New strategy for Northumberland coastline

For the first time in the UK, the integration of the management of the two sites links the land and the sea across the intertidal area and also crosses the Scottish border.

The AONB runs from Amble to Berwick while the EMS covers the adjoining marine area from Alnmouth to Fast Castle Head, north of St Abbs in Scotland.

Together, they include some of the most dramatic coastal scenery and marine features in the country , and are recognised internationally for their landscape features, wildlife and historical and cultural heritage.

The themes in the plan cover the natural and historic environments, environmental quality, enjoyment, living and working and land use and marine planning within the sites.

Natural England's chief executive, Dr Helen Philips, said: "The Northumberland and Berwickshire coast is a nationally important environmental treasure and a uniquely important natural asset for northern England and the Borders.

"This pioneering management plan is the first of its kind in the UK to take into account the future management of both the area's coastline and its inshore waters. I congratulate everyone involved on a ground-breaking approach to the future management of a beautiful coast.

"As well as being an amazingly beautiful part of the country in its own right, this coastline contributes to the regional economy by attracting thousands of visitors, creating employment, and delivering many far reaching public benefits. This new plan will ensure that this superb natural asset remains well-managed for future generations to enjoy."

Pat Scott, AONB Partnership chairman, said: "We believe this plan will deliver our shared goals and ambitions to conserve and enhance this most beautiful and spectacular coastline of Northumberland and Berwickshire with its great variety of colourful marine life and stunning coastal scenery."

The plan says: "We now regard it as inconceivable to manage the coastal and marine areas in isolation."

Northumberland County Council Executive Member for the Environment Alan Thompson outlined hopes for AONB status to be extended beyond Amble.

He said: "While the launch is about the area from North Berwick to Amble I would like to have the very positive advances that have been made in areas like Newbiggin by the Sea recognised through extending protection status to the whole of the Northumberland coast from the border to Tynemouth."

The plan aims to protect the special qualities of the coastline and inshore waters and highlights potential opportunities and threats.

One such issue is tourism, which is becoming more important economically as the traditional coastal farming and fishing sectors shrink.

In a survey of 87 businesses in the AONB, three quarters said that the quality of the landscape affected the performance of their business and half said it influenced their decision to locate in the area.

But the economy is now changing to one where tourism is one of the most important sectors.

One of the challenges will be striking a balance between increasing numbers of visitors who come to enjoy the natural, historic and leisure attractions of the coast, and the pressure and damage such numbers can cause.

"There is an inherent tension in visitor management between making the area accessible for visitors and preventing damage to the very resource that attracts visitors," says the plan.

"The area's popularity with visitors, rising numbers of cars and an increasing variety of sports activities pose threats to the landscape, seascape, wildlife, historic environment and experience of visitors."

This could be sharpened by the new Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

"Such a level of access is an opportunity for recreation and also a potential threat to biodiversity and will need to be implemented very carefully," says the plan.

" In a time of great environmental upheaval the coast is at the forefront of the challenges posed by climate change.

"As the popularity of the area rises, so pressures on the landscape and environment increase, such as new housing, marine structures, growing visitor numbers on land and at sea and changing farming, fishing and industrial practices.

"It is essential that the management of the AONB and EMS rises to these challenges while conserving the unique natural features, tranquility and specialness of the area.

"Many hundreds of thousands of visitors along with local people enjoy the area each year for relaxation, recreation, education and general enjoyment which together enhance quality of life and benefit health.

"Visitors to the coast provide a vital economic resource and visitor interest and spending stimulates and supports the conservation of some historical and natural assets. "However, visitors are also a source of pressure on the special and qualifying features. "

Main visitor attractions include the miles of sweeping sandy beaches, castles, islands, nature reserves, wildlife, the underwater world, fishing villages and harbours, houses and gardens, museums, Christian heritage and crafts .

THE FACTS OF COASTAL LIFE

The 10,000-strong population of the Northumberland coast is mainly in what were traditional fishing and farming villages.

Employment in farming has greatly reduced with just 380 people directly employed out of a total working age population in the AONB of just over 6,000.

With continual declines in white fish stocks the fishing industry is experiencing a decline in vessels, fishers and landings.

Fishing activity is now focused mainly on crabs, lobsters and prawns and limited processing of local salmon and other fish.

Half the population of the AONB earn less than £16,500 a year and the lack of economic prospects has forced young people out of the villages.

There is a disproportionately high level of people over 60 with 30% compared to the national average of 21%.

Since 2003 the affordability ratio of income to house prices has worsened across Northumberland, but particularly in the rural areas including the previous Alnwick and Berwick local authority areas.

House prices are affected by the high level of second home ownership which reaches 41% in Beadnell (pictured), the second highest rate of all wards in England.

There is high car dependency among residents in the AONB with a third of all households owning more than one vehicle and 88% of visitors to the coast arriving by car, with only 3% using public transport.

Increased personal mobility has made the AONB more accessible to those who work in larger towns and conurbations such as Alnwick, Berwick and Tyneside and this has contributed to rapid property development in some parts of the AONB.

The popularity of the AONB as a visitor destination has also led to an increase in second and holiday homes and visitor-related facilities.

The plan says some of these developments pay little reference to traditional coastal building styles .