Natural England

The AONB Partnership operates through an Executive Committee, a Technical Officers Group and AONB Unit.  There is also an annual AONB Conference which acts as a wider forum to involve the local community in the management of the AONB and discussion of its future.  Working groups are also set up from time to time to deal with specific issues.

The purpose of the Partnership is to actively protect and manage the AONB, promote the purposes of its designation, and to fulfil the statutory duties and other requirements on local authorities and other bodies with reference to the AONB.

The Executive Committee acts as a vehicle through which the Partnership operates and in particular to support, encourage and provide advice.  Additionally it provides a forum for promotion of the interests of the AONB, for co-ordination and best practice, and the exchange of information and ideas.  It comprises of 24 member organisations: government and statutory agencies (2), local government (4), parish councils (6), conservation organisations (5), national landowning or farming interests (2), local farming or landowning interests (1), local business and/or tourism interests (2), and local user groups (2).

The Technical Officers Group's purpose is to promote the effective working of the Executive Committee, to steer and monitor the work of the Unit, and act as a forum for the exchange of information and ideas.  It is comprised of a senior officer from each of the Countryside Agency, Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council and South Lakeland District, plus the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the AONB Manager.

The AONB Unit delivers the purposes and objectives of the Partnership and comprises of the AONB Manager, AONB Officer, AONB Countryside Officer and AONB Admin Officer (currently a jobshare).

In the spring of 2004, the AONB Unit produced an AONB Management Plan on behalf of the Partnership's constituent local authorities.  To view a copy of the management plan and to find out more about the work of the AONB Unit visit their website www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk.

Statutory policies   

Specific protective reference to the AONB is made in the two relevant county structure plans.
 
The Lancashire Structure Plan (deposit edition 2002) includes a target of no net loss of heritage assets, networks or settings.  The degree of protection given to a heritage asset will reflect its position within the hierarchy of designations.  Greatest protection is assigned to sites or features of international importance followed in descending order by national importance, which includes AONBs.

Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan (1995) gives high priority to the conservation and enhancement of the character and qualities of AONBs and to safeguarding these areas from inappropriate changes and development. The Plan is currently under review; the replacement structure plan will run to 2016.

The South Lakeland (1997) and Lancaster District (composite edition 2002) Local Plans also give a high priority to the conservation and enhancement of the AONB landscape.

Other AONB publications

In 1997, the Countryside Commission published an AONB landscape assessment titled 'The Arnside & Silverdale landscape' (CCP528, £14.50) 

Active conservation organisations 

Arnside/Silverdale AONB Landscape Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, English Nature (NNR at Gait Barrows), Friends of the Lake District, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, National Trust, RSPB (reserve at Leighton Moss), Woodland Trust.

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