‘Red Rose’ Dales bid presses ahead

Natural England has decided to push ahead with the controversial extension of the national park’s boundaries and detailed blueprints for the proposals have now been agreed.

The plans have provoked controversy amid fears the Yorkshire Dales could be re-branded to accommodate the North-West, re-igniting centuries-old rivalry dating from the War of the Roses.

The proposals are due to be rubber-stamped in September before they are sent to Westminster to win approval from Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.

Natural England is, however, faced with making savage cuts to its budgets to counter reduced government funding and will have to enforce £44.2m in savings over the next four years.

The organisation’s annual budget of £205m will be reduced to £194m in the next financial year, and there is a possibility the proposed boundary extension could go before a costly public inquiry.

North Yorkshire County Council, Richmondshire District Council and Craven District Council are among the local authorities which have opposed the plans.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has backed the proposed scheme, and more than two-thirds of the 1,300 submissions which were received by Natural England were also in favour of the idea.

But Richmondshire District Council’s leader Fleur Butler said: “It is ludicrous to even consider extending the boundaries of the national park for no other reason than it tidies things up on a bureaucrat’s map.

“It is ridiculous at a time when we are all having to make cuts to our budgets that there is an attempt to micro-manage the countryside for an area that is not at risk.

“It is not needed and certainly not wanted, and it does not fit with the idea of the Yorkshire Dales National Park as part of Yorkshire.”

Natural England announced plans at the end of 2009 to include a series of new beauty spots in both Cumbria and Lancashire within the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

While it already includes a large chunk of Cumbria, it would be the first time a small part of Lancashire, called Leck Fells to the east of Kirkby Lonsdale, would be included.

Other areas due to be incorporated include Northern Howgill Fells, Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell, Firbank Fell, Orton Fells and the Lower Lune Valley.

Natural England’s board has approved the planned boundary changes, which would also see the Lake District National Park extended.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park’s size would increase by nearly a quarter from 680 square miles to 842 square miles.

Another public consultation is to be launched by the end of April before Natural England approves a final version to submit to the Government in the autumn.

Project manager David Vose confirmed that £150,000 had so far been spent, including a major consultation last year.

He stressed that no final decision about submitting the plans to the Government would be made until Natural England’s next board meeting in September,

But Mr Vose admitted that the scheme was at such an advanced stage that it was likely for ministerial consent to be sought.

He added: “From our perspective, most of the cost of the project has already been spent.

“If we stopped the process now, there would be a considerable waste of money.”

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