Bigger and better approach to minerals planning

New stakeholder document calls for co-ordinated approach to minerals planning in Trent and Tame river valleys

A NEW document – produced in the form of a colourful, eye-catching leaflet – has been released by a number of stakeholder organizations (including Nature After Minerals) calling for a strategic and joined-up approach to the restoration of mineral sites in the Trent and Tame river valleys, in the heart of England.

The aim of the publication is to highlight the role Minerals Local Plans (MLPs) could play in helping to provide for people and wildlife on a truly landscape scale, through a visionary approach to priority wetland habitat creation in the region.

Entitled: ‘Bigger and Better: How Minerals Local Plans can help give nature a home on a landscape scale in the Trent and Tame River Valleys’, the leaflet draws attention to the impending consultation on all six of the draft MLPs for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

It spells out the opportunity afforded by this minerals planning consultation period right across the river valleys’ region, to build in bigger, better and joined-up measures for nature and people, at an early stage.

The content of the document was developed by stakeholders following discussion within two mineral planning workshops held in 2013 and 2014, facilitated by Nature After Minerals’ planning adviser. It has been compiled with input from a wide range of organizations across all six counties in the region, with funding from the EU Life+ Communications Programme, through the RSPB’s Futurescapes programme.

The document can be viewed at: www.afterminerals.com/news.aspx