RECREATION AND LEISURE

INTRODUCTION

8.1 The aim of the Plan is to provide sport and recreation facilities for everyone regardless of ability or gender in sufficient quantity and in the right locations. Without this widespread foundation, accessibility particularly for those with disabilities is limited and would curtail the District Council's objective of improving and promoting excellence in chosen activities. The Community Safety Strategy promotes accessibility to sport and leisure facilities as part of the response to crime and disorder issues. Provision of facilities particularly for youth participation in sport provides an outlet for the isolation that can be common in rural areas. Enabling people to participate in their chosen leisure activity also assists the implementation of the Health Improvement Programme, which has identified access to facilities as a priority issue.

8.2 Local guidance for planning policies is also provided by other District Council strategies. The Maldon District Leisure Strategy (1997-2001) sets out the Council's broad objectives in respect of future provision and management of a wide range of leisure, recreation and tourism facilities. A Playing Pitch Strategy for the provision of playing pitches has been adopted. In preparing this Strategy a survey of Parish Councils was carried out and the information gathered has been used to identify local open space priorities.

8.3 Local Plan allocations and policies represent the first stage of implementation of the strategies, by safeguarding land for particular activities and providing the planning framework to enable specific recreation and leisure development to take place. Allocations of land for public open space are only made where there is a real prospect of implementation within the Plan period. This will require measures to be taken by public authorities to purchase land. The Council will expect new housing development to make public open space provision where appropriate.

8.4 The Plan has to balance the demands for new land and buildings against the need to identify sustainable locations, protection of the countryside and promotion of environmental quality in urban areas. Policy seeks to improve recreation facilities across the District but focuses on key settlements where most facilities will be planned to meet the identified requirements in the rural areas. This chapter sets out planning policies for the recreation and leisure requirements of the District's residents and tourist attractions and accommodation.

OBJECTIVES

THE STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PROVISION

8.5 Previous Local Plans have sought to add to the stock of public open space giving priority to areas of deficiency. These have been defined using the National Playing Fields Association "6 acre standard." Reductions in deficiencies have been made by the implementation of allocations in the Maldon District Local Plan First Review at Heybridge, Mayland, North Fambridge and Southminster which were linked to the provision of new housing.

8.6 Allocations for public open space in previous Local Plans have not attempted to define a particular use for the allocated land and neither have they sought to ensure that the land allocated is suitable for a particular purpose.

8.7 This Plan considers the current position both in respect of existing provision and unimplemented allocations by assessing need in relation to informal and formal open space. Providing a range of different types of space can satisfy open space requirements. The size, location and frequency of provision of a particular type of open space are determined by standards designed to ensure that they satisfy a particular need.

8.8 Policies have been developed by first defining the role of each particular type of open space, describing the type of provision required and finally adopting a policy which seeks to achieve implementation.

Formal Open Space

Playing pitches

Definition

8.9 Publicly available playing fields specifically for the playing of pitch sports including rugby, football, hockey and cricket.

Provision

8.10 This type of provision has to be located to ensure that it has benefit to the maximum number of users. The use of formal pitches for team games is almost entirely related to the existence of a club in that location. The "Playing Pitch Strategy" adopted by the District Council in 2001 identifies a shortfall in pitches for football in the urban areas of Burnham-on-Crouch and Maldon. In addition, provision needs to satisfy the needs of the rural population and especially those settlements which have very small populations.

8.11 Adopting a two-tier standard, designating key settlements together with calculating requirements on an area basis, enables a strategy to be adopted which satisfies the deficiencies established in the "Playing Pitch Strategy" but also makes provision in the rural areas of the District. The key settlements are Maldon and Heybridge, Burnham-on-Crouch, Latchingdon, Mayland, Southminster and Tollesbury.

8.12 The standard applied in this District and stated in Table 9 is a modification of the "NPFA (National Playing Fields Association) 6 Acre Standard". The standard is designed to ensure that in settlements having a population in excess of 1000 provision is made for at least 0.8ha of formal public open space, which is sufficient to accommodate a full size football pitch. The reduced standard in the smaller settlements is balanced by increasing the standard in the key settlements to 2.0ha allowing provision to be made which reflects the findings of the Council's "Playing Pitch Strategy."

