National Park expansion good news for Cumbria

Today marks a milestone for Cumbria’s two National Parks – the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales - as the final public consultation starts to formally expand their boundaries.

After two initial consultations, in which the public overwhelmingly voted in favour of extending the two parks, this final public consultation is the last legal stage for the public to take part in before the boundaries get confirmed by the government after a possible public inquiry.

Even if you have responded to the previous consultations, it is even more important to give your opinion now and support the proposals, which we believe will bring many benefits for Cumbria.

The five extension areas in the National Park boundary ‘Variation Orders’ consultation are:
Lake District:
• Birkbeck Fells Common, Bretherdale, Borrowdale, Whinfell, Grayrigg and Dillicar Commons and adjacent land (area between the A6 and M6);
• Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and part of the Lyth Valley (area between Brigsteer and Levens villages south east of Kendal).
Yorkshire Dales:
• Middleton, Barbon, Casterton and Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, part of the Lune Valley and fells to the west (east and north of Kirkby Lonsdale);
• Firbank Fell (west of Sedbergh);
• Northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang (south of Kirkby Stephen);
• Part of the Orton Fells (north east of Tebay).

People have until 16 March 2012 to respond and Friends of the Lake District, supported by many national and local organisations, key national figures and businesses, are backing the National Park expansions plans.(1)

Sir Chris Bonington, Vice President of Friends of the Lake District and the Campaign for National Parks, said: “From my home in the North Lakes I am very fortunate to wake up to such a stunningly beautiful place. My climbing career has taken me to many corners of the world, yet I can safely say the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales offer some of the finest landscapes of anywhere. Cumbria's two National Parks are treasures upon which our human spirit and well-being and the local economy inherently depend. We must grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to extend the boundaries of both the Lakes and Dales to what they ought to have been 60 years ago! Please support the proposed extension areas."

Eric Robson, Chairman of Cumbria Tourism and President of The Wainwright Society said: “It’s one of the great bits of unfinished business in the British countryside. By bringing the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales together we celebrate the forgotten uplands that lie between the two National Parks. At last they’ll get the recognition they deserve.”

Friends of the Lake District urges everyone who supports the proposed extensions and the benefits that our National Parks offer to respond directly via: www.naturalengland.org.uk/lakestodales

For more background information about the National Park extensions or to join Friends of the Lake District please visit our website: http://www.fld.org.uk/plans-to-extend-the-national-parks-consultation-op...