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(click on underlined hyperlinks)
NPR DRAFT ACTION PLAN RESPONSE
The consultation period for the the WAG Draft Action Plan
ended on November 30th. During October and November we
collated the responses, some of which you can review on the
link below . (Action Plan responses). Many thanks for those
who contributed. Please click on the following link to see the
final version of what was submitted to WAG.
NPR Response to the Draft Action
Plan Click HERE or PDF
Document HERE
National
park quarrying fears
Dec 13 2004
Martin
Shipton, Western Mail
Reject
bullying tactics over sand and gravel Dec 13 2004
Editorial
Opinion, Western Mail
BBNPA MEMBERS HAVE THEIR
SAY
For
further information and background documents please press
:
QUOTES
of the MONTH
ACTION
PLAN RESPONSES
QUOTES
by SUE ESSEX AM and
PETER LAW AM
COMPLAINTS
& ISSUES
PRESS
REPORTS
A QUESTION OF
ACCOUNTABILITY & GOVERNANCE
Affordable Rural
Housing
Yorkshire Dales - Not
workable? |
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
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