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Landscape

Breadcrumbs

Management arrangements in the Sussex Downs 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.

Prior to the formation of the South Downs Joint Committee, the Sussex Downs Conservation Board produced and published several documents specifically for the Sussex Downs, these include:

  • The Management Strategy (published in 1995, revised 1996): which preceded the interim South Downs Management Plan.
  • "The Landscape of the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (1996) (CCP 495, £8.00): which identifies and defines variations in character across the AONB, and the key issues relating to landscape management. 
  • The Landscape Report (1996): which has a wider remit identifying how the landscape relates to the ecology, archaeology, history, local culture, and land management of the area. 
  • Landscape Guidelines: to complement the Landscape Assessment and Report by providing practical advice to farmers and landowners as to how the special character of the Sussex Downs AONB can be retained and enhanced.
  • An Interpretive Strategy (1995): providing a framework for the co-ordination, planning and production of high quality information and interpretation. 
  • A Tranquil Area Study (1997): building on work published at a regional scale by the Countryside Commission and CPRE, identifiying those parts of the countryside which are relatively undisturbed by noise and visual intrusion. 
  • A Public Transport Panel Report (1996): which established the level of public transport service provision to, and within, the AONB, and examined ways in which those links could be improved and maintained.
  • A Rural Community Needs Report (1994): which presented the conclusions of the Board's Rural Development Panel concerning the needs of the AONB's communities.
  • The Sussex Downs Conservation Board was also responsible for preparing and implementing (through the Sussex Biodiversity Partnership) the Chalk Grassland Habitat Action Plan for Sussex.  They have also developed links with the Nature Conservartiore d'Picadardie in France to share cross-Channel good practice in the protection and enhancement of chalk downland.              
For further information on the Sussex Downs AONB and the work of the South Downs Joint Committee visit their website www.vic.org.uk

 

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