The City Council, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, will seek to promote the concept of river corridors as important areas of open space and for wildlife. It will promote, where appropriate, initiatives to conserve the quality and value of rivers, particularly for nature conservation purposes and will identify appropriate locations for public access and water related sport and recreation. The City Council will also consider improving the opportunities for economic development in relation to the rivers as an asset for the City. Permission will not be granted for developments which are likely to have a detrimental impact on nature conservation, public access, the quality of the landscape or recreational facilities found within river corridors.
6.28 The City Council recognises that river corridors are of great importance for water resources, water quality, nature conservation, fisheries and recreation and that they often make a significant contribution to the character of the landscape. In many instances river corridors are an important source of open space in their own right, but frequently also form links or ‘green chains’ between areas of open space. These links can be crucial for the survival or enhancement of wildlife. The Council is committed to the protection and wherever possible enhancement of river and wetland environments. Consequently the Council will support initiatives and proposals which will result in the conservation or enhancement of the natural elements of the river environment, results in landscape improvements or which promote appropriate public access and water-based recreation in river corridors. Conversely, planning consent will not be granted for developments which are likely to have a detrimental impact on nature conservation, public access, the quality of the landscape or recreational facilities found within river corridors. The Council will also protect access for operational or maintenance purposes.
6.29 The Three Rivers Strategy is a strategy developed by the City Council to exploit the potential of the three rivers in Carlisle for their economic, tourism, leisure, ecological environmental opportunities. Surveys have been undertaken which identify anticipated development sites and ideas for infill or opportunity sites, together with environmental enhancement, landscape framework and management ideas. In addition, the City Council will, where appropriate, encourage the creation of new native woodlands along river valleys. The Three Rivers Strategy will be updated early in the Plan period and the findings of that review will be taken into account in the implementation of this policy.
