Leisure and Recreation Development Plan ... - Wiltshire Council

safeguarding the historic alignment of the Wilts & Berks Canal with a view to its longterm re-establishment as a navigable waterway.3.2.3 This DPD will replace policies contained within this plan. The policies to besuperseded by this DPD are set out in Appendix 5.3.3 West Wiltshire District Local Plan First Alteration (2004) sets out the localplanning policies for West Wiltshire and is a "saved" plan within the LocalDevelopment Framework for West Wiltshire. The overall strategy of the Plan is toencourage the regeneration of the West Wiltshire towns within the A350 corridor andachieving a sustainable balance between the need for development and forenvironmental protection.3.3.1 The Plan contains a recreation chapter containing 16 recreation policies which aim to:• protect existing indoor and outdoor recreation uses;• provide criteria for identifying new sites for recreation facilities;• provide criteria for assessing new developments;• provide standards for new open space in housing developments;• allocate land for new recreation space.3.3.2 The Plan also contains a separate section containing 4 policies relating to the Kennetand Avon Canal and the Wilts and Berks Canal, together with a detailed policystatement on canals.3.3.3 This DPD will replace policies contained within this plan. The policies to besuperseded by this DPD are set out in Appendix 5.3.4 Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan contains a section regarding generic issues, oneof which is recreation and leisure, and it identifies several areas of concern forbiodiversity and several actions which are of relevance to the DPD:• using the development control process for net biodiversity gain in newdevelopments;• auditing greenspaces for actual and potential biodiversity;• prioritising audited sites and producing and implementing management plans;• producing simple guidelines to allow longer grass on parts of all open spacesites and use of native species.3.5 AONB management plans have been produced for both AONBs within the District.Policies in this DPD need to be in harmony with the aim to protect the speciallandscape qualities and scenic beauty of the two areas. The plans include a range ofsocial economic and environmental policies, many of which are interlinked.3.6 The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB Management Plan 2004-2009 is the current management plan which covers the 379 square miles of theAONB, and extends into Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, as well as Salisbury andWest Wiltshire Districts. The Council is represented on the AONB Partnership. ThePlan includes a section on recreation tourism and access and other related policies.The most relevant objectives are to:• promote the AONB and its rights of way as a recreational resource for quietenjoyment;• maintain and enhance tranquillity and dark night skies;• ensure a variety of interlinked routes accessible to all;• assist Local Access Forums and Rights of Way Improvement Plandevelopment;86