THAMES HEATHS GROUP SEEKS VIEWS

Consultation starts today (19 November) on how to overcome a house building logjam near one of the South East's most important wildlife habitats.

Permission for new building has almost ground to a halt around the Thames Basin Heaths in Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire because of fears that new development would damage protected wildlife sites.

A draft strategy that aims to help councils deliver 20,000 planned homes by 2016 to meet local needs without damaging the Heaths is now open for consultation until 15 February 2008 at www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/tbh

Consultation is being co-ordinated by the South East England Regional Assembly on behalf of the Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board, a group of local authorities which co-ordinates management of the Heaths.

Designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) by international law, the heaths are a rare example of lowland heathland and home to three important bird species - Nightjar, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler.

To prevent damage to the Heaths from new residents and their pets, the draft strategy suggests a 400m building exclusion zone round sensitive areas and, in other areas, new parks and green space to reduce pressure on the Heaths.

Cllr Moira Gibson, chairman of the board and the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee said:

"We need to protect this natural habitat, which is important both to the region and the nation. Yet at the same time we also need to provide local housing and infrastructure required by present and future generations.

A strategic delivery plan for the heaths will help us achieve these two seemingly conflicting goals. Therefore it is important that everyone who is affected by the draft strategy contributes to the consultation."

Contacts

Steve Baker, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555234

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

The Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board comprises: Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Elmbridge Borough Council, Guildford Borough Council, Hart District Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Runnymede Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, Woking Borough Council, Wokingham Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council, South East England Regional Assembly.

The Board is advised by: Natural England, Government Office for the South East, Berkshire Joint Strategic Planning Unit, Defence Estates, Forestry Commission, Home Builders Federation, Open Spaces Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wildlife Trusts in the South East

The South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
3. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

SOUTH EAST PHOTO LIBRARY

The South East England Regional Assembly's photo library MediaStore, gives everyone the chance to access images of issues affecting the region. MediaStore draws on the knowledge of the Assembly to provide you with images from all over the South East.

• regularly updated with photos covering topics from housing to transport to flooding
• easy to access and download
• fully searchable
• a wide variety of high resolution images
• there's no charge for this service, just credit the Assembly when an image is used.

To view images from across the region visit: www.southeast-ra-mediastore.co.uk

Last updated: 22 November 2007