Lancashire Environment 2002
Appendix - How the indicators have been measured
1. Bathing Water Quality
How is it measured?
The indicator shows whether the eleven designated bathing waters on the Lancashire
coast have met standards for faecal coliform content set under the European
Community Bathing Water Quality Directive. To pass, 19 out of 20 samples taken
between May and September need to meet the Mandatory Standard. There is also
a more stringent Guideline Standard.
Where is there more information available?
Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk
2. River and Canal Water Quality
How is it measured?
Regular monitoring of the network is carried out to determine the overall state
of the water environment. Since 1992 a system of General Quality Assessment
has been used. Four classes are used:
Good Quality: Water of high quality suitable for potable supply abstractions;
game or other high class fisheries; high amenity value.
Fair Quality: Waters suitable for potable supply after advanced treatment;
supporting reasonably good coarse fisheries; moderate amenity value.
Poor Quality: Waters which are polluted to an extent that fish are absent
or only sporadically present; may be used for low grade industrial abstraction
purposes; considerable potential for further use if cleaned up.
Bad Quality: Waters which are grossly polluted and are likely to cause
nuisance.
Where is there more information available?
Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk
3. Lead in Drinking Water
United Utilities is responsible for monitoring the amount of Lead in drinking
water.The Drinking Water Quality Zones have been amended since the publication
of Green Audit 2 . There is not a standard number
of samples taken for each zone in any given year.The map used for the indicator
uses data for three years in order to use a greater sampling size.
Where is there more information available?
www.UnitedUtilities.com
4. Radioactivity
How is it measured?
Public safeguards are met by assessing the effect radioactive discharges have
on 'critical groups'. These are groups, who are assessed to have the greatest
exposure to radioactive discharges. In Lancashire two groups of high fish and
shellfish consumers are highlighted based on fishing communities in Morecambe
Bay and Fleetwood.
Reduced discharge limits for artificial radionuclides from the nuclear industries
are reflected in reduced take up by fish and shellfish and, hence, subsequent
reduced levels in the critical group diet. This process takes place over a number
of years and recent drops in levels to Fleetwood consumers relates to reduced
levels of Americium and Plutonium in the seafood diet which in turn dates back
to regulatory changes halting major discharges of these radionuclides.
Nuclear industry discharges are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA). The
EA, together with the Food Standards Agency and the industries carry out extensive
monitoring programmes.
Where is there more information available?
RADMIL telephone helpline 01772 721660
Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Food Standards Agency www.foodstandards.gov.uk
5. Waste and Recycling
How is it Measured?
Lancashire County Council Waste Management Group collects data through the waste
disposal contractor and Waste Collection Authorities (the District Councils).
Limited data is available prior to 1993/4 as this pre-dates waste management
contracts and the separation of the client and contractor roles for waste management.
Data prior to this date is estimated.
Green Waste Composting was introduced in 1995/96 through Household Waste Recycling
Centres.
Where is there more information available?
LCCs Waste Management websites
www.lancswasteinfo.com
6. Landscape Character
How is it measured?
The methodology for measuring landscape quality and character has changed significantly
since the production of 'Lancashire. A Green Audit' in 1991. Whilst major areas
of scenic quality such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
are still recognised by designations, the emphasis has shifted from a purely
qualitative assessment of landscape to one which recognises all landscapes as
being of importance and aims to classify the landscape into unique geographic
areas with a consistent character and identify (Landscape Character Areas).
This approach has been taken forward by the Countryside Agency in their 'Character
of England' map (1996), which identifies landscape character nationally. Since
1993, the County landscape assessment has been updated using the latest Countryside
Agency & Scottish Natural Heritage Guidance (Interim Landscape Character Assessment
Guidance, 1999) and A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire (2001) has been produced
(Fig 3). The Strategy identifies 21 Landscape Character Types (distinct zones
of homogeneous character) within the County. Within each Landscape Character
Type distinct Landscape Character Areas are identified. The Strategy will form
the basis of the replacement Joint Structure Plan (2001-2016) landscape policy
and Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Where is there more information available?
LCC's website www.lancsenvironment.com
(A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire)
7. Landscape - Historic Change
How is it measured?
A simple comparison between the modern mapping and that prepared 150 years ago
has been carried out by Lancashire County Council's Environment Directorate
(Archaeology & Heritage team) as a part of an historic character-mapping programme.
The programme assessed change according to land-use (such as change from enclosed
farmland to built-up urban area) and, within enclosed farmland, the survival
of old hedgerows and boundary walls. Four categories were identified: no change
- where the field boundaries landuse and/or field boundaries of the 1850s is
broadly retained today; some change, where some field boundaries have been altered
but the 1850 pattern can still be recognised, complete landuse change; and complete
boundary change (but where landuse remains the same).
Where is there more information available?
