Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

1. Page 401

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 386 decommissioning or from any other effects shall be permitted on the basis of this Plan (either individually or in combination with other plans, programmes, etc. or projects). Footnote: Except as provided for in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be a) no alternative solution available, b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the project to proceed; and c) Adequate compensatory measures in place. CPO 12.6 Ensure that any plan or project that could have a significant adverse impact (either by themselves or in combination with other plans and projects) upon the conservation objectives of any Natura 2000 Site or would result in the deterioration of any habitat or any species reliant on that habitat will not be permitted. Footnote: Except as provided for in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be a) no alternative solution available, b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the project to proceed; and c) Adequate compensatory measures in place. CPO 12.7 Assess any plan or project in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive to determine whether the plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on the site either individually or cumulatively upon the integrity, conservation objectives and qualifying interest of any Natura 2000 Site. CPO 12.8 Require an ecological appraisal for development not directly connected with or necessary to the management of Natura Sites, or a proposed Natura Site and which are likely to have significant effects on that site either individually or cumulatively. CPO 12.9 Identify and provide appropriate buffer zones between Designated Sites and local biodiversity features and areas zoned for development. CPO 12.10 Prepare Strategic Habitat Management Plans for Natura 2000 Sites in Council ownership in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and relevant stakeholders. CPO 12.11 Promote the maintenance and as appropriate, achievement of favourable conservation status of habitats and species and to improve the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network, by maintaining and where appropriate, developing features in the landscape which are of major importance for wild fauna and flora. CPO 12.12 Require that new development proposals affecting designated sites have regard to the sensitivities identified in the SEA Environmental Report prepared in respect of this plan.

2. Page 402

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 387 12.9 Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) Under the Wildlife (Amendment Act) 2000, Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are being designated to conserve flora, fauna, habitats and geological sites of national importance and are legally protected from damage from the date they are formally proposed for designation. Nature conservation is the primary objective and takes precedence over all other activities. It was from these NHAs that the most important sites were selected for international designation as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The Council will normally only grant permission where it is clearly demonstrated that a proposal will have no significant adverse impact on the habitats and species of interest in the designated area and its ecological integrity. A list of the existing SAC’s, SPA’s, NHA’s and proposed NHA’s in the county are outlined in the Table 12.1. Table 12.1 List of the SAC/SPA/NHA/PNHA in County Westmeath Description of Area SAC SPA NHA PNHA Hectares Lough Owel 1122.08 (SAC) 1118.64 (SPA) Lough Ree 3820.68 (SAC) 3609.85 (SPA) Lough Ennell 1719.63 (SAC) 1397.66 (SPA) Lough Lene 490.74 (SAC) Lough Derravaragh 1130.09 (SPA) Lough Sheelin 323.71 (SPA) Lough Kinale and Derragh Lough 28.92 (SPA) 40.17 (NHA) Lough Bane 113.73 (Lough Bane and Lough Glass SAC) Lough Glass 113.73 (Lough Bane and Lough Glass SAC) Lough Garr 218.99 (NHA) Lough Iron 933.35 (SPA) Lough Glore Lough Naneagh

3. Page 403

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 388 Lough Shesk Lough Sewdy River Boyne and River Blackwater 337.60 (SAC) 23.95 (SPA) River Shannon Callows 333.08 (SAC) Middle Shannon Callows 333.38 (SPA) Glen Lough 57.84 (SPA) White Lough, Ben Lough and Lough Doon 79.90 (SAC) Ballymore Fen 42.71 (SAC) Split Hills and Long Hill Esker 75.23 (SAC) Scragh Bog 23.93 (SAC) Mount Hevey Bog 2545.31(SAC) Carn Park Bog 247.15 (SAC) Crosswood Bog 206.52 (SAC) Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs 300.47 (SAC) Garriskil Bog 351.29 (SAC) 324.11 (SPA) Derragh Bog 37.62 (SAC) Wooddown Bog 49.86 (SAC) 196.54 (NHA) Milltownpass Bog 118.40 (NHA) Nure Bog 225.36 (NHA) Ballynagrenia and Ballinderry Bog 287.38 (NHA) Cloncrow Bog (New Forest) 234.33 (NHA) Clonydonnin Bog 61.54 (NHA) Hill of Mael and The Rock of Curry Aghalasty Fen Ballynafid Lake and Fen

