11/5/2001

Five Welsh Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) will benefit from funding worth up to £750,000 over the next three years under the Environment Development Fund, said Assembly Minister for Environment Sue Essex today (11 May, 2001).

The EDF has been running in Wales’ three National Parks since June 2000. Ms Essex today formally launched the scheme for AONBs at the Bishopswood Countryside Centre, in Caswell Bay, within the Gower AONB.

The scheme aims, through partnership, to develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living in the countryside, while conserving and enhancing local characteristics of culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and community.

Each of the five Welsh AONBs will receive £50,000 per annum from 2001-2004 from the Environment Development Fund (EDF) to support innovative partnership projects to promote sustainable development.

Ms Essex said: "I am grateful for the hard work put in by all involved to put this scheme in place. This will mean that AONBs as well as National Parks can gain the benefit of this special fund set up by the National Assembly for Wales. As well as providing economic and environmental benefits for communities within the AONB, I see the fund playing a very important part in the delivery of sustainable development in these areas.

"A great deal of preparatory work has been undertaken, principally by the Countryside Council for Wales and the AONBs to ensure that the fund was ready to go on 1 April.

"I am sure that there will be a really enthusiastic response to this initiative and I am very pleased at the way in which the CCW, the AONBs and their partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors are already working together to help make it a success.

"I look forward to visiting EDF projects in the AONBs in Wales during the year to see for myself examples of how this fund is working."
Notes

The Countryside Council for Wales is co-ordinating the AONB element of EDF for the National Assembly, with the responsibility for its day to day administration resting with the constituent local authorities.

Applications over £1,000 will be assessed by a panel of local people made up of representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors, with smaller grants being assessed by the nominated local authority and Countryside Council for Wales officers.

The scheme is open to individuals or organisations from the public, private or voluntary sector.

Source:	National Assembly for Wales
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