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Landscape

Breadcrumbs

Management arrangements in the East Hampshire AONB

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In 2005, the 15 local authorities across the South Downs agreed to the creation of the South Downs Joint Committee which met for the first time on 8 July 2005.  The creation of the Committee resulted in the merger of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board and East Hampshire AONB Joint Advisory Committee (JAC).

The Committee is made up of elected members from the local authorities together with an independent chairman and nominees proposed by the Countryside Agency.  It aims to:

  • maintain a strong sense of momentum for action to conserve the South Downs,
  • develop with partners a number of important projects across the South Downs, and 
  • achieve an effective transition to a permanent South Downs body.  

An Advisory Forum will also be created from a wide range of community and user groups to assist the Joint Committee's work.

The Committee is an interim arrangement enabling the challenges faced by the South Downs to be met in advance of any final decision on a South Downs National Park.

 

AONB Publications   

In 2004, an interim management plan was produced for the South Downs, to view a copy visit the South Downs Joint Committee's website www.vic.org.uk.

A landscape assessment for the East Hampshire AONB (titled "The East Hampshire Landscapes" (CCP368, £7) was prepared in 1991 by consultants as background information for the creation of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) and its subsequent work.
 
In 1993, the JAC published a Statement of Intent, followed by a Management Plan (now superseded by the interim South Downs Management Plan) in January 1994. This affirmed the commitment of members of the JAC to the conservation and enhancement of the AONB and set out key management objectives and priorities for action.
 
The AONB Project and Hampshire County Council have also worked on the production of integrated management guidelines which will provide an AONB-wide information base on the diversity and character of the landscape, identify management issues relating to each character area and make recommendations for action.

For further information on the East Hampshire AONB and the work of the South Downs Joint Committee, visit their website www.vic.org.uk

 

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