West Dorset (Local Environment Profile 2011)

KEY FACTS

> West Dorset produced 843 kt of end user CO2 in 2008, the highest for a local authority in Dorset.

> Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions decreased in West Dorset by 4%.

> The highest proportion of end user emissions in West Dorset in 2008 was Domestic, accounting for 34.9% (294 kt), followed by Road Transport with 31.8% (268 kt). West Dorset produced the tenth lowest amount of land use, land use change and forestry CO2 emissions for a local authority in the South West in 2008 (43kt).

> West Dorset residents were responsible for a total of 8.7 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, 17% higher than the 7.2 tonnes per capita average for Dorset and 10% higher than the South West 7.8 tonnes. This was the second highest recorded by a local authority in Dorset.

> Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced by 5% in West Dorset.

> There are 47 river water bodies within West Dorset. Our latest assessment of these classified 2.1% as bad, 19.2% as poor, 38.3% as moderate and 40.4% as good.

> West Dorset District Council was not in the top ten lowest producers of residual waste produced however were doing well in the bottom half of the league table in the South West, with 473.91 kg/household

> West Dorset District Council in 2009/10 had the ninth lowest amount of recycling in the South West with 32.72%

> Dorset County Council landfilled 103,893 tonnes, which was the sixth highest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However, this was also the fifth lowest percentage landfilled (47.94%) in the South West.

> The population of West Dorset was estimated to be 96,700 in June 2010, 1.8% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.

> Between 2008 and 2033, the number of households in West Dorset are predicted to increase by 25.6% from 28,000 to 32,000. This is lower than both the 30% increase predicted for the Region, but higher than for England (21.1%).

> Larger population centres in West Dorset where there is risk of flooding include: Lyme Regis and Bridport

> West Dorset is covered in the majority by the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset CAMS. There is also some influence from the Dorset Stour CAMS, the Otter, Sid and Lim CAMS and also the Parrett, Brue and West Somerset CAMS.

> In 2006, West Dorset had the highest eco footprint in Dorset with 4.98 gha.

> Dorset County Council had an allocation of 82,565 tonnes and only landfilled 72,865 tonnes (88.3%) of their Biodegradable Municipal Waste

Dorset County (showing all districts, plus Bournemouth and Poole)

Act to reduce climate change and its consequences

CLIMATE CHANGE

Dorset County Council have a Climate Change Plan. For more information on this, please click here .

CARBON DIOXIDE - END USER

West Dorset produced 843 kt of end user CO2 in 2008, the highest for a local authority in Dorset, the lowest was Christchurch with 302kt.
Between 2005 and 2008, end user CO2 emissions decreased in West Dorset by 4%, from 878kt to 843kt.
The highest proportion of end user emissions in West Dorset in 2008 was Domestic, accounting for 34.9% (294 kt), followed by Road Transport with 31.8% (268 kt). West Dorset produced the 10th lowest amount of Land use, land use change and forestry CO2 emissions for a local authority in the South West in 2008 (43kt).

[ Zoom ]

CO2 Levels 2005-08: West Dorset

West Dorset residents were responsible for a total of 8.7 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2008, 17% higher than the 7.2 tonnes per capita average for Dorset and 10% higher than the South West 7.8 tonnes. This was the second highest recorded by a local authority in Dorset. The highest was Purbeck with 9.9t, and lowest was Weymouth and Portland with 4.7t.
Between 2005 and 2008 per capita emissions reduced by 5% in West Dorset from 9.2t to 8.7t.

Please note - we are reporting on end user CO2 emissions, which are used as the National Indictor for Sustainable Development for the UK. An alternative measure of CO2 is available from the Stockholm Institute. As the data presented is from 2008, the local authority comparisons for the South West include district authorities in Cornwall and Wiltshire which have now been replaced by Unitary Authorities.

Source: Sub-national energy consumption statistics, DECC

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

There were 50,500 domestic electricity meter points in West Dorset in 2009, 2% of the regional total of almost 2.4 million.
An average of 4,719kWh of electricity was used per consumer in West Dorset during 2009, 6% (271kWh) higher than the regional average of 4,448kWh and 14% (567kWh) higher than the Great Britain average of 4,152kWh. This was the second highest recorded by a local authority in Dorset, behind North Dorset with 4,787kwh, the lowest for the County was Weymouth with 3,781kWh.

