Park politics

THE Yorkshire Dales need no introduction. They are synonymous, around the world, with this region and encapsulate the unparalleled natural environment. Given their prestige, it was perhaps inevitable that the boundaries of the national park, which already stretch into Cumbria, are set to be extended into Lancashire, despite Yorkshire's enmity with the "red rose" county.

The Yorkshire Dales is an international asset that must be protected for future generations to cherish. Nevertheless, there must be absolutely no question of the national park's name being changed to reflect the geographical changes now taking place.

This would be extremely detrimental to the marketing strategies that attract so many visitors to the region, and readers of this newspaper made their views on this issue abundantly clear last year.

Equally important, as these changes take place, is the vexed issue of funding. This country's national park authorities are already facing a 28 per cent budget cut, with David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales body, warning last month: "There is little point in beating about the bush. The size of the cut will obviously mean a reduction in services and a reduction in the number of staff employed by the authority."

This is not a rash assertion; the fact that the national parks have smaller budgets, in comparison to most quangos, means the scope for efficiency savings is limited and maintenance may have to be scaled back. It is a situation that could deteriorate further unless the extension of the Yorkshire Dales is reflected in future funding settlements.