4. Page 404

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 389 Table 12.2 List of Ramsar Sites Site Code Site Name Ha Designation 847 Lough Derravaragh 1120 Ramsar 848 Lough Ennell 1404 Ramsar 849 Lough Glen 81 Ramsar 850 Lough Iron 182 Ramsar 851 Lough Owel 1032 Ramsar 12.10 Rare and Protected Species and their Habitats The Council recognise that certain plant, animal and bird species are becoming threatened and rare. This includes nationally rare plants, plants listed in the Red Data Lists of Irish Plants, Flora Protection Order 2015 (or other such Orders) and their habitats, birds listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, and animals and birds listed in the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and subsequent statutory instruments. A list of rare and protected species and their associated legislation can be found on the following link: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/general/Listed_species_checklist_Dec12.pdf Many of these species are protected by law. Where Annex IV species are present, all possible measures to avoid damage and disturbance to them must be taken in the formulation of proposals for development. Annex IV species may occur outside of designated sites but still have strict legal protection. Royal Canal Lough Sheever Fen/Slevin’s Lough Complex Walshestown Fen Waterstown Lake Ballynagarbry Grand Canal Ardan Wood Rahugh Ridge (Kiltober Esker) Murphy's Bridge Esker Derrygolan Esker

5. Page 405

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 390 Where the risk of damage or disturbance is unavoidable, an application for a derogation licence may be made to the Minister for Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht under Regulation 54 or 55 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477/2011). The derogation licence should be obtained in advance of seeking planning permission for a proposed development and must accompany an application for planning permission. The planning process will seek to protect rare and threatened species, including species protected by law and their habitats. Applicants must demonstrate that proposals will not have a significant adverse impact on such species and their habitats. The Planning Authority will take account of the views of the Prescribed Bodies and any licensing requirements in relation to protected species. An Ecological Impact Assessment will be required for any proposed development likely to have a significant impact on rare and threatened species including species protected by law and their habitats. The Council will normally only grant planning permission where it is clearly demonstrated that a proposal will have no significant adverse impact, incapable of satisfactory avoidance or mitigation, on the species of interest and associated habitat(s). Rare and Protected Sites Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.13 Protect, manage and enhance the natural heritage, biodiversity, landscape and environment of County Westmeath, in recognition of its importance as both a nonrenewable resource and a natural asset. CPO 12.14 Require all new developments in the early pre-planning stage of the planning process to identify, protect and enhance ecological features by making provision for local biodiversity (e.g. through provision of swift boxes, bat roost sites, green roofs, etc.) and provide links to the wider Green Infrastructure network as an essential part of the design process. CPO 12.15 Support the protection of all native woodlands listed in the National Survey of Native Woodlands 2003 to 2008. CPO 12.16 Apply the precautionary principle in relation to development proposals in areas identified as being of national nature conservation interest, by requiring a Scientific/ Ecological Risk Assessment to ensure that the development will not impact on the integrity and habitat value of the site. CPO 12.17 Support and cooperate with Statutory Authorities and other relevant bodies in support of measures taken to manage designated nature conservation sites, in order to achieve their conservation objectives. Specific regard shall be had to Conservation Management Plans and their conservation objectives/ management practices, where they exist.