Source: AEA for DECC

[ Zoom ]

Energy Consumption 2005-09: West Dorset

TRANSPORT

3,776 million vehicle kilometres were made in Dorset County authority area in 2009.
This was the sixth highest recorded by a unitary or county council (behind Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Cornwall), accounting for just 7.7% of the 48,588 million km total for the region as a whole.
Between 1993 and 2009, the total number of vehicle kilometres travelled within Dorset area increased by 21% (665 million km). This was lower than the average increase in the South West of 26%.

[ Zoom ]

A graph showing estimated traffic volume in Dorset (1993-2009)

Source : Department of Transport

COMMUTING

Driving to work is the most popular way to commute. In West Dorset 57.9% commute by car compared to the South West average of 58.7%.
Walking to work in West Dorset with 13.8% is higher than the South West average of 12.1%, and higher than the UK average of 10.0% of commuters.

Source: Office of National Statistics

[ Zoom ]

A graph comparing methods of travelling to work in West Dorset, SW, and UK (2001)

Protect and improve air, land and water quality

AIR QUALITY

There is one area of poor air quality in West Dorset. An Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) has been established in Chideock
Please click here to find out more

Source:DEFRA

WATER QUALITY

There are 47 river water bodies within West Dorset. Our latest assessment of these classified 2.1% as bad, 19.2% as poor, 38.3% as moderate and 40.4% as good.
This compares with 148 river water bodies within Dorset. Our latest assessment of these classified 2% as bad, 15% as poor, 40% as moderate and 43% as good.
The main reasons for less than good status include: high levels of phosphate, impacted fish communities, low levels of dissolved oxygen and physical modification.

[ Zoom ]

A map showing Water Framework Directive (WFD) water bodies from Dorset

For information on the activities taking place to help your local river improve, please see the Earth Chattering pages for an interactive map and much more information.

Please note - Water bodies do not fit exactly within local authority boundaries. The figures have been derived from those water bodies whose centres are within the district in question. If all water bodies within a district had been included, double accounting would have taken place. Some water bodies have yet to be classified. For the purpose of this exercise, these have been removed from the figures published.

Source: Environment Agency

LAND USE

In 2005 both the South West Region and the UK, the largest landuse came from Greenspace with 90.7% and 87.5% respectively. The next largest area of land cover came in the form of domestic gardens with 3.07% in the South West, and 4.3% for the UK average.
In West Dorset the two largest landuses are the same, however domestic gardens is slightly lower with 1.9% and greenspace is higher with 94.5%.

[ Zoom ]

A graph showing the Landuse in West Dorset (2005)

Source :Communities and Local Government

QUALITY OF LIFE

The ninth Local Environmental Quality Survey conducted by Keep Britain Tidy, was carried out between April 2009 and March 2010. The Summary Report key messages included:

~ Overall Standards within England remain the same as last year, with no change in the Cleansing Index score, which is 76, out of a possible 100.

~ 63% of standards for all LEQ indicators were either Good or Satisfactory.

~ The South East joins the South West as top performing region overall, for the first time this year.

~ The South West has been either the top performing region or joint top performing region since the 2007/08 Survey.

The survey carried out between April 2006 -March 2007, is available down to Local Authority Level; please click here for the details.

Source : Keep Britain Tidy

NITRATE VULNERABLE ZONES

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) are areas of land that drain into waters polluted by nitrates, such that the ecosystem is at risk of being disturbed, or the water is likely to exceed 50 milligrams of nitrate in each litre.

Within West Dorset Council, around half the council area is designated NVZ with no areas of deferred slurry storage.

NVZ regulations come fully into force on 1 Jan 2012, except in deferred Slurry storage areas which have until 1 Jan 2013.
For more information on NVZ, please see Environment Agency pages.
For detailed maps relating to NVZ areas, please see source pages.

