Newtown Creek Anchorage Under Threat Again
Natural England has now submitted recommendations to Government relating to Newtown Creek following the “Balanced Seas” conservation exercise.
We know that Natural England is trying to make the whole of Newtown Creek, including the anchorage zone, a “reference area”. This is despite an initial agreement (we thought) that would allow the anchorage to operate using the existing arrangements. No information has been provided on how Newtown Creek would be managed in the future.
The extracts from the report relating to Newtown Creek can be found on
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/2030218?category=1723382
Government will start consultation on Maritime Conservation Zone proposals nationwide at the beginning of December. We should then be able to view exactly what is proposed for Newtown Creek and make comments accordingly.
We are sure that sailors want to preserve and protect areas that are especially beautiful and where there are environmental reasons to do so. We would prefer to work with Natural England to achieve satisfactory compromises. However to make sure that we can achieve our aims – of keeping the Northern end of Newtown Creek available to sailors as an anchorage - we will have to lobby very hard.
We need to expand the list of people and organisations that are concerned about the future of Newtown Creek and wish to raise objections.
2013 Update
Newtown Anchorage
The position that has been adopted by the RYA in the Western Solent is as follows:
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Sailors generally are content with management of Newtown harbour by the National Trust and want to preserve and protect those parts of the harbour (south of the anchorage area) where there are environmental concerns.
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There is no recent scientific evidence to support any management measures to restrict recreational use of the Northern part of the harbour, where members anchor, or the beaches.
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We don’t know what measures might be imposed if the whole of Newtown harbour were to be made a “reference area”
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All we know is that if the anchorage and mooring area is designated as a reference area it would be managed by a Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
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The Government body involved, DEFRA, has not explained how MMO would work or how recreational sailors could have any input into its decision making process.
Responses are required by 31st March.
The Club wishes to ensure that all members that are concerned about Newtown should have the opportunity to respond to the consultation. The Club will reply to the consultation and members are also urged to respond. The following page therefore gives guidance on how and where to write. We have not provided a template, because individually worded letters are more effective. We have included a number of points which highlight some concerns, and you may wish to make use of some or all of these. As background, the RYA position and the link to the DEFRA are below
http://www.rya.org.uk/INFOADVICE/PLANNINGENVIRONMENT/MARINECONSERVATION/MCZ/Pages/MCZsEngland.aspx
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/12/13/marine-conservation-zones-1212/ Following representations made by the RYA, DEFRA has agreed that sailors can respond by letter or email rather than using the form specified in the consultation document. If you are concerned about the future of Newtown Creek, please email me at
[email protected] or contact me on 01590 677630.
David Brunskill