8.13 The results of applying the modified standard using the 1991 Census information are shown in Appendix 5. Applying the higher standard in the circumstances specified in Table 6 ensures that the areas under greatest pressure for formal playing pitches are catered for and those villages that have no provision are given special attention. Appendix 5 illustrates that need is being addressed in the locations most under pressure and the use of the lower standard in other areas reflects the lack of demand identified in the Council's "Playing Pitch Strategy."

8.14 This methodology permits formal playing provision to be made in accordance with a standard which recognises the settlement pattern of the District and yet ensures that the population of the District as a whole has sufficient playing field provision. Based on the average of the NPFA standard (1.7ha per 1000 population) there is a requirement for 90ha of land to be allocated. Adopting the standards in Table 6 the land required amounts to 88.7ha. The addition of the area of allocations in the Plan (15 ha) to the existing provision (72.0ha) when implemented will achieve a playing area of 87ha.

8.15 The shortfall of 1.7ha masks shortfalls in formal playing pitch provision identified in the Council's "Playing Pitch Strategy" in Burnham-on-Crouch and Maldon. The implementation of the allocations during the Plan period will ensure that the area provided for formal playing pitches broadly accords with the NPFA standard albeit not in the most beneficial locations.

Table 6 Area Standards for Playing Pitch Provision

2.0 hectares of playing pitches per 1000 population in the key settlements of Burnham-on-Crouch, Latchingdon, Mayland, Southminster, Tollesbury and Maldon/Heybridge. 0.8 hectares of playing pitches per 1000 population in all other parishes in the District. (Where a parish has no playing pitch and relies on a key settlement for all of its needs the standard is increased to 2.0 ha/'000).

Policy

8.16 Based on the standards in Table 9 and the results of the survey carried during the preparation of the District Councils' "Playing Pitch Strategy" the deficiencies and allocations shown have been identified in Table 10.

Table 7 Football Pitch Deficiencies

Area	Pitch deficiency (playing pitch strategy: minus =deficiency)	Area deficiency (ha) (local standard see table 9)	New area provision (ha)
NORTH	+1	7.4	1.5
SOUTH	-1	-	2.1
EAST*	-12	14	3.4
CENTRAL	-12	13	8.0
TOTAL	-25	31.5	15.0

*see para 8.18

8.17 Where appropriate the Replacement Local Plan carries forward a number of unimplemented allocations from the First Review and makes additional allocations. Although there is a sufficiency of pitches in the north area based on the survey, the First Review allocation of 1.5 ha. at Little Totham, associated with housing allocation H4/2, is carried over from the previous Plan. In the south area provision is made for 2.1 ha. at Latchingdon.

8.18 In the east area provision is made for 1.8 ha at Southminster and 1.6 hectares at St. Lawrence. The large deficiency in the east area results from the situation at Burnham-on-Crouch which currently has no public playing pitches although there are private pitches at the Millfields, Dengie Sports Centre and Burnham Ramblers football ground. The Council is supporting a bid by St Peters School to provide an all weather pitch with independently accessed changing facilities. The provision of these will enable shared use of the school playing fields. This will dramatically improve the availability of public playing fields. In the central area there is a large deficiency in Maldon and Heybridge. This will be reduced by the allocation of 7.9 ha in Maldon. Separately the Council is preparing a Strategy for provision of play facilities for children. The funding methodology and delivery mechanisms outlined in that document will be applicable to provision of formal recreation facilities in Maldon and Heybridge.

8.19 Where the standard does not generate an area sufficient to accommodate a pitch the need can be addressed through policy REC2.

8.20 Policy REC1 is designed to rectify the shortfalls identified in the "Playing Pitch Strategy." The provision of formal open space beyond this minimum provision is to be encouraged providing the site is "fit for purpose", is in scale with its location, and is situated close to local communities. Proposals for further public formal open space should comply with REC2.

Children's play space

Definition

8.21 Open space provided specifically to accommodate children's play equipment for a range of age groups. It may or may not be associated with "kick about areas" or other open play space.

