| 10 environment |
|
|
| Planning |
| 10.1 Table 10B2 shows planning
applications dealt with by planning authorities in Scotland during the period from 1991 to
1996-97. The figures provide a breakdown of applications into a number of different
categories, and show the numbers granted and refused within each category. Up to 1993, the
figures represented planning applications in each calendar year, but thereafter the format
changed to financial years, i.e. 1 April to 31 March each year. The figures for 1993
therefore cover the period 1 January 1993 to 31 March 1994. Subsequent years are in
financial year format. For 1994-95, figures are not available for the first six-monthly
period. |
|
| Water Supply |
| 10.2 Table 10Dl gives the amount
of raw water available for public water supply purposes. The figures given in tables 10D2 and 10D3 are for consumption of water. The figures also include leakage from
the network of pipes that go to make up the distribution system. |
| In tables 10D2 and 10D3 unmetered demand
includes domestic supplies, small unmetered industrial supplies, water used for
operational purposes by the water authorities, (such as water mains flushing and sewer
cleaning) and public supplies (such as fire fighting). Metered demand represents the
volume of potable water supplied to industry. Metered water is charged for on the basis of
measured volume of water used by the consumer. |
|
| Species at Risk and
Protected Species |
| 10.3 A conference Biodiversity in Scotland:
Status, Trends and Initiatives was organised by Scottish Natural Heritage and the
University of Edinburgh in 1996, an account of which is contained in ‘Biodiversity in
Scotland: Status, Trends and Initiatives’, by Fleming, L.V, Newton, A.C, Vickery, J.A
& Usher, M.B (editors), 1997. The conference provided for the first time an overview
of the number of species known to occur in Scotland. An insight into those at risk comes
in part from the various Red Data books (RDB’s), supplemented for some groups for
which RDB’s have yet to be prepared by Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s
(JNCC) ‘pink’ list, with the various risk categories being explained in
International Union of the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List
Categories (1994). A comprehensive listing of protected species is contained in Wildlife,
the Law, and You (Scottish Natural Heritage 1998). |
| 10.4 Scotland supports significant
populations of some of the species on the EC Habitats and Species Directive (council
Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora),
including notably, otter, freshwater pearl mussel, bottle nosed dolphin, marsh fritillary
butterfly, and the only known site in the UK for the green shield moss. In addition, many
scarce or threatened species are either endemic to Scotland, such as the Scottish
primrose, the Scottish crossbill, (our only endemic bird) and the moss Bryoerthrophyllum
caledonicum, or are restricted to Scotland in the UK, such as the New Forest burnet moth,
pygmy weed, and alpine sow-thistle. Some rare species, such as the blue heath, (a member
of the heather family) which occurs in snow beds in Scottish mountains, may be valuable
indicators of, and be threatened by, climate change. |
| Many species of plants and animals are fully
or partially (e.g. during the closed season) protected by Government legislation (table 10F1). Despite the legal protection given to species, extinctions still occur. The
rare fish vendace, was lost this century from its only two Scottish locations in
Dumfriesshire. Native populations now only occur in two English lakes, though vendace have
recently be re-introduced to a Scottish loch as part of SNH’s Species Action Program. |
|
| Grey and Common Seals |
| 10.5 The estimated population of grey seals
in 1996 was derived using a new method which takes into account variations from year to
year in juvenile survival and age at first pregnancy, and which makes more use of
available data. Pup production was monitored using aerial photography combined with
stochastic modeling of the birth process and the development of pups. This produced a
‘total’ population estimate. |
| The estimated numbers of common seals were
compiled from data provided by aerial surveys during the annual moult from 27 July to 13
August. Surveying was restricted to within two hours of low tides occurring between 0930
and 2100 BST. This produced a ‘minimum population estimate’. |
|
| Protection of Buildings
and Archaeological Sites |
| 10.6 Historic Scotland discharges the
Secretary of State for Scotland’s functions in relation to the built heritage. Its
principal activities are to protect, present and promote Scotland’s built heritage
which includes ancient monuments and archaeological sites, historic buildings, parks and
gardens, and designed landscapes. |
|
| Listed Buildings |
| 10.7 The Secretary of State is required by
law to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The
administration of national and conservation policies is based on these lists. All
buildings erected before 1840, where their character is substantially unimpaired, are
listed. Later buildings are selected on the basis of their individual character and
quality. |
| Buildings on the lists are assigned to one of
three categories according to their relative importance: |
| Category A: Buildings of national or
international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine little-altered
examples of some particular period, style, or building type. |
| Category B; Buildings of regional or more
than local importance, or major examples of some particular period, style or building type
which may have been altered. |
| Category C(S) : (S=Statutory) Buildings of
local importance, lesser examples of any period, style, or building type, as originally
constructed or altered; and simple, traditional buildings which group well with others in
categories A or B or are part of a planned group such as an estate or an industrial
complex. |
| If anyone wishes to demolish a listed
building, or to alter it in a way that would alter its character, they must first obtain a
‘listed building consent’ from their local council. If the Council proposes to
grant listed building consent for the demolition of any listed buildings or for
alterations to a Category A or B building, they must first notify the Secretary of State.
This gives him the opportunity to "call in" the listed building consent
application if he thinks the case merits such action. |
|
| Ancient Monuments |
| 10.8 A scheduled ancient monument is a
monument which has been given legal protection under the Ancient Monuments and
Archaeological Areas Act 1979. By law, ancient monuments must be considered to be of
national importance before they can be scheduled. |
| Some ancient monuments are obvious to the eye
- pre-historic chambered tombs and stone circles, roman forts, and ruined castles.
However, some are less obvious. For example, some buried foundations or ditches are only
visible from the air. Some sites are completely hidden, leaving no trace on the surface,
or they lie below peat or are drowned in marshes and lochs. Often these will be revealed
only by chance. |
| Anyone wishing to carry out works affecting a
scheduled monument will normally have to apply to the Secretary of State for
‘scheduled monument consent’. Consent can be given, subject to conditions (the
most usual outcome), or refused. |
