The National Parks Reforms group (NPR) has been coordinated by people who have been campaigning for reforms in the National Parks. Among their concerns is the lack of accountability the national parks have towards their residents and local communities. The only way this can be improved is by changes, reorganising the structures, composition, codes, practices and terms of park membership , so members can best represent their residents. Membership to each individual national park is by nomination only. No member is directly elected - the solution is more complex than that. At present two thirds are county councillors and one third are selected by the government as appointees. None of the members in these two categories have to live in the parks and a number do not, which only encourages a culture of decisions being made for us rather than by us. In addition to this the nominated county councillors who live in the parks are prevented by national park rules from representing issues and the people who live in their very own wards. Therefore, the parks are a complete anomaly when compared to their overlapping LPAs, and a far cry from anything seen as democratic. NPR finds this unsustainable. It considers democratic governance to be a keystone to local authorities being well run, accountable and acting in the best interests of their communities. If the assembly government does not find any solutions through their “action plan” to these problems , then much of the good work achieved by the parks will continue to be overshadowed by the authorities' tired and ailing relations with their local communities and working partnerships.

The three parks, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia, cover more than 20% of Wales.

Despite their size, the parks are home to just 2.9% of the population and the Park Authorities seem to want even fewer inhabitants.

The areas designated as national parks have been home to human beings for many thousands of years.

They are not museums

National parks must be profitable as well as pretty, the rural affairs minister has said.

Speaking to the Association of National Park Authorities' annual conference in Brecon Alun Michael said the landscapes must balance environmental priorities with the needs of rural communities.

Sustainable development can only be achieved if the parks can make money and integrate themselves with communities, the minister argued.

"National parks are well known for their natural heritage and their stunning landscapes," he said.

"They are a prime national asset which we must conserve.

"But conservation of itself is not enough; we want a living countryside, with thriving local economies.

"Sustainable development is a tough challenge for us all and we cannot say we have achieved sustainability unless the parks are viable economically and socially as well as environmentally."

National Parks are in need of change

Every resident has a right to be heard