The Countryside Agency: Countryside Character Vol. 2: The North West (1998)
Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England & Scotland (2002)
LCC's Lancashire Historic Landscape Characterisation report.
8. Landscape - Woodland
How is it measured?
Since 1924 the Forestry Commission has carried out a number of national woodland
surveys at intervals of between 15 and 20 years to measure the extent and type
of woodland. Surveys are now undertaken by interpreting aerial photographs and
the results are ground-truthed in the field. The last survey was carried out
between 1994-2000 (Lancashire = 1999) (National Inventory of Woodland and Trees)
and, prior to that between 1979-82 (1980) (Census of Woodlands and Trees).
Ancient Woodland is identified in Inventories prepared on a county basis. The
first Inventory for Lancashire was published in 1988. Woodlands were assessed
for inclusion on the basis of their size (only woods over 2 ha.were considered),
field surveys, historical records and early maps. The Inventory distinguishes
between Ancient Semi-natural and Ancient Replanted woods. Ancient Semi-natural
woodlands do not obviously originate from planting whilst Ancient Replanted
woods are those which now support a canopy of planted species (broadleaved,
coniferous or mixed) but occupy an old woodland site. English Nature reviewed
the Lancashire Inventory in 1994.
Where is there more information available?
The report: National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, which includes a comparative
assessment with the previous survey) is available to download from the Forestry
Commission web site.
www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/niengland.pdf/$FILE/niengland.pdf
www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory
Details of Lancashire County Council's woodland and forestry work can be found
on
www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/view.asp?siteid=3715
LCC published Lancashire's Woodland Heritage in 1986. This document describes the history of woodland in the County and a break down of woodland types by district. Limited numbers of copies are still available to purchase at 3.00 plus 45 pence p&p, contact 01772 534468.
9. Landscape - Ponds
How is it measured?
Monitoring pond numbers has a number of inherent difficulties. It is easy to
count ponds on a map of a suitable scale. However, maps are usually only updated
on a piecemeal approach and may still show ponds which disappeared long before
the map was published but not those which have appeared since the original survey
was undertaken. Maps cannot generally be taken as a "snapshot" in
time. Furthermore, the timing of the original mapping, whether it was undertaken
in a wet or dry year or even in winter, will affect the number of ponds shown.
Aerial photographs do provide a discrete snap-shot and can be used in combination
with maps to identify ponds present at a given date. Even so, it can still be
difficult to clearly determine whether a "pond" still contains water
for instance if it is obscured by trees or has a lot of emergent vegetation.
Figures relating to the loss of ponds were contained in Green Audit 1. These
were derived from an analysis of 179 sample 1km squares (approximately a 10%
sample size). The first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6" to 1 mile scale
maps (surveyed c.1845) were compared with the OS Pathfinder 1:25,000 scale maps
and the 1998 colour 1:10,000 scale aerial photographs. Estimates of pond loss
for the entire county were derived from this. In 2001 all but two of the sample
squares were resurveyed using the first edition OS 6" maps and a new set
of aerial photos (flown in 2000) to assess the changes in pond numbers over
the intervening years.
Where is there more information available?
For further information on the Pondlife Project see
www.livjm.ac.uk/pondlife/
10. Landscape - Farm Size and Type
How is it measured?
The data is collected as part of a census carried out by DEFRA and is compiled
on a county and regional basis. These indicators present data from censuses
carried out in 1988 and 1999.
Where is there more information available?
DEFRA www.defra.gov.uk
11. Countryside
How is it measured?
The Countryside Stewardship scheme is managed by the Countryside Agency but
LCC compiles data on where the schemes are in operation and what area of land
is involved. Up until 2001, Best Value Performance Indicators on public rights
of way featured an assessment of their condition and usability.This was assessed
by voluntary footpath wardens carrying out random surveys. In 2000/2001 the
Audit Commission did no publish figures for all England. In 2001/2001 the performance
indicators were combined into BVPI 178. At the same time Highway Authorities
were encouraged to adopt new standards of assessment so meaningful comparisons
could be made. BVPI 178 measures ease of use of the network and sets a very
high standard. With a right of way having to pass all of a number of criteria
before being classified as easy to use. Lancashire County Council has adopted
these new standards. As this is a period of transition the Audit Commission
did not publish all England figures.
Where is there more information available?
LCC's website www.lancashire.gov.uk
has information on countryside and public rights of way.
12. Heritage Assets
How is it measured?
The historic environment indicators include numbers of heritage assets benefiting
from designation either by the Secretary for State for Culture Media and Sport
or by Lancashire County Council. These assets include Listed Buildings, Registered
Parks and Gardens, Conservation Areas and Scheduled Monuments, and the historic
buildings and archaeological sites registered upon the Lancashire Sites and
Monuments Record.
A further indicator, based upon English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register
(BAR - established 1998), records the condition of Grade I and II* buildings
within the county. The indicator includes a measure of the rate of deterioration
and whether remedial action has been agreed.
