Cornwall's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Natural Environment

Recently, concerns were raised by a 'Kernow Matters' member regarding the possible removal of management responsibility for Cornwall's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and other green areas to a new Westminster Government quango situated to the east of the Tamar.

Accordingly, we wrote to the manager of the Cornwall AONB Partnership, Emma Browing, and have now received a response.

Copies of our communication sent and the reply are recorded hereunder.

The answer does give cause for concern in part for, as we all know, once something is taken away from local management right here in the Duchy, it becomes distant and democratically unaccountable rarely if ever resulting in better service provision and more often than not, a complete blanking of local thoughts and opinions.

Indeed, one of the clear messages from the recent Cornwall Council listening exercise and public consultation was that people in Cornwall want to have more responsibilities for governance and service provision right here in the Duchy as opposed to some remote and faceless quango or other agency set miles away to the east of the Tamar, showing the usual lack of concern for the feelings and opinions of the people of Cornwall.

Communication sent:

Kernow

8 Mis Ebrel 2021

To: Emma Browning

Cornwall AONB Partnership Manager

Dear Emma Browning

Cornwall's AONB and Natural Environment

At a recent 'Zoom' virtual meeting of our group, a member informed that she had heard that the management of Cornwall's AONB and green areas may be removed from Cornwall by the Westminster Government and placed under the control of an England wide quango.

We firmly believe that the best place for the management of all matters relating to Cornwall should be here in Cornwall and not administered by yet another faceless and barely accountable agency hundreds of miles away.

May we ask if you are aware of any plans by the Westminster Government to muscle in and remove yet another locally administered facility from us please?

Many thanks indeed for your attentions and we look forward to hearing back from you.

Yours faithfully

'Kernow Matters'

Response received:

From: Emma Browning

14 April 2021

Information Classification: CONTROLLED

Dear all,

Thank you for your email and your concerns regarding the Cornwall AONB.

The National Landscapes Review in 2019 by Julian Glover Landscapes review: National Parks and AONBs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) recommended a number of proposals (27) for National Parks and AONBs one of which was to explore the potential for a National Landscape Service. Landscapes review: final report - summary of findings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Proposal 25: A new National Landscapes Service (NLS) bringing our 44 national landscapes together to achieve more than the sum of their parts.

It has been reported on various media channels that the Government are in discussions with regards developing this proposal, as I understand it the NLS was advised to be an agile service that supported and allowed the protected landscapes to do what they do best in their localities but create opportunities for a more joined up approach when it comes to learning and sharing ideas, best practise etc.

I can reassure you that the National Association for AONBs are engaged in the discussions regarding the NLS.

We wait for an official announcement.

Best Wishes,

Emma

Emma Browning

Cornwall AONB Partnership Manager

Email: Emma.Browning@cornwall.gov.uk

Pronouns: Her/ She

Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit

Floor 4A, Pydar House, Pydar Street , Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1XU

Note: Currently working from home

www.cornwallaonb.org.uk