Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay Visitor Survey
Lancaster City Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Wyre Borough Council commissioned Morecambe Bay Partnership to undertake visitor surveys across several locations around Morecambe Bay. The survey was undertaken by Footprint Ecology. Morecambe Bay is the largest intertidal area in the UK and is of international importance for the wildlife and habitats it supports, including breeding and overwintering water birds which can be susceptible to disturbance. One of the main sources of disturbance comes through increased recreational use. This is noted to be a key issue for Morecambe Bay with recreational pressure regularly highlighted as one of the main factors threatening this important protected environment.
The Visitor Survey has been undertaken to help the three authorities better understand the motivations for visiting the Bay area and where people visiting the Bay currently live. This information will help to understand the zone of influence of the Bay and will help to inform local planning policies designed to mitigate any impact on the Bay arising from the introduction of new populations close to the Bay as a result of new development. The results show that the area is popular for activities such as dog walking and walking, and that people are attracted to it for its scenery, convenience (i.e. close to home), to be by the sea and because it is a good place to bring their dog. Many interviewees were regular visitors, with over half visiting at least once a week and over two thirds visiting equally throughout the year. The majority of interviewees were local residents.
The Morecambe Bay Visitor Survey can be found here.
Anyone who has any queries about the surveys can contact Planning Policy on 01253 887373 or email planning.policy@wyre.gov.uk.