Source: Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]

West Dorset Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)

CATCHMENT SENSITIVE FARMING

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) gives advice on dealing with diffuse pollution from agriculture and the impact on water courses.
CSF is a voluntary initiative, where as NVZs is a statutory obligation. CSF looks at: best practice on manure and pesticide usage; Promoting good soil structure; protecting watercourses from run-off and best practice on stock management.
In West Dorset there are overlaps from a number of Catchment Sensitive Farming Projects. These include:

1.        Axe and Otter - area 589km2

2.        Frome, Fleet, Piddle - area of 930km2

3.        Dorset Stour - area of 437km2
4.        Somerset Levels and Moors - area of 2,535km2

Source: Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]

A map showing the Catchment Sensitive Farming projects in West Dorset

SOIL

In a broad landscape context the soils of West Dorset are dominated by shallow chalk and limestone soils in the east with light textured and clay rich heavy soils to the west and north.
Soil type is a major factor in determining the type of agriculture that can be supported. Generally light textured soils support cereals and horticulture while shallow chalk limestone soils support grazing and cereals. Clay rich heavy soils often underlie dairy pasture.
The latest detailed DEFRA data (2007) on the number of holdings (farm types) within West Dorset indicates over 48% of farms support lowland grazing (sheep and beef), 22% dairy and 13% cereals.

Source : DEFRA

[ Zoom ]

A map showing the West Dorset soils

POLLUTION INCIDENTS

For the period April 2005- March 2010 inclusive, there are 2 incidents of major impact on water. In addition, there was 1 incident of significant impact on air, 2 incidents of significant impact on land, 1 incident of significant impact on land and water, and 8 incidents of significant impact on water.
For the period April 2010- March 2011 inclusive, there were 2 incidents of major impact to water in West Dorset.
For the same period, there were no incidents of significant impact to air, land or water.

Source : Environment Agency

FLYTIPPING

During 2009/10 there were 495 reported incidents of flytipping in West Dorset, the second highest in Dorset. This was a 7% increase from 463 incidents in 2008/09.

Source: DEFRA

Please note: incidents of fly tipping are reported differently by each council. One may log black bin bags out on an incorrect day as a fly tipping incident where another council do not log this. Please be aware of these reporting discrepancies on Flycapture when looking at the data in comparison to other councils.

MUNICIPAL WASTE

West Dorset District Council was not in the top ten lowest producers of residual waste produced however were doing well in the bottom half of the league table in the South West, with 473.91 kg/household.

In 2009/10, South Hams had the lowest level of residual waste in the South West with 341.04kg/household. The highest in the South West was Isles of Scilly Council with 1,452kg/household.

[ Zoom ]

Recycling in the South West (2009/10)

Recycling and composting has increased significantly in the South West, from 14.9% in 2000 / 2001 to 43.5% in 2009 / 2010.
West Dorset District Council in 2009/10 had the ninth lowest amount of recycling in the South West with 32.72%
The highest rate of recycling in the SW was Cotswold District Council with 60.4%, and the lowest rate in the SW was Isles of Scilly with 18.9%.

Source : DEFRA

TOTAL MUNICIPAL WASTE LANDFILLED

Dorset County Council landfilled 103,893 tonnes, which was the sixth highest amount of tonnes landfilled in the South West. However, this was also the fifth lowest percentage landfilled (47.94%) in the South West.
Bournemouth Borough Council landfilled the least percentage waste in 2009/10 (37.8%). Plymouth City Council landfilled the largest percentage of waste in 2009/10 (64%). Devon County Council however landfilled the largest amount in tonnes with 194,720 tonnes.

[ Zoom ]

Waste disposal 2009/10 in Dorset

Source: Environment Agency

Put people and communities at the heart of what we do

POPULATION

The population of West Dorset was estimated to be 96,700 in June 2010, 1.8% of the South West’s total population of 5,273,700.
Of this population 17.1 % were aged under 15, 56.2% were aged 16 – 64 (working age), and 26.8% were of pensionable age (65+).
There were considerably more people aged over 65 in West Dorset (26.8%), than in South West and England (19.6% and 16.5% respectively).

Source : Office of National Statistics

[ Zoom ]

Population Growth in the South West: 2008-2033

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Between 2008 and 2033, the number of households in West Dorset are predicted to increase by 25.6% (11,000 households) from 43,000 to 54,000. This is lower than both the 30% increase predicted for the South West Region, and the 21.1% rise predicted for England.

[ Zoom ]

Household Estimate and Projections 1991-2033: West Dorset

Please note - Figures to 2008 are based on ONS mid-year population estimates and projected rates of household formation from trends in Census and Labour Force Survey data. All projections are 2008-based. The 2008-based household projections are linked to the Office for National Statistics 2008-based Population Projections, and are not an assessment of housing need or do not take account of future policies. They are an indication of the likely increase in households given the continuation of recent demographic trends.

