POLICY C6
THE COUNCIL HAS DEFINED A COASTAL ZONE, ON PROPOSALS MAP NO. 1 AND INSET MAPS Nos. 5 AND 7, WITHIN WHICH DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF SAND DUNE SYSTEMS, CLIFFS, MUD AND SAND FLATS, TIDAL AND FRESHWATER PONDS AND ASSOCIATED LOW LYING LAND WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. THE COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE THE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF THE COASTAL ZONE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION.
4.23.1 The coast is an important national resource and Local Planning Authorities are now required to consider how best to preserve and manage the coastline in their area and draw up appropriate policies (See PPG20, 1992, Coastal Planning). The Council considers that its coastal zone covers the same area as the proposed Heritage Coast and, in addition, extends south to the Borough boundary at the River Lyne. The coastal zone is both a valuable natural and recreational resource and a place where people live and work. Within the zone particular attention will be given to proposals for development in order to ensure that they do not disrupt sensitive coastal systems.
4.23.2 The Council currently owns coastal properties on the Bay and land stretching south of the Bay to Lynemouth. These areas are subject to a variety of problems and to deal with these the Council implemented its Cresswell Dunes Management Plan (1986). The Management Plan has been revised and extended to cover property between Snab Point and Lynemouth and taking account of the co-operation and proposed "corporate" image of Druridge Bay, as set out in the Northumberland Coast Management Plan.
4.23.3 The dunes system along Druridge Bay is a valuable asset in that they provide a special but fragile habitat for a range of very specialised plants and animals. This has unfortunately been put at risk through the overgrazing on part of the dunes which has resulted in the deterioration of the dune habitat and loss of SSSI designation there. The beach, dunes and hinterland of the Bay also provide important wetland areas which are extensively used by thousands of resident and migrant birds, some of which are rare locally, nationally and internationally. These aspects are highlighted by the number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, and nature reserves associated with Druridge Bay and further emphasised by the classification of the Northumberland Shore SSSI as part of a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site. (See also Policy R11)