6. Page 406

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 391 CPO 12.18 Consult with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in regard to any developments (those requiring permission and those not requiring planning permission) which the Council proposes to carry out within pNHAs, NHAs, SACs, SPAs, and other important ecological sites. CPO 12.19 Maintain the conservation value of Council owned land within NHAs and pNHAs and promote the conservation value of Council owned lands adjoining NHAs. CPO 12.20 Protect and conserve NHAs and pNHAs including NHAs that become designated and notified to the Local Authority during the lifetime of the Plan and seek to develop linkages between designated sites, where feasible and as resources permit. CPO 12.21 Lighting fixtures should provide only the amount of light necessary for personal safety and should be designed so as to avoid creating glare or emitting light above a horizontal plane. Lighting fixtures should have minimum environmental impact and Dark Sky lighting should be considered in the interest of reducing the impact of lighting on wildlife as part of any future planning application, thereby contributing towards the protection of amenity and the protection of light sensitive species such as bats. EUROBATS guidelines should be applied in informing proposed development(s), where relevant. CPO 12.22 Require, in special circumstances where protected species/habitats are identified in association with a development proposal, that an ‘Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)’ prepared by a suitably qualified and indemnified person be undertaken for a proposed development which may potentially have a significant impact on rare and threatened species. 12.11 Local Sites of Biodiversity Value and Non-Designated Sites There are many important wildlife habitats in County Westmeath that do not meet the criteria for designations as an NHA, but are important on a county or local basis, as they act as stepping stones in a wider ecological network. These include rivers and river banks, ponds, small woods and hedgerows which are essential to the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species. Article 10 of the Habitats Directive states that Member States shall endeavour in their land use planning and development policies, to encourage the management of features of the landscape which are of major importance for wild flora and fauna. In order to inform this process, the Council commissioned surveys of key habitats in the County namely geology sites, peatlands, and wetlands.

7. Page 407

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 392 12.12 Invasive Species The spread of invasive species is a growing problem. Many non-native invasive species of flora and fauna have an impact on biodiversity and pose a threat to native vegetation and wildlife by destroying their habitats or introducing new diseases or parasites. They can also result in significant damage to economic interests, such as agriculture, forestry and civil infrastructure. Prohibitions are in place in relation to the introduction or dispersal of certain invasive species as set out in the Third Schedule of the European Communities (Birds and Habitats Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477/2011). Invasive Species Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.27 Prevent the spread of invasive species within the plan area, including requiring landowners and developers to adhere to best practice guidance in relation to the control of invasive species. CPO 12.28 Ensure that proposals for development do not lead to the spread or introduction of invasive species. If developments are proposed on sites where invasive species are Sites of Biodiversity Value and Non-designated Sites Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.23 Seek to create and enhance ecological linkages and buffer zones from development. CPO 12.24 Protect and where possible enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivity, including woodlands, trees, hedgerows, semi-natural grasslands, rivers, streams, natural springs, wetlands, geological and geo-morphological systems, other landscape features, natural lighting conditions, and associated wildlife where these form part of the ecological network and/or may be considered as ecological corridors or stepping stones in the context of Article 10 of the Habitats Directive. Appropriate mitigation and/or compensation to conserve biodiversity, landscape character and green infrastructure networks will be required where habitats are at risk or lost as part of a development. CPO 12.25 Recognise that nature conservation is not just confined to designated sites and acknowledge the need to protect non-designated habitats and landscapes and to conserve the biological diversity. CPO 12.26 Investigate a protocol in relation to the application of an ecosystem services scoring approach to inform the assessment of planning applications.