Source : Communities and Local Government

NEW HOMES ON PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED LAND

The proportion of new buildings built in England on previously developed land, rose 23% between 1994-2009. More than half of local authorities in the South West has an increase higher than the English average.
Over the same period, South Gloucestershire had the highest overall increase with 57%, and the lowest was Isles of Scilly with -10%. The second lowest local authority was jointly Cotswold and Torbay with only a 5% increase over the same period.
The increase in West Dorset was 6%, lower than the UK average. This was third lowest in the South West and the lowest in Dorset.
For the period 2006-2009, only 4 councils achieved over 90% of new dwellings on previously developed land in the South West. These were Bournemouth (97), Poole (97%), City of Bristol (95%) and Christchurch (94%).

Source: Communities and Local Government

FLOODING

One in six properties in England are at risk of flooding. In the South West over 200,000 properties are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea and around 6,000 properties are at risk from coastal erosion in the South West.
The causes of flooding in Dorset are varied; rivers, tidal, and surface water or combinations of the three, depending on location.
Larger population centres in West Dorset where there is risk of flooding include: Lyme Regis and Bridport
To see locations at risk of flooding in West Dorset, please click here for the Environment Agency flood map.

Source: Environment Agency

PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND FLOOD RISK

The Environment Agency lodged objections to 6,200 planning applications in England and Wales on the grounds of flood risk in 2007/2008 up from 4,750 in 2006/2007. Of these, 1,160 objections were in the South West, accounting for almost 19% of the national total.
An additional 21 applications for minor development were also approved contrary to Environment Agency advice in the South West. One of these was in Dorset County Council
In 2008/09, a summary report was published which had no detailed information to local authority level.
The number of planning applications to which we objected on flood risk grounds fell slightly to 5,198 in 2008/09 compared to 6,232 in 2007/08, representing 43% of consultations received. This is the first fall in the proportion of consultations objected to since 2001/02.

Source: Environment Agency

Work with businesses and the public sector to use resources wisely

WATER RESOURCES

West Dorset is covered in the majority by the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset CAMS. There is also some influence from the Dorset Stour CAMS, the Otter, Sid and Lim CAMS and also the Parrett, Brue and West Somerset CAMS.

[ Zoom ]

Catchment Area Management Strategy (CAMS) for Dorset

Please click here for the full documents

Source: Environment Agency

ECO FOOTPRINT

The ecological footprint is an indicator of the total environmental burden we place on the planet. It represents the area of land needed to provide raw materials, energy and food, and to absorb pollution and waste created. It is measured in global hectares (a hectare of land with world average productivity) and is usually expressed as a per person measure. The Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) calculate the ecological footprint of consumption activities.
One of the main features of an ecological footprint indicator is that it is based on consumption, not just domestic production. It takes into account the impact of all products that are consumed, whether they are produced in the country of consumption, or elsewhere in the world.

In 2006, an average UK citizen had an eco-footprint of 4.64gha, which is significantly above the available budget of 1.89 gha. The South West Regional average was 4.74 gha.
In 2006, West Dorset had the highest eco footprint in Dorset with 4.98 gha. The lowest in Dorset was Weymouth and Portland with 4.58gha.
The ecological footprint of all local authorities in the UK is significantly above the available global budget. If everyone in the world consumed the same as a UK citizen we would need nearly three planets worth of resources.

Source : Resource Accounting

[ Zoom ]

A graph showing the West Dorset Eco Footprint (2006) by themes

LANDFILL ALLOWANCE TRADING SCHEME

In 2009/10 the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) landfilled by the 16 local authorities within the South West was 1,032,967 tonnes against their combined allocation of 1,134,910 tonnes.
Dorset County Council had an allocation of 82,565 tonnes and only landfilled 72,865 tonnes (88.3%) of their BMW.
Only two councils in the South West exceeded their allocations. They were Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Source : Environment Agency

[ Zoom ]

Amount landfilled in 09/10 within the South West

Downloads

Please use these images in presentations/reports, but remember to reference the South West Observatory Environment Module Local Profiles 2011.

PDF 2011