National Park funding increase a welcome first step
8 February 2000
The Council for National Parks (CNP) [1] has welcomed today’s announcement of an 8.3% funding increase to the three Welsh National Park Authorities [2] as the first step in addressing their historical underfunding.
National Parks in Wales have suffered two standstill budgets in the last three years in stark contrast to last year’s 10% increase for the English National Parks [3]
"We welcome the increase in National Park funding as the first step in addressing the historical underfunding of the Welsh Parks", said Sylvia Davies, CNP’s Campaigns Officer in Wales [4] . "Our National Parks are national assets, covering 20% of the land of Wales. They should not be treated as the poor relations in the family of National Parks."
"In 1991, the National Parks Review Panel [5] recommended big increases in funding for the Parks. The Assembly has now taken the first step, but we will need ongoing support in the years to come to achieve real change."
The funding increase will enable the National Park Authorities to restore some of the services that had to be cut over the last two years. Employment in the Parks will be given a boost and residents and the public will benefit from new projects.
The increases mean:
- improved access, including better footpaths
- more jobs in all three National Parks
- financial help may be proposed to landowners to encourage wildlife in Snowdonia
"Despite the good news, there is one disappointment", said Sylvia Davies. "The Assembly decided on a standstill budget for its statutory advisor on countryside and wildlife, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) [6] .
"Adequate funding of CCW is crucial to the future of National Parks and voluntary sector organisations, to which it provides financial support. Its sister agencies in England and Scotland have had substantial budgetary increases [7] . Valuable initiatives already in place are being undermined. CNP urges the National Assembly not to ignore CCW’s funding needs in future."
Notes to editors
1. The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.
2. The three Welsh National Parks are:
- Snowdonia
- Brecon Beacons
- Pembrokeshire Coast
3. The English National Parks received a 10% increase in funding in 1999/2000 with a commitment for the overall grant in the next two years to be at least the same level, plus an allowance for inflation.
5. The National Parks Review Panel was set up by the Countryside Commission to assess the main factors which affect the delivery of the National Park purposes of conservation and public enjoyment. It called for annual growth of 10% and said: "this is a fairly modest price, even at a time when public expenditure of all kinds is under close scrutiny, to secure the best of our landscape heritage".
6. The Countryside Council for Wales is the National Assembly’s statutory advisor on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment throughout Wales and its inshore waters. It also has a statutory responsibility for National Parks.
7. The Countryside Agency (CA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and English Nature (EN) have all received significant budgetary increases, as the graph demonstrates.
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