Provision

8.22 The District Council adopted a strategy for children's play space for the period 1997 - 2001 as part of the Leisure Strategy. This refers to and adopts the National Playing Field Association "Six Acre" Standard. This translates into providing play facilities at a maximum proximity of 5 minutes walking or about 400m. This The document is under review and will be integrated into the Cultural Strategy, identifying priorities. Guidance on priorities is currently provided by the survey of Parish Councils and demographic data.

8.23 Children's play areas are often provided in all-purpose recreation grounds. They require a small area of land and can provide facilities for a range of ages. All children should have the opportunity to have access to outdoor play areas, which suggests that some provision should be available in every parish.

8.24 Whilst there is a need for children's play space in both rural and urban areas the relationship of these areas to adjacent development in urban areas results in there being a requirement to consider different location criteria. With the exception of the larger settlements i.e. Maldon, Heybridge, Burnham-on-Crouch and Southminster, children's play space can be generally located on or adjacent to existing or proposed areas of formal or informal open space.

8.25 In the urban areas because housing densities are comparatively high children's play spaces need to be located more frequently, and therefore isolated from major areas of informal or informal space. The design of play spaces located in urban locations will have to be more focused to cater for particular age groups to ensure that their use is not detrimental to the surrounding residential properties.

8.26 In the rural areas several parishes currently have no play space provision. Priority is given to areas where there is a higher proportion of children under 16 and there is no provision. On this basis the parishes of Stow Maries and Woodham Walter are in priority need and most others are considered to need improved provision. In villages where there is no open space provision a higher standard has been used in order to make provision for not only an area for play equipment to be installed but also an area for informal ball games.

8.27 Responsibility for providing these facilities in villages, where there is no significant development likely to generate the provision of further play spaces, is with the Parish Councils. Where public open space exists in the rural areas the District Council will encourage Parish Councils to make best use of that open space to provide children's play space.

8.28 Children's play space in urban areas can only be provided by enhancement of existing or provision of new space within housing developments or through commuted sums where it is either not appropriate or practical for the developer to provide the space on site. In these areas the policy will require that formal children play spaces be provided for specific age groups.

Policy

8.29 In rural areas an assessment of deficiency of children's play space is set out in Appendix 6. This deficiency has been calculated using the formula set out in Table 8. Possible locations for children's play space to satisfy this deficiency in certain Parishes are shown in Tables 11 and 13. Some villages already have the capacity within existing or allocated areas of public open space to accommodate the children's play space deficiencies, these are shown in Appendix 6.

Table 8 Area standards for children's play space

0.3 hectares (0.75 acres) of children's play space per 1000 population where there is existing public open space. Where there is no existing public open space the standard will be 0.5 hectares (1.2 acres) per 1000 population.

8.30 Opportunities to provide and improve children's play space in Maldon, Burnham-on-Crouch, Heybridge, Southminster and Mayland will be sought. However scope to provide children's play spaces on new housing developments within urban areas is extremely limited because future housing sites are likely to be windfall sites and therefore small in area. It is inappropriate to provide for play space in association with sheltered housing for the elderly or in the case of single room flats. Where proposals are located on sites of sufficient size to generate a need for this type of provision it will be necessary to comply with policy REC3. Supplementary Planning Guidance will be prepared to assist in the implementation of this policy and particularly to explain the Council's approach to ensuring the long term maintenance of any site.

Other formal open space

Definition

8.31 These areas are designated for particular recreation or sport activities, which are not provided on playing pitches, such as tennis, netball and basketball.

Provision

8.32 These spaces are usually intensively used and are floodlit. As these spaces rely on intensive use it is unrealistic to aim to provide space in every village. The District Council will draw up a Sports Development Strategy identifying objectives for future Local Plan Policy. In the meantime proposals of this nature will be determined having regard to the Policy BE11.

Informal Open Space

Definition

8.33 These areas of open space are intended to serve the adjacent community and to be areas where informal activity can take place including walking, picnicking, and general informal games.

Provision

8.34 The District is rural in character with easy access to the coast and countryside for informal recreation. Large areas of informal open space exist at The Promenade Park, Maldon and the Burnham-on-Crouch Country Park. As well as providing an amenity for the neighbouring communities, these areas are considered to provide an amenity for persons visiting the District.

8.35 In addition to these areas, allocations have been in Heybridge and Southminster for smaller informal open spaces. These areas are intended to serve the needs of the population living in the immediate area. The creation of further areas of informal open space will be encouraged.

