The Antonine Wall Management Plan 2013-18 - Glasgow City Council

Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environmental Report
Table 2: Scoping In/Out
Environmental
parameter
Biodiversity,
Flora and Fauna
Population and
Human Health
Scoped
in/out
In
Out
Potential issues arising from the Plan and justification for scoping in/out
There is potential for elements of the Plan, particularly those which set a
framework for physical interventions, to have negative impacts upon biodiversity
(e.g. through removal of trees or through site management actions). Conversely,
there is also the potential for positive effects through establishment of a
conservation framework and management regimes which integrate natural
environment issues and priorities.
The Plan will include some objectives and actions relating to increasing
opportunities for outdoor recreation and access, providing both physical and
mental health benefits, improved social inclusion and reduced levels of isolation
linked. However, these elements of the Plan are set out in the Antonine Wall
Interpretation and Access Strategy, which has recently (2011-12) been through
the SEA process. As the Management Plan is not expected to have any significant
additional effects in this area, Population and Human Health have been scoped out.
Soil Out The management of the Antonine Wall, particularly in relation to the approach
to tree and woodland management, has the potential for effects on soil erosion
rates. Landscape management restraints relating to farming practices may also
have positive or negative effects on soil. We do not envisage that these effects are
likely to be significant, and SEPA’s scoping response agreed that any effects would
be likely to be localised and not significant. Consequently, soil has been scoped
out of the assessment.
Water Out We have not identified any interactions between the Plan and coastal water or
groundwater quality. None of the objectives will involve water abstraction or
activities that may alter the groundwater table or discharge contaminants to it.
However, there is potential for the approach to tree and woodland management
to have effects on soil erosion rates, which in turn may have impacts on
groundwater flow and management. We do not envisage that these effects are
likely to be significant, and SEPA’s scoping response agreed that any effects would
be likely to be localised and not significant. Consequently, soil has been scoped
out of the assessment.
Air Out We have not identified any interactions between the Plan and air quality, other
than those connected with objectives to increase and/or manage access to the
Antonine Wall. The majority of these elements of the Plan are set out in the
Antonine Wall Interpretation and Access Strategy, which has recently (2011-12)
been through the SEA process. However, other objectives relating to public
transport have the potential for both negative (increase in services to specific
locations with localised effects on air) and positive (increased use of public rather
than private transport with localised effects on air) effects. We do not envisage
that these effects are likely to be significant, and SEPA’s scoping response agreed
with this view. Consequently, soil has been scoped out of the assessment.
Climatic Factors Out It is considered that the Plan will not have a significant effect on climate change in
terms of emission of greenhouse gases. As with Air, the plan might affect the mode
of transport chosen by visitors to come to visit the Antonine Wall, but it is unlikely
that this will have a significant effect on climatic factors. In view of this, we intend to
scope effects from the Plan on climatic factors out of the assessment.
The effects of climatic change on the Antonine Wall and their relevance to the
Plan will be considered under the relevant environmental topics.
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