The Severn Estuary Forum is a key annual event in its eighth year and hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership: an independent, estuary-wide initiative, involving all those interested in the management of the estuary, from planners to port authorities, fishermen to farmers. This year’s Forum was opened by the Lord Mayor of Gloucester and supported by CIWEM. It focussed on a number of diverse topics, including the upper estuary; renewable energy possibilities; a review of the Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy; an overview of the operations and maintenance of the Severn River Crossings; Local Enterprise Partnerships; The Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal; proposals for a Severnside Airport and Fisheries amongst others. These engaging and exciting events are intended for all interested in learning about the latest research and policy developments dealing with the Severn Estuary and its future, and always guarantee a lively and informative day of presentations and talks. They offer a unique opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and participate in the management of the Severn Estuary.

1. Severn Estuary Partnership
Working in partnership for the future of the Severn Estuary
The Severn Estuary Partnership:
progress update
Rhoda Ballinger
Cardiff University – SEP host

2. Background to SEP
• An
independent, estuary
wide
initiative, initiated by
local authorities &
statutory agencies
(1995)
• Severn Estuary
Strategy (2001)
– still provides a
strategic management
framework = vision?

3. Current Business Plan (2011 – 2016)
• SEP roles:
– Act as a coordinating
body, ensuring effective
communications between
organisations & individuals
– Promote & publicise the
estuary
– Add value & fill
gaps, providing extra
capacity
– Establish ‘principles’ for the
estuary for local delivery
• Ambitious enough?

4. Coordination & communication

5. Coordination & communication
• Central point of
contact
– SEP knows who
knows!
– Updating of SEP
contacts database

6. Coordination & communication
• Key outputs
– e-news
– consultations
– Severn Tidings

7. Coordination & communication
• New communication
channels
– Facebook
– Twitter
SevernEstuaryPartnership
@SevernEstuary
www.severnestuary.net/sep

8. Coordination & communication
• Events
– Joint Advisory
Committee
– Annual Forum (8th)

9. Other estuary coordination
• Continued support for
estuary-wide groups /
strategies:
– ASERA
– BCSEG
– SECG
• Action Plan monitoring
– Severn Estuary Flood
Risk Management
Strategy
• Review of consultations
• But a hierarchy?

10. Promote & publicise the estuary

11. Promote & publicise the estuary
• State of the Severn
Estuary Report 2011
• State of the Severn
Reporting
– Progress with Report
Cards
– Proforma for annual
updating information
– Rhys Morgan (NRW)
• Measuring
effectiveness?

12. Promote & publicise the estuary
• Website development
• Updating Who’s Who
web pages

13. Promote & publicise the estuary
• Website development
– Continued
development of Flickr
– The new Estuary web
pages
• Assistance of SEP
partners

14. A taste of the new web pages …
16
14
12
10
%
8
6
4
2
0
-2
Population increases between 2001 & 2011

15. Adding value & filling gaps

16. Adding value & filling gaps
• Project work
– CPN / MMO report
– Work with PCF for Welsh
Government
• political aspects?

17. Establish ‘principles’ for the estuary

18. Establish ‘principles’ for the estuary
• Our vision?
• Learning from our
European projects
– DELTANET project
– IMCORE legacy –
SIC-Adapt
• Learning from our
UK projects &
network
– CPN/ MMO
– CPN

19. Future Directions

20. Future Directions
•
The new estuary web pages
…
•
The SEP/ ASERA new
officer
– An opportunity for review?
• SEP Business Plan
• SEP approach, projects &
outputs
• Brian’s points ...
• SEP partner role
•
Remember … SEP =
PARTNERSHIP
– Role of partners …
– Not just money!
• (powers, sovereignty…)

21. Thank you ...
•
Especially
–
–
–
–
SEP team (Paul, Gwil)
SEP placement students
(Lucy, Zoe, Claudia, Em
ma, Adam)
SEP Forum sub-group
(Rhys, John, Rob)
EARTH staff/ postgrads
(Alun, Azmath, Briony, D
ebby, Tom, Piers)

22. Any questions?
• http://www.severnestuary.net/sep/index.html
• severn@cardiff.ac.uk
SevernEstuaryPartnership
@SevernEstuary
www.severnestuary.net/sep