Policy

8.36 Provision has been made for the creation of informal public open space by retaining the allocations contained in the Maldon District Plan First Review at Southminster and Heybridge as set out in Table 9. The District Council will encourage the implementation of further areas of informal open space providing they are of a size that allows the site to function as an informal open space but does not encourage car borne visitors to the facility.

8.37 An area of land to the North of the Longfield in Maldon, formerly allocated as public open space, has not been implemented. The site is isolated from the main open space and has been used on a temporary basis for private car parking. The site has been reallocated in this Plan for civic and community purposes (Policy PU4).

8.38 Allotments are regarded as informal open spaces and their maintenance and implementation is the responsibility of Parish Councils. In the last Plan period one allotment area has been developed at South Maldon (Brickhouse Farm). A site is reserved at Heybridge (East of Wood Lane). Existing allotment sites are protected under Policy REC7.

8.39 In addition to those areas specifically allocated for informal open space the District Council is keen to promote the provision of informal open space adjacent to existing communities. The purpose of these spaces is to provide green areas for the enjoyment of that community and they should not be of a size that attracts users from beyond the community they are intended to serve or compete with the Parks in Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch.

8.40 In order that such space is provided for the community in perpetuity, the Council will negotiate for S106 planning obligations to cover access and long term maintenance arrangements

Amenity Areas

Definition

8.41 These areas are located within the towns and villages and are intended to provide areas where significant landscaping can be introduced to soften the urban environment and improve visual amenity.

Provision

8.42 Generally these areas are created through the design process of a particular development proposal. They may be combined with the provision of a play space for children or even an informal open space.

Policy

8.43 The Council will seek to encourage the implementation of amenity areas within and adjacent to areas of built development. It is the intention that amenity areas will be managed in perpetuity as amenity areas, either through a Section 106 obligation or as the responsibility of the occupiers of neighbouring properties.

PROTECTION OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

8.44 It is essential that the existing stock of open space be protected against loss. The limited ability of the Plan to bring forward new sites linked to development underlines the need for this approach.

Protection of school recreation facilities

8.45 School playing fields in the District make an important contribution to local pitch provision and to the character of the urban areas. There have been national concerns over recent years about the loss of school playing fields to development. The Government has introduced new regulations to control this. The intention is to ensure that where a playing field is no longer required by the school, but is needed for the community, its use is retained. Sport England is consulted on these proposals. The Council is preparing an audit of open space across the district. This will list the valuable open spaces that benefit the community as well as identify any open space that may no longer be required by the community. Until this audit is prepared and adopted developers will need to satisfy the Council that proposals that affect open space do not compromise the objectives of the Plan.

8.46 New allocations for public open space will be protected by Policies REC1 and REC5. Existing space will be protected under Policy REC7.

Shared Use of school recreation facilities

8.47 Maximising the use of existing facilities is a sustainable approach to increasing provision. Most school facilities are used only for limited periods outside school hours. Opportunities for wider community use should be explored. It may be necessary to establish independent ancillary facilities such as changing rooms and car parking, in order to ensure the use is suitable for both the school and the community.

INDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES FOR SPORT

Swimming

8.48 Sport England recommends a minimum provision of seven square metres of swimming pool space per 1000 population. Maldon District has provided a swimming pool of 374 sq.m. south of the Promenade Park, Maldon, which meets the District's requirements.

Indoor dry sports

8.49 Most indoor dry sports require the provision of a sports hall which is able to accommodate a wide range of activities such as badminton, volleyball, basket ball, and 5 a side football. Sport England, provide standards for the requirements of sports facilities in relation to population levels. A minimum of one sports hall of 32m x 17m x 7m per 25,000 - 30,000 population is recommended, in addition to one squash court per 5,000 population and one indoor bowls rink per 15,000 population. Based on these standards the Maldon District should have two sports halls, ten squash courts and three bowling rinks.

8.50 There are no public squash courts in the District, although 16 exist at private clubs in Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch. There is a bowls centre in Latchingdon, which meets the District requirement and some Parishes offer short mat and carpet bowls in the village halls.

