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Sustainable Regeneration Directorate

Business Development & Partnerships Division

Salford City Council,

Civic Centre

Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford M27 5BY

[FOI #9007 email]

Phone

Fax

Email

Web

My Ref

Your Ref

0161 793 2878

0161 793 2477

[email address]

EIR/LBF/Davies/80309

Date 19 March 2009

Subject: Environment Information Regulations

Dear Ms Davis

Thank you for your request for information which was received at our offices on 8 March 2009 Your request has been processed under the terms of the Environme Thank you for your request for information which was received at our offices on 8 March 2009 Your request has been processed under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Our response is as follows:-

a) what protection measures a verge receives when it is included in
   the scheme
I can confirm that the council does not operate an Ecological Protection scheme for its road verges. However, the council is aware of the need to periodically check the extent/type of open land within the city and the likelihood of that land to support any habitats and species of biodiversity importance. To that end, in 2008 (Final Report received March 2009) the council commissioned a Habitat Survey of the majority of open land within the city. That survey included a requirement to survey road verges, excluding those along the motorway network (on the grounds of difficulty of access/health and safety issues).ntal Information Regulations 2004. Our response is as follows:-

a) what protection measures a verge receives when it is included in
   the scheme
I can confirm that the council does not operate an Ecological Protection scheme for its road verges. However, the council is aware of the need to periodically check the extent/type of open land within the city and the likelihood of that land to support any habitats and species of biodiversity importance. To that end, in 2008 (Final Report received March 2009) the council commissioned a Habitat Survey of the majority of open land within the city. That survey included a requirement to survey road verges, excluding those along the motorway network (on the grounds of difficulty of access/health and safety issues).

Thank you for your request for information which was received at our offices on 8 March 2009.[Author ID1: at Thu Apr 2 09:26:00 2009 ] Your request has been processed under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Our response is as follows:-

If you run an ecological protection scheme for road verges in your area, please could you provide me with the following details:

I can confirm that the council does not operate an Ecological Protection scheme for its road verges.

a) what protection measures a verge receives when it is included in the scheme
The council is aware of the need to periodically check the extent/type of open land within the city and the likelihood of that land, to support any habitats and species of biodiversity importance. To that end, work has been undertaken to look at open land and [Author ID2: at Thu Mar 19 11:28:00 2009 ]road verges, excluding those along the motorway network (on the grounds of difficulty of access/health and safety issues).


There appears to be relatively little of interest along Salford's road verges. This is in large part due to the fact that much of Salford is urbanised and the majority of road verges are therefore comprised of amenity grassland and non native species (e.g. from landscaping schemes).  

In terms of maintenance responsibilities, the motorway network through Salford is managed by the Highways Agency, whilst on Chat Moss in the west of the city, the road network is privately maintained.  

Despite the relative lack of important existing habitats and species, some of Salford's verges that are maintained by the council may contain some albeit limited potential to enhance their biodiversity interest. This is an issue that would be explored as part of Salford's commitment to produce a Biodiversity Strategy for the city. 

b) the list of verges covered by the scheme (and their locations - road name/number and six figure OS grid references would be fine)

c) for each verge, the specific reasons why the verge has been included in the scheme - i.e. the notable species found there, or the NVC community present
As stated above the council does not operate an Ecological Protection scheme for its road verges.


If you do not run such a scheme in your area, but you are aware that another body does, please could you refer me to them instead.

We are not aware of any other Greater  Manchester councils that operate an Ecological Protection scheme, but you may wish to check with the Highways Agency.

Should you disagree with the above, or if you wish to make a formal appeal against this decision, please contact Rob Pickering, Head of Partnership and Business Support, Business and Partnerships Division at the above address or telephone on 0161 793 2818. Guidance on how to make a formal appeal against a decision under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is also available on our web site at www.salford.gov.uk.

Should you further disagree with the decision following the appeal, you may wish to contact the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane, Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Tel: 01625 545700

Fax: 01625 524510

Yours sincerely

Lynn

Lynn Faulkner

Principal Information Governance Officer