Land use and environment protection

The British Geological Survey (BGS) has published a geological memoir of the Lancaster District. The area encompasses the heart of the upland Bowland Fells in the south-east, and includes the Lune Valley to the north and west. It extends to the coastal plain bordering Morcambe Bay in the west.

This is the first comprehensive account of the district's geology to be published and is the result of many detailed investigations. Such publications help ensure that any future development is carried out safely and cost-effectively with a balance between changes of land use and protection of the environment. Forward planning and decisions on specific proposals require earth science information.

The oldest rocks in the district were deposited in tropical seas more than 300 million years ago. In these Carboniferous rocks are hydrocarbons and above them thick layers of siltstone, mudstone and sandstone utilised extensively by the construction industries. There are potential risk factors in the Lancaster area, such as landslipped ground and methane seepage from landfill sites and from groundwater in the Carboniferous bedrock. The new publication, The Geology of the country around Lancaster is available at £55 from BGS and Stationery Office outlets.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) has issued a geological memoir of the Irvine District. This rich and diverse area lies west of the Midland Valley of Scotland. The memoir describes the geology of the Irvine District and tells the story of environmental change over 400 million years.

The landscapeof the district has been shaped by underlying geology; the volcanism of 330 million years ago, the successive glaciations that occurred over the last 2 million years and the very recent effects of human activity in extracting coal and other mineral deposits which have contributed to the areas economic development. The distribution of mineral resources and the legacy of their former extraction over many centuries are issues of major importance to land use planning in the Irvine areas. Together with information on water resources, landfill and made ground, they are the key data for safe and cost effective future development which can balance changes in land use with environmental protection. Forward planning and decisions on specific proposals require detailed, site specific, earth science information. The new publication, The Geology of the Irvine District is available at £40 from BGS and Stationery Office Outlets.

Founded in 1835, the BGS undertakes research across a broad spectrum of applied geology, both in the UK and overseas. They are impartial advisers to government, investors and commercial organisations.