8.51 In the District, in 2001, one sports hall is provided in Burnham-on-Crouch that caters for the population in the east of the District. New dryside sports facilities have been completed at the Blackwater Leisure Centre, Park Drive, Maldon. These facilities satisfy the Sport England requirement for two sports halls in the District.

8.52 Within other settlements village halls can provide important indoor sports facilities supplementing the strategic District provision. However, these should be small in scale so as not to create unsustainable facilities.

8.53 In consideration of the wishes of the community as expressed in the Community Plan it is important that the amenities offered to the town and surrounding area at the Blackwater Leisure Centre, Park Drive Health Club and the Madison Heights indoor bowling/leisure centre are retained. Policy REC9 reserves or safeguards these sites for these general purposes and encourages further provision of facilities in the area shown in the proposals map

Maldon Leisure Quarter

8.54 There has, in recent years, been significant development of sports and leisure facilities at south east Maldon on land to the east of Park Drive. This includes the Park Drive Health Club, Blackwater Leisure Centre (originally built to provide swimming facilities but now includes dryside sports facilities) and 'Madison Heights', offering ten pin bowling and snooker/pool facilities. In addition, Maldon Town Football Club has its new ground and function suite further to the south.

8.55 Consultation during the preparation on the Community Plan for Maldon District has revealed a clear view from residents for enhanced leisure and entertainment facilities in Maldon, particularly a cinema. The lack of hotel facilities was also highlighted.

8.56 There is the opportunity to accommodate leisure and tourist facilities on land at south east Maldon through an amendment to the development boundary to reflect the recent changes in this part of the town. Further additional development would and consolidate its role as a leisure area or 'quarter' offering sporting, leisure and community uses to residents and visitors and would be particularly welcome. Given the peripheral location of the area in relation to the town, it will be important to demonstrate that the proposal complies with the assessment tests in PPS6 . It will also be necessary to improve accessibility by a choice of means of transport. Bus routes and the south Maldon cycleway already serve the area. This District Council will seek the enhancement of transport facilities in this area with both developers and public transport providers.

RECREATION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

8.57 The opportunity for recreation in the countryside is an important contribution to quality of life in the District. The Blackwater and Crouch Estuaries are the District's greatest recreational assets and consequently there is pressure for development in the Coastal Zone to meet recreational demands. The Plan aims to ensure that the use of the Coastal Zone does not adversely affect its character and that competing demands on the resource are reconciled. Policies on this matter are in the Coast and Countryside Chapter.

Public Rights of Way

8.58 The Essex County Council is responsible for maintaining the definitive map of public rights of way in Essex and the creation, maintenance, signposting, preservation and repair of public rights of way in the District. . Additionally, Maldon District Council has the power to create and divert paths under the Highways Act 1980 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Where any proposal for development affects a public right of way, it may be necessary for it to be diverted to a route no less attractive, safe or convenient for public use.

Walking

8.59 This continues to be one of the most popular recreational activities in the countryside and there is an extensive network of public footpaths throughout the District. Where it is desirable the District Council will encourage the creation of suitable additional footpaths through co-operation between landowners, Local Authorities and users when considering appropriate planning applications. Public use of footpaths is enhanced by the provision of suitably located car parking, toilets and information. Improvement of existing facilities and new provision will be encouraged in suitable locations.

Recreational Cycling

8.60 It is an objective of the District Transportation Strategy to increase the number and length of journeys made by bicycle. The extensive character, topography and diversity of the rural area is well suited to leisure cycling but national surveys show that there is resistance to bicycle use for other journeys over 5 km. In the larger settlements encouragement to cycle can be assisted by the provision of cycle routes and dedicated cycle routes and these can serve all purpose journeys. Cycle routes are discussed in more detail in the transport chapter.

8.61 The National Cycle Network (promoted by SUSTRANS) in Essex will link Harwich and Harlow and passes through Heybridge and Maldon where it utilises the cycle route network and the Blackwater Rail Trail (the former Maldon to Witham Railway). The "Two Rivers Way," a waymarked leisure route linking Burnham-on-Crouch and Bradwell, was opened in 2000. The District Council is working with Essex County Council and other partners to achieve the completion of the Blackwater Rail Trail. To achieve this, it is essential that the route and line of this proposed linear country park is protected from development that might hamper or prevent its implementation.

