. As outlined above, we are rolling out a package of support to help farmers and land managers manage their nutrients sustainably including through environmental land management schemes, Catchment Sensitive Farming and guidance on regulations. The Government is providing £100,000 to the catchments of habitats sites adversely affected by nutrient pollution, to promote partnership working across stakeholders and begin to identify solutions to the issue of nutrient pollution.