MAIN CONFERENCE HALLF6 Supporting Communities Within National Parks Applicability: England and Wales
MAIN CONFERENCE HALL
F6 Supporting Communities Within National Parks Applicability:
England and Wales
Conference notes:
i) The 1995 Environment Act which has recently come into force giving National Park Authorities two 'purposes' relating to conservation and enjoyment and a 'duty' relating to the social and economic well-being of their inhabitants.
ii) That Act prevents Park authorities from incurring significant expenditure in pursuit of the 'duty'.
iii) That Act perpetuates the system of appointment and indirect election to National Park Authorities.
iv) The more restrictive planning environment in National Parks often leads to the rejection of developments which might bring economic and employment benefits.
v) The lack of local employment opportunities has an adverse impact on local communities within National Parks with commuters, 'weekenders' and retired people often replacing younger people leaving the area.
vi) That National Park Authorities are often resented; local people and their representatives often argue, for example, that planning restrictions should be relaxed.
Conference believes that:
a) Weakening of environmental protection is not the answer; National Parks are a national asset and their management must reflect this.
b) Management of the Parks in the national interest does impose particular problems for communities living within them.
c) The changes in population described above mean that conventional measures, such as income and unemployment statistics, do not reflect the real problem.
d) Government policy towards National Parks should aim to maintain living, working, sustainable communities within them.
e) Accountability through direct elections is essential to restoring the trust of local people in National Park Authorities.
Conference calls on the Government to:
1 Amend the 1995 Act to:
a) Allow Park Authorities to incur expenditure in pursuit of the 'duty'.
b) Ensure a majority of members of National Parks are directly elected by the residents of each Park.
2 Ensure National Park Authorities have sufficient resources to carry out this duty; the special problems of National Parks should be specifically recognised in the criteria for regional aid and national community development initiatives.
3 Lobby within the EU for these issues to be recognised in the allocation of European regional and social funds.
In paragraph (v) (line 11), after 'opportunities', insert: 'and affordable housing'.
After paragraph 2 (line 34), insert new paragraph 3 and renumber:
3 Encourage National Park Authorities, in conjunction with local Housing Associations, to prepare positive plans for meeting local housing need within the Parks, rather than dealing with such needs as exceptions to policy, as they are obliged to do at present.
Mover of motion: 7 minutes; other speakers: 4 minutes.
Steve Melia - Totnes
John Horne - Westmorland and Lonsdale
Humphrey Temperley - Somerton and Frome
Richard Liversey MP - Brecon and Radnor
Hilary Whitaker - Beckenham
Stan Collins - Westmorland and Lonsdale
Terence Keen - Totnes
Amendment 1 - Carried
Motion - Carried