Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay Visitor Survey
Lancaster City Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Wyre Borough Council have recently commissioned Morecambe Bay Partnership to undertake visitor surveys across several locations around Morecambe Bay. 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.
To better understand this the three authorities require evidence to understand where visitors are coming from and the purpose of their visit. This work will be used to support the preparation of their Local Plans with the work being used to better understand how far people travel and the impact that new residential development may have on the Bay based on its distance from designated sites. The need to understand this is essential to the preparation of the Local Plan and will be a key source of information informing each Local Plan’s Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA).
The surveys, which will take place face to face, will be undertaken by Footprint Ecology during two periods in October/November 2025 and January/February 2026.
Anyone who has any queries about the surveys can contact Planning Policy on 01253 887373 or email planning.policy@wyre.gov.uk.