THE Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan for the next five years was launched at Morwellham Quay on Tuesday.

The Tamar Valley AONB Service has been in operation since 2000, when their first management plan was launched. By 2003, 70% of the actions from the plan had been achieved, creating a need for a new plan to be produced.

The new plan results from 18 months of consultation with local people, organisations, local authorities and statutory bodies.

Sarah Manning, countryside advisor for the Countryside Agency, said the new management plan was the culmination of reviewing past activity to conserve and enhance this special area, together with extensive input from its communities and wider partners to set new priorities and tasks for the future.

New projects for the next five years include a proposed visitor centre at Drakewalls, signposting to point visitors to the huge array of attractions and places of interest around the valley, far-ranging multi-use trails, consolidation of old mine buildings, and the clean-up of contaminated land.

Many of these projects will be a result of partnership working, where the community will be involved at all stages.

Mark Goodman, policy and projects officer for the Tamar Valley AONB Service, said the launch day had acted as an event to celebrate all that had already been achieved and as a a springboard to launch new and exciting projects.