The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has sent out an up-dated, 30-page National Park Management Plan – called The Yorkshire Dales: Today and Tomorrow – for public consultation.

The draft plan has been put together by a steering group comprising statutory agencies – like English Nature – and the three local strategic partnerships for the South Lakeland, Richmondshire and Craven districts to try to ensure that it covers all the key local and national issues.

David Butterworth, the YDNPA’s Chief Executive, said: “The Management Plan is a blueprint for the future of the National Park – not just for the National Park Authority – over the coming years.

“It was published in 2000 following wide consultation and set out an ambitious vision for the future of the National Park that many different organisations and individuals have been working to achieve.

“It’s a mixture of long-term aspirations and realistic short term goals – which are reviewed every five years.

“Achieving all the things in it depends on the input of an awful lot of different people, including residents and visitors.

“The Management Plan is being up-dated because, while the long-term aims set out in it still hold true, it is important that it adapts to take account of changing circumstances, changing ways of working and some new challenges.”

Carl Lis, chairman of the YDNPA and of the Craven Local Strategic Partnership, said: “This is a very important document in that it sets out the overall direction the National Park will be following in the future.

“During the last five years we have taken every opportunity to ask people questions and, as a result of that, we think we have managed to take account of the issues people have been raising with us. The response we get during the consultation period will tell us whether we have or not.

“The main focus of the plan is on how to conserve and enhance the National Park and how to enable people to appreciate and enjoy its special qualities. It recognises that achieving these objectives would be impossible without thriving local communities and a strong economy.

“While social and economic issues are covered in other plans – notably those prepared by the District and County Councils – the Management Plan covers topics like tourism, nature conservation, support for farming and affordable housing. “

The draft plan – which is accompanied by an Environmental Report that assesses its potential effect on the environment – has been sent to more than 200 organisations, which have until August 9 to send in comments.

Copies are available on this website or by contacting the Authority on 0870 1 66633

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For more information please call the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's Media Office on 01756 751616. Alternatively, please email media@yorkshiredales.org.uk

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