Dales National Park Welcomes Extension
Yorkshire Dales Park boundaries extension gets thumbs up from National Park Authority.
Posted:
28 September 2011by
Jon
Today's recommendation by Natural England that the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park should be extended to add an additional 162 square miles gets a big thumbs up from the Dales Park Authority.
The revised boundaries for the park will include areas previously sandwiched between the Dales and the Lake District Parks and include to the north, parts of the Orton Fells, the northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang and to the west, Barbon, Middleton, Casterton and Leck Fells, the River Lune and part of Firbank Fell and other fells to the west of the river.
Overall the area covered by the National Park will increase from 680sq miles to 842sq miles.
'We Are Delighted...'
David Butterworth, the YDNPA’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that Natural England’s Board is now taking forward the process to extend the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
“The farmers and landowners who, for generations, have lived and worked in these places have helped create the great natural beauty and many special qualities that visitors enjoy today – and that make the areas worthy of National Park status.
“We believe these areas have many unifying features and characteristics such as the Settle Carlisle line, limestone pavements and hay meadows, as well as similar community issues such as affordable housing, access to services and sustainable communities – issues that resonate with the existing National Park.
'Many And Varied Benefits...'
“As part of this process, Natural England has undertaken extensive consultation and we are delighted that it shows that the majority of residents who responded are enthusiastic about the proposals and recognise the many and varied benefits that designation will bring.
“It’s a real victory for common sense in looking at National Park boundaries in terms of the quality of the landscape rather than outmoded and short-term administrative or political issues.”
“We now look to the Government to recognise the points we made in our submission regarding providing the necessary funding to allow us to manage the new areas and to ensure appropriate representation for local communities on the National Park Authority.”
Lakes Park Also Extended
Narural England has also recommended extensions to the Lake District National Park: to the east, an area from Birkbeck Fells Common to Whinfell Common; and to the south an area from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell, and part of the Lyth Valley.
Next Step...
The next step in the process is for Natural England to submit Variation orders officially making the changes to Defra in January 2012, it will then need to be approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
More Dales info at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk.
Natural England's web site can be found at www.naturalengland.org.uk.
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