Representation by Thames Chase Trust (Thames Chase Trust)
- Date submitted
- 23 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The response provided by the Trust on 19th December 2018 at 16:17:08 for the original statutory consultation remains valid (Response ID ANON-5C4S-Y8ZS-W), particularly in relation to the wider Community Forest. The responses provided by the Trust on 27th March 2020 for the Supplementary Consultation (TCCF/LTC/SCR/0320) and on 07th August 2020 for the Design Refinement Consultation (TCCF/LTC/DRC/0820) focussed on the Thames Chase Forest Centre and the response to the Community Impacts Consultation on 08th September 2021 (TCCF/LTC/CIC/0921), focussed on the Thames Chase Forest Centre and the LTC/M25 junction and M25 junction 29. Further the Trust also responded to the Local Refinement Consultation on 20 June 2022 (TCCF/LTC/LRC/0622). The Thames Chase Plan sets out five Forest-wide programmes of delivery that are in alignment with the core aims of the National Planning Policy Framework: 1. Forestry 2. Landscape Regeneration 3. Access 4. People 5. Promotion The Plan covers a decade of Community Forest delivery (2014-2024) and will be renewed in 2025 to cover the next decade, with a view to 2050 and alignment with DEFRA’s 25-Year Environment Plan. The Plan is a current planning document that relates directly to the statutory plans of each partner local authority. The vision for the Thames Chase Community Forest is simple: “By 2030, Thames Chase Community Forest will be recognised as an inspirational example of landscape regeneration where enhanced, connected woodland and green space has made a clear difference to wildlife and peoples’ lives.” In order to achieve this vision, delivery will be shaped by the following objectives: 1. To protect, improve and expand the woodland character of the Community Forest 2. To sustain the natural integrity of the Community Forest’s air, land and water including wildlife 3. To develop a connected network of links and accessible, vibrant green spaces throughout the Community Forest 4. To integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation responses into the developing Community Forest 5. To use the Community Forest to improve local health and well-being, volunteering, learning and employment 6. To enable effective partnership working from national to local level to maximise impact of available resources Since 1990 over 1.3 million trees have been planted in the Forest; there has been a 70% increase in woodlands through new planting; 41.2km of hedgerows created or restored; and 803 hectares of non-woodland habitat created or restored. In addition, since 2005, 12,050 volunteer days have been delivered across the Forest. NB: The figures quoted will have increased due to time in between monitoring. Since its inception in 1990, Thames Chase has worked tirelessly to repair and regenerate the Community Forest landscape and in turn, ‘transform landscapes and transform lives.’ The Thames Chase Forest Centre is the central hub for the 70 square miles of Community Forest. Loss of land within Thames Chase Community Forest represents a considerable loss of public and biodiversity benefit, following significant public investment, which will require appropriate mitigation to be undertaken by National Highways.