Road Verge HAP draft actions, March 2008

Road Verge HAP actions

This is the final draft, and is currently out for consultation with the Surrey Biodiversity Partnership and Surrey Highways (February 2009).

This information is available in a table format, and can be downloaded at the bottom of the page

Policy and Legislation

RVA01

Action

• Review MaPS and related documents to ensure they meet statutory obligations with regard to protected habitats and species, and ensure that the term contractor has up-to-date information.

• Review MaPS by 31-12-09
• Distribute relevant information to the Term Contractor as required

• SCC

• TMC
• RVWG
• LA

• 2

Site Safeguard and Management

RVA02

Action

• Define criteria for the selection of Conservation Verges

• Come up with criteria by 31-6-09

• RVWG

• SBS
• BIC

• 4

RVA03

Action

• Look at existing and candidate Conservation Verges and select / re-select as appropriate

• Select provisional Conservation Verges by 31-12-09

• RVWG

• SCC
• BIC

• 4

RVA04

Action

• Keep Conservation Verges under review and keep list in MaPS, at BIC and on website up-to-date

• Review Conservation Verges every autumn. Ongoing.

• RVWG

• SCC
• BIC

• 4

RVA05

Action

• Map Conservation Verges on all relevant mapping systems, and mark them on the ground.

• Map and mark on the ground all Conservation Verges every spring. Ongoing.

• SCC
• BIC

• LAs

• 4

RVA06

Action

• Ensure Road Verge HAP is reflected in MaPS policies and standards, and the Asset Management Plan

• RVHAP included by 31-12-08

• SCC

• RVWG

• 2

RVA07

Action

• Revise management standards for rural cuts and Conservation Verges in MaPS

• Review standards by 31-12-09

• RVWG

• SCC
• LA
• TMC

• 5

RVA08

Action

• Ensure that all Conservation Verges have a management statement that can be incorporated into MaPS

• Initial management statements prepared by 21-12-10 / Ongoing

• RVWG

• SCC

• 5

RVA09

Action

• Ensure utility companies, term contractors, and LAs are given Conservation Verge GIS layer, and that they consult the BIC when working on or nearby a Conservation Verge.

• Distribute layers by 31-3-11 / Ongoing

• BIC

• SCC
• TMC
• LAs

• 4

RVA10

Action

• Review and implement existing Green Corridor Action Plans

• Review first selected GCAP by 31-12-10 / Ongoing

• SCC

• LA
• TMC

• 6

RVA11

Action

• Establish a procedure to allow the reporting of notable species on road verges

• Procedure established by 21-12-10

• RVWG

• SCC
• SBS
• BIC

• 9

RVA12

Action

• Make reporting of injurious and noxious weeds as listed in Appendix VII easier through the SCC website

• Look at system by 31-12-09

• SCC

• RVWG

• 9

RVA13

Action

• Review procedures in response to reports of injurious weeds by contractors and members of the public, including notification of the BIC.

• Review procedures by 31-12-10

• SCC

• RVWG
• TMC
• BIC
• LA

• 2, 9

RVA14

Action

• Issue guidance to Local Authorities to ensure road schemes have appropriate planting and link to the wider area, and avoid use of topsoil and inappropriate species.

• Produce guidance by 31-12-11

• SCC

• LA
• RVWG

• 6

RVA15

Action

• Investigate the potential for setting up a network of community based volunteers that could be involved in a road verge project

• Carry out pilot project by 31-12-09

• AONB

• SCC
• LA
• CMP's
• LVO's
• SWT

• 2, 5, 7, 8, 9

Research and Monitoring

RVA16

Action

• Compile a list of characteristic and priority species that occur on road verges in Surrey

• Species list by 31-12-09

• BIC

• SBS
• RVWG
• SCC
• LA

• 4

RVA17

Action

• Establish procedures and scope for the monitoring of Conservation Verges and other verges of known biodiversity interest

• Develop proposals by 31-12-10

• RVWG

• SBS
• BIC

• 4

RVA18

Action

• Ensure that habitat and species surveys and monitoring are co-ordinated and that information and data is made available to the Biodiversity Information Centre and all partners.

• Send all surveys to BIC. Ongoing

• BIC

• All Partners

• 4

RVA19

Action

• Progress should be reported annually on BARS, and actions should be reviewed every 5 years

• Report on BARS annually. Ongoing
• Review HAP by 31-12-13

• SCC

• RVWG
• All Partners

• 1

Education, Community and Publicity

RVA20

Action

• Establish procedures for effective communication between Surrey County Council, district and borough councils, parish councils and term contractors about the identification, location, protection and management of Conservation Verges

• Establish a mechanism by 31-12-09

• SCC

• All Partners

• 2

RVA21

Action

• Produce guidance for contractors about Conservation Verges and appropriate management of road verges

• Produce guidance by 31-12-09

• RVWG

• SCC
• LA
• TMC

• 8

RVA22

Action

• Identify verges and boundary features that are exemplars of appropriate and inappropriate verge management

• Put together a list by 31-12-11

• RVWG

• SBS
• SCC

• 4

RVA23

Action

• Organise / participate in events to publicise the RVHAP

• Organise / participate in 3 events by 31-12-13

• RVWG

• All Partners

• 8

RVA24

Action

• Set up and maintain Road Verge Habitat Action Plan webpages

• Set up webpages by 31-12-08

• SCC

• RVWG
• SBP

• 8

RVA25

Action

• Prepare a RVHAP leaflet which includes information about the HAP, road verge management and Conservation Verges

• Prepare leaflet by 31-12-09

• RVWG

• SCC

• 8

RVA26

Action

• Start a publicity campaign to communicate with borough / district members and officers, parish councils and the general public about the importance of road verges and how they can help. This can include using webpages, and writing magazine articles etc.

• Start publicity by 31-6-09. Ongoing

• RVWG

• SCC
• LA
• SWT

• 8

Funding

RVA27

Action

• Review the budget implications for Conservation Verge management and implementation of Green Corridor Action Plans

• Look into costs by 31-12-09

• SCC

• SCC
• LA
• TMC

• 3, 7

RVA28

Action

• Investigate funding opportunities for improved management and monitoring of verges, particularly Conservation Verges

• Find out about funding opportunities by 31-12-09

• RVWG

• SCC
• CMPs

• 3, 7