8.62 The District Council will encourage recreational cycling in the District working with Sustrans, Essex County Council and user groups to promote suitable waymarked routes along appropriate rural roads, public bridleways and public byways. It is recognised that off road facilities in the District could be improved to meet the demands or needs of users. Therefore support will be given to projects aimed at improving access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists and horseriders, including rural traffic calming and the creation of public bridleways.

Horse riding

8.63 Horse riding is a popular recreational pursuit in the District. Although the total bridleway provision in the District is 15 miles there is heavy reliance on the use of roads for recreational riding. There continues to be a demand for further provision of bridleways particularly to provide an opportunity to establish circular routes of reasonable length. The District Council will seek to protect and enhance the bridleway network throughout the District. It will work with the Essex County Council and local users to encourage further provision of bridleways where appropriate. The District Council will work with the County Council and user groups to encourage the creation of new public bridleways within the District. Support will be given to the identification and investigation of rural traffic management issues, especially where the safety and enjoyment of the highway and public rights of way network is of concern for non-motorised users, i.e. pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders.

8.64 There are seven riding establishments (stables that hire out horses or ponies for riding or tuition) licensed by the District Council under the Riding Establishments Act. New establishments will not be allowed where they require a new dwelling in the countryside. The reuse and redevelopment of existing rural buildings could provide stable accommodation. Adequate safe routes should exist in the area for the level of activity proposed. New developments will be encouraged to locate where there is good access to the bridleway network, or roads carrying low levels of vehicular traffic.

Recreation and tourist attractions in the countryside

8.65 The District Council aims to attract tourists who enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside and coast. New intensively used tourist attractions are inappropriate in these locations and are directed by Policy S1 to within development boundaries. The upgrading of existing attraction's facilities may be acceptable subject to their location.

Golf Courses

8.66 The level of participation in golf continues to be high. The Maldon District has a substantial number of courses, located at Creeksea, Cold Norton, Great Totham, Langford, Tolleshunt Knights, Great Braxted, and Woodham Walter. At Woodham Mortimer and Latchingdon there are golf driving ranges. At Tolleshunt Knights there are several courses forming part of the Five Lakes leisure complex.

8.67 PPG 17 states that:

"Golf courses can open up the countryside for recreation, but they can also have significant impact. They should be located and designed to ensure harmony with the surrounding countryside and to conserve the natural environment. Each proposal should contain full details of the site and the impact of the development proposed, including the effect on public rights of way."

8.68 The PPG goes on to advise that special care should be taken when considering proposals within designated sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Further guidance on planning considerations is set out in "The Essex Golf Report" (Essex Planning Officers Association, 1992).

8.69 The demand for golf facilities is extending far beyond the basic provision of golf course and clubhouse facilities. It is important that in rural areas built development is restricted to that which is essential to serve the golf course proposed. Unrelated residential or holiday accommodation, hotels or major leisure and recreational developments are not appropriate. There are limited locations where such a development is acceptable and all built structures associated with golf courses will be considered against the countryside policies in this Plan. There are currently three unimplemented planning permissions for golf courses in the District, indicating that demand for new courses has been satisfied.

Golf Driving Ranges

8.70 Golf driving ranges are often provided in association with golf courses. They need covered bays, flood lighting and high fencing. Consequently they can have greater visual impact on their surroundings, more closely resembling an urban location than other golfing facilities. A driving range can be free standing in which case it would require further buildings including a pay desk, toilets, refreshments and possibly a shop. Careful siting and design of buildings is necessary to minimise their impact on the open countryside or residential areas where they are close to built up areas. Proposals for such facilities will be considered against countryside policies as well as the policies below.

8.71 The Council will require that the layout of the course, the siting and size of its buildings, car parking and a landscape scheme are submitted as part of the planning application and not treated as a reserved matter for later approval. Opportunities to extend and enhance the existing network will be taken, and consideration to the creation of new public footpath and bridleways within and in close proximity to the golf course will be encouraged and pursued in determining proposals.