Where is there more information available?
English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk
LCC's website www.lancashire.gov.uk
13. Wildlife
How is it measured?
SSSIs are notified and protected by English Nature. LNRs are designated by local
authorities (with the support of English Nature). BHSs are identified by Lancashire
County Council, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside
North of the Mersey and English Nature North West Team.
All these sites have defined boundaries and it is a relatively easy task to
calculate the area of protected site at any given time. However it is far more
difficult to quantify the condition of the sites, that is, how well the known
interest is being conserved. This is a more accurate indicator of sustainable
development than a simple comparison of total area.
The way in which English Nature monitors SSSIs has changed since 1995 when Green
Audit 2 was produced. Rather than measuring loss or damage, monitoring now assesses
the condition of sites. Not all Lancashire SSSIs have yet been assessed, of
the 315 units present, 34 have yet to be surveyed.
There is at present no formal system of monitoring the condition of BHSs or
LNRs. Figures in this indicator are therefore based upon the simple measure
of change in total site area.
Where is there more information available?
Details of the protected sites in Lancashire are provided within the ecology
section of www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/ecology
The Biological Heritage Sites Guidelines for Site Selection have been published
and are available to purchase for 15 per copy from LCC Environment Directorate.
14. Traffic Levels
How is it measured?
The data is produced from traffic counts at various points throughout the County.
Monitoring is carried out by Lancashire County Council, some of it on behalf
of the Government or the Highways Agency. Counts are undertaken using automatic
detection equipment or manual counting. The traffic data presented are 24 hour,
7 day average values.
Where is there more information available?
Lancashire County Council holds detailed records of traffic counts on many roads
or can arrange for counts to be taken. There is normally a charge for this service.
Contact the traffic counts team on (01772) 534578 or 534579. Further information
is contained in the Local Transport Plan and Annual Progress Reports available
on the LCC website at www.lancashire.gov.uk.
15. Global Atmosphere
How is it measured?
Greenhouse gas emission estimates are calculated by applying emission factors
to statistical information, mainly fuel consumption data. This converts the
amount of energy used into emissions information.
Emissions factors depend on the carbon content of each fuel and therefore differ
for different fuel sources. The factors are based on a single carbon content
for each fuel, which is held constant over time.
In the case of electricity the emission factor changes as the fuel used to generate
electricity changes and therefore there are different emission factors for electricity
for each year.
Revisions in methodology and new information are used to adjust data from earlier
years.
Where is there more information available?
Information on the UK Climate Change Programme at www.defra.gov.uk
LCC website www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/beyondla21
16. Air Quality
How is it measured?
Regular monitoring for trends is carried out by most District and Unitary Authorities
as part of a national scheme. Nitrogen Dioxide is measured using monthly diffusion
tubes sited at roadside and background locations. Sulphur Dioxide monitoring
is not widely carried out as levels are now much reduced due to changes in sulphur
content of fuels and the introduction of smoke free zones in our towns.
Where is there more information available?
Air Quality information is compiled for the Government by AEA Technology www.aeat.co.uk
17. Quality of Urban Environment - Housing Condition
How is it measured?
Data is collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as part of the
Housing Investment Programme (HIP) on an annual basis from each local authority
in England. The data is provided as part of the Housing Strategy Statistical
Appendix (HSSA) which contains housing data on all tenures within each local
authority's own geographical area.
Where is there more information available?
The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2006 can be seen at www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/index.asp?siteid=3654
District Councils www.odpm.gov.uk
18. Quality of the Urban Environment - Urban Extent
How is it measured?
Initial urban area measurements carried out in 1991 used largely OS maps and
aerial photographs. The method used in 2000 relied much more strongly on digital
OS Landline data and digital urban boundaries from 1991. Only occasionally were
other resources used for identifying land use.
In the first Green Audit urban area was not measured in the same way. Instead,
the area covered by buildings was estimated using satellite images. This therefore
gives different measurements and can provide a crude contrast only.
For inclusion in study, areas must have population of 1000+ (currently at 1991
Census time).
Growth is measured through use of up to date OS Landline data, existing digital
boundaries, and older OS maps, Local Plans, Aerial Photo's where necessary.
It is easy to identify where new areas of growth are using GIS, by comparing
Landline information and existing boundary information.
Where is there more information available?
The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2006 can be seen at www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/index.asp?siteid=3654
19. Quality of the Urban Environment - Noise
How is it measured?
This indicator shows the total number of noise complaints received by Environmental
Health departments in the twelve Lancashire District Councils in 1988/89 and
in 2000/01. The sources of the noise giving rise to the complaints are divided
into three categories - domestic, industrial/commercial, and other. These figures
are collated by the District Councils and are broken down into further categories
but not on a consistent basis across the county.
Where is there more information available?
District Councils
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health