8. Page 408

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 393 or were previously present, the applicant will be required to submit a control and management program for the particular invasive species as part of the planning process and to comply with the provisions of the European Communities Birds and Habitats Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477/2011). CPO 12.29 Support, as appropriate, the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s efforts to seek to control and manage the spread of non-native invasive species on land and water. Where the presence of non-native invasive species is identified at the site of any proposed development or where the proposed activity has an elevated risk of resulting in the presence of these species, details of how these species will be managed and controlled will be required. 12.13 Geology Westmeath has an extensive and diverse range of geological heritage sites, many of which fall within existing pNHAs and SACs, where the ecological interest is founded upon the underlying geodiversity. Some of the oldest rocks in the county are marine sandstones around Sion Hill. However, most of the bedrock geology of Westmeath comprises of Carboniferous Limestone. Over time this limestone was exposed as land and subject to intense weathering leading to some karstic landscape features (underground drainage and isolated hills). Subsequent Ice Ages resulted in the formation of eskers i.e. linear ridges of sands and gravels that were deposited in meltwater tunnels under the ice sheets. The best spread of eskers in the country covers Westmeath and Offaly, with c.10% of County Westmeath covered by eskers or associated outwash deposits of sand and gravel. The end of the Ice Age led to the formation of mushroom rocks and turloughs. Geomorphological features of note in the County include the Fore Hills, the South Westmeath hummocks, the Rahugh Esker and the Mount Temple Esker. An audit of Geological Heritage sites in Westmeath confirmed 28 County Geological Sites (CGS) (* Meehan, R.; Hennessy, R., Parkes, M. and Gatley, S. (2019) The Geological Heritage of County Westmeath - An Audit of County Geological Sites in County Westmeath. Nine of these County Geological Sites are considered to be of national importance as a best representative example of particular geological formations or features and have been recommended for designation as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). A Geological Map of Westmeath is contained in Map 70, Volume 2. Table 12.3 Westmeath County Geological Sites (after Meehan, Hennessy and Parkes 2018) Site Name Designation IGH Primary IGH Secondary IGH Third GIS Code Ballycor Mushroom Rocks County Geological Site IGH1 WH001 Calliaghstown- Milltown Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH002

9. Page 409

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   NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 394 Cappalahy Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH003 Clonthread Mushroom Rock County Geological Site IGH1 WH004 Deerpark Quarry County Geological Site IGH8 IGH15 WH005 Dun na Si Amenity and Heritage Park County Geological Site IGH1 IGH7 IGH16 WH006 Finnea – Murrens Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH007 Fore Hills County Geological Site IGH1 IGH7 IGH16 WH008 Hill of Uisneach County Geological Site IGH1 IGH7 WH009 Horseleap Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH010 Kilbeggan Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH011 Kilbeggan Racecourse Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH012 Knockastia Hill and Quarry County Geological Site IGH8 WH013 Lough Derravaragh County Geological Site IGH7 IGH8 IGH14 WH014 Lough Bane and Lough Glass County Geological Site IGH7 IGH14 WH015 Lough Iron County Geological Site IGH1 IGH16 WH016 Loughandonning Muchroom Rock County Geological Site IGH1 WH017 Mount Temple Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH018 Mullingar Bypass County Geological Site IGH8 WH019 Postnashangan Quarry County Geological Site IGH7 WH020 Rahugh Ridge County Geological Site IGH7 WH021 River Inny County Geological Site IGH8 WH022 Rock of Curry and Hill of Mael County Geological Site IGH12 WH023 South Westmeath hummocks County Geological Site IGH7 WH024 Split Hill and Long Hill Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH025

10. Page 410

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    NATURAL HERITAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 12 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 395 Geological Heritage Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 12.30 Contribute towards the appropriate protection and maintenance of the character, integrity and conservation value of features or areas of geological interest listed in Table 12.3. CPO 12.31 Support the implementation of recommendations made in the County Westmeath Geological Audit. CPO 12.32 Consult with the Geological Survey of Ireland when undertaking, approving or authorising developments which are likely to impact on County Geological Sites or involve significant ground excavations. CPO 12.33 Protect geological NHA’s as they become designated during the lifetime of the Plan. CPO 12.34 Encourage and promote, where appropriate, public access to geological and geomorphological sites and avoid inappropriate development through consultation with the Geological Survey of Ireland, subject to environmental and habitats assessment. CPO 12.35 Favour the retention of new rock exposures created as a result of major new carriageways or in other major infrastructural work, where feasible and safe to do so. CPO 12.36 Consider in consultation with the NPWS, Offaly County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland the potential designation of the south Westmeath esker landscape as a UNESCO geo-park, to promote the unique geological heritage of the area. Streamstown Esker County Geological Site IGH7 WH026 Tullin Mushroom Rock County Geological Site IGH1 WH027 Tyrrellspass Kettle Hole County Geological Site IGH7 WH028

Source Westmeath County Council: Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.