Other recreational pursuits

Motor Sport

8.72 Uncontrolled motor sports can create problems such as noise pollution and erosion. For these sports to be acceptable they need to be undertaken safely and legally and this will require the planning of a site fit for the purpose. A suitable site would need to be away from residential areas, not in or adjacent to designated nature conservation sites or on good quality agricultural land. Considering these requirements it is unlikely that a suitable site for motor sport could be identified in the District.

War Games

8.73 War Games are a woodland-based recreational activity. The Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order (1995) allows for temporary uses, including war games, to be undertaken for a maximum of 28 days in any one calendar year. Further use requires planning permission. Use of woodland for the purpose of war games may damage the vegetation and should be avoided at certain times of year to prevent disturbance to breeding habitats. Horses can take fright when ridden through or past an area in which war games are taking place. The effects of disturbance to equestrians and other users of adjacent or nearby public rights of way will be taken into account in determining proposals. Most woodlands in the District would be significantly damaged if they were used for this purpose. War games are an unacceptable use within designated nature conservation sites. Early discussions by interested parties with the District Council and English Nature is advisable.

Temporary or permanent use of land or water

8.74 Temporary use of land without the need to apply for planning permission for motor car and motor cycle racing is restricted to 14 days for any calendar year. Other uses are restricted to 28 days. There is provision within the legislation to withdraw these permitted development rights.

8.75 The Council will seek Article 4 Direction orders to prevent the use of land or water for sports and activities with potential nuisance value if such uses are having a damaging affect on the environment of the District. These include war games, clay pigeon shooting, motor cycle scrambling and noisy water sports. The Council has the power to implement this provision where the activity is found to be causing demonstrable harm to residential amenity, to the environment or there is a degree of permanency relating to the use of land. Within SSSIs planning permission is required for the temporary use of land for any of the above activities.

8.76 The permanent use of land or water for such uses would require planning permission. It would be likely to involve the erection of structures for toilets, changing facilities, reception/refreshment facilities and possibly highway improvements. These buildings may be prominent in the landscape and their existence will attract more frequent use thereby increasing the undesirable impact on the location.

Water recreation facilities

8.77 Proposals for additional moorings or for recreation development, which will increase the use of the estuaries, will be considered against the overall waterside capacity and the ability to accommodate the additional use proposed. Waterside capacity will be judged against the following criteria:

• Physical capacity of the water area to accept additional moorings,
• Consideration of safety for moored boats and the continued passage of other river traffic,
• The appearance of the moorings in the locality,
• The likely disturbance to existing wildlife populations,
• The availability of existing established access points,
• The availability of, or need for, land based access and services.

Inland water recreation

8.78 Although the opportunities for water recreation are extensive throughout the Crouch and Blackwater Estuaries, the volume of recreational use of these resources makes it increasingly necessary to look inland for additional facilities. There are no large reservoirs or comparable inland waters in the District, although there is a number of exhausted sand and gravel workings. These wet pits can have potential for specialised sports such as wind surfing, sub aqua, rowing and canoe racing. However, any development that may affect nature conservation interests or intrude on the peaceful enjoyment of the countryside must also comply with relevant policies in Chapter 3.

8.79 The Sports Council considers areas of water totalling less than four hectares are more suitable for angling than any other sport. Anglers throughout the District use many smaller pits and lakes. In addition sailing takes place at Heybridge Basin. The after-uses of gravel workings for suitable recreational purposes are encouraged subject to the consideration of wildlife interests.

8.80 The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation is a Conservation Area jointly designated with Chelmsford Borough Council. The Chelmer Valley is a haven of tranquillity. There is increasing use of the canal for leisure boating but this needs to be carefully controlled. Other leisure uses such as recreational walking, cycling on towpaths and angling can be mutually exclusive and access to the canal creates pressure points particularly from car parks at Beeleigh Falls and Hoe Mills.

TOURIST ACCOMMODATION

8.81 The District has many resources that attract a large number of visitors. In terms of the facilities used and the activities undertaken there is a large overlap between recreation and tourism. The overall value of tourism to Maldon District in 2003/04 was an estimated �94.6 million, supporting over 1000 jobs in a wide variety of services throughout the District.

Hotel and guesthouse accommodation

8.82 Hotel accommodation is largely limited to Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch. There has been some development of hotel accommodation in the countryside, for example, the Five Lakes Hotel Golf and Country Club. Guest house and bed and breakfast accommodation is provided in many parts of the District.

