Fears over review of National Parks

RURAL: Leaders of North Yorkshire’s national parks have urged caution over the Government’s suggestion that the first review of the country’s most protected areas in 70 years could lead to boundary changes.

LEADERS OF North Yorkshire’s national parks have sounded a note of caution over the Government’s suggestion that the first review of the country’s most protected areas in 70 years could lead to boundary changes.

Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors National Park authorities have claimed that they would be surprised if some parks could be expanded.

The Government’s 25-year Environment Plan states it will commission a “Hobhouse review” of national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The UK’s first national parks were created by an Act of Parliament in 1949 following the 1947 Hobhouse Report, which remains the basis for most protected landscape designation in England.

The chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority, Jim Bailey, described the review as “a welcome step”. He added that it was important to check that all areas of the national park were still fit for purpose and there was nothing missing 66 years after it was created.

Mr Bailey said considering changes to the park’s boundaries would prove controversial, costly and time-consuming, but other work could include schemes such “a nod to the historic value of Whitby”.

Carl Lis, the chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which was expanded in 2016, told a meeting of the organisation that Environment Secretary Michael Gove had spoken to national parks leaders about re-examining the areas.

He said: “We raised the Hobhouse issue with him and he was very bullish on that. He is really keen on enlarging some of the existing ones, he didn’t talk much about creating new ones.”

The meeting heard national park officers were concerned over the lack of clarity over what the Hobhouse review would include.

Authority member Jocelyn Manners-Armstrong added: “The Hobhouse thing absolutely terrifies me because something that can be given to you can also be taken away. Even if it does involve expanding national parks, it probably doesn’t include expanding the money for national parks.”

The authority’s chief executive, David Butterworth, said he would be “surprised” if the national park was earmarked for another boundary extension.

When the park authority was considered plans to include parts of Lancashire and Cumbria in its boundaries in 2010, members were told the main issue was: “Do the areas being considered have sufficient natural beauty and offer sufficient opportunities for open-air recreation?”

For decades, some residents in Nidderdale and Lower Wensleydale have claimed, despite being given Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status, the areas have been “poor relations” to the rest of the Dales, suffering economically after being excluded from the park.

Coun Flo Grainger, the chairwoman of Masham Parish Council, said in principle, expanding the park to include Lower Wensleydale and Nidderdale would be a good idea.

She added: “I would certainly be in favour of it if it was a benefit for the area and it didn’t mean restrictions that would harm farming, but they do manage up the dales. It is certainly beautiful enough, it is a stunning place to live and there are plenty of things to do.”

It probably doesn’t include expanding the money for national parks. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority member Jocelyn Manners-Armstrong.