Dartmoor asked to do more with less

DARTMOOR National Park Authority members are being asked to deliver on the Government’s vision to cater for more visitors and improve nature conservation – but with a real terms cut in funding.

Fears have been raised about the authority’s ability to meet the new demands without the resources that members believe they need.

At their March meeting, Dartmoor National Park Authority members expressed concerns about the growing gulf between the ambition set out in the Government’s response to the Landscapes Review and the financial reality.

In its formal response to the independent review of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, led by Julian Glover and published in 2019, the Government endorsed the national park as a “vital resource” and set out a vision for more nature and more visitors. However, Dartmoor’s call for more resources to deliver what is being called an “exciting new chapter in the history of the nation’s most special places” appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Dartmoor National Park Authority has sustained more than 13 years of cuts to its core budget. If National Park grant support had been linked to inflation over the last ten years, it would now be worth £6.2 million. Its actual grant is £3.8m – a real terms reduction of £2.4m without even considering the impact of increased inflation over the next three years.

Pamela Woods, chair of the authority, said: “Since the Landscapes Review was published, the world has changed; the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of connecting people with nature for health and wellbeing benefits and a bright light has been shone on the role protected landscapes play in dealing with the climate and ecological crisis we all face.

“Dartmoor has just celebrated its 70th anniversary as one of the first National Parks to be designated in the UK.

“It is the beating heart of a nature and habitat recovery network, trialling innovative practices, supporting biodiversity, tackling climate change and making the environment a better place for all who live, work and visit.

“Members are disappointed that, despite saying National Parks are a vital resource for all to enjoy, the Government is cutting our funding and thus making it harder for us to achieve their vision.”

Members formally approved the Budget for 2022/23, on the basis that the authority would receive a ‘flat cash’ settlement, which has since been confirmed for the next three years by Defra.