8.83 Consultants working on the impact of the closure of Bradwell Power Station identified tourism as an area where the local economy could be reinforced. The provision of more 'quality' accommodation within the rural parts of the District would assist this. Such development will normally be encouraged within development boundaries. In addition some demand could be met with farmhouse accommodation which could provide facilities to add to the visitor's enjoyment of our rural heritage and countryside. Policies linked to farm diversification are set out in the Coast and Countryside chapter.

8.84 Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 21 (Tourism) states:

"In some locations outside the Green Belt, a well conceived hotel development, or the extension or adaptation of existing buildings for hotel use, can bring benefits to the area and may be acceptable. But there is no special reason to apply less demanding policies to new hotel developments than to other types of development in the open countryside." (Annex A para. 8)

8.85 Outside development boundaries proposals for the conversion of large country houses and extension of existing establishments will normally be permitted. Proposals for new hotels in the countryside will be exceptional and considered in relation to the proposal's scale and appearance, impact on the countryside and environmental and other designations and demonstrable need for the development in the location proposed. In recognition of the high quality environment of the District the Council will seek even higher design standards for new hotels than would normally be expected under Policy M/BE/1 and proposals must demonstrate particular attention to design and demonstrate how the concept of the building blends in with or enhances the location.

Static and touring caravan sites, chalet sites and camping sites

8.86 There are sixteen static caravan sites located in the District. All of them were permitted at least 30 years ago and the layout of many has not changed during the intervening period. Some of the sites have facilities for touring caravans and the occupation of most is limited to specific periods of the year. All of the sites are situated within the Coastal Zone. Facilities for touring caravans are supplemented by a number of sites "Certificated" by the Caravan Club and other organisations.

8.87 As the tourist industry is an important source of income and employment in the District it is important to retain the existing sites in their current use and not allow them to be developed for other purposes including housing. However in preventing alternative uses for the existing sites it is the District Council's wish to encourage environmental improvements to these sites. In order to assist in making these environmental improvements the District Council are prepared to allow extensions to the existing sites subject to satisfying certain criteria as well making environmental improvements to the existing site.

8.88 Development of new sites for the either static caravans, seasonally occupied or residentially occupied, or touring caravans outside development boundaries would be contrary to Policies S1 and S2 which seek to direct development to within the defined settlement boundaries. This Plan seeks to maintain the high environmental quality of the coast and countryside, in particular its remote, isolated and open nature. For these reasons, it is essential that the extension of existing sites and the creation of new facilities is strictly controlled, taking into account the Plan's development strategy and its policies on the Coast and Countryside. Opportunities should be taken to use previously developed land and the reuse of rural buildings to achieve this where necessary. Also, it will be important for there to be an identified need for the expansion or creation of new facilities. Applicants will be expected to provide evidence of such need and as part of this the views of the East of England Tourist Board should be sought.

Leisure plots

8.89 The use of land for leisure plots is considered to conflict with the strategic objectives of the Local Plan, particularly Objective Sii which seeks to protect and enhance the coast and countryside recognising their value to the character, ecology and economy of the District. As such Policy M/S/2 and other Coast and Countryside policies generally militate against such development. Proposals for the development of leisure plots will be considered against these and other policies in the Plan aimed at creating sustainable patterns of development and protecting the countryside and landscape

8.90 Leisure plots have been used for many years for recreational purposes. Individuals often make use of the land for siting a caravan, going on a picnic, other recreational pursuits or simply as a means to obtain access to the countryside. The use of leisure plots became established throughout Essex at a time when access to the countryside for recreation was limited. In recent years however, public access to the coast and countryside has improved significantly. Facilities such as the Promenade Park, Maldon and the Country Park at Burnham-on-Crouch have catered for such demands.

8.91 There has been a considerable amount of unauthorised leisure plot development, particularly around the River Blackwater. The predominant use of these sites has been for the stationing of holiday caravans and the multi-ownership and permanent use has led to great difficulties in controlling uses and the enforcement of planning and public health licences.

8.92 The Smugglers Club Ground at Althorne has the additional control of an Article 4 Direction to afford protection to the undeveloped centre of the area.