Party Manifestos: Welcome recognition of National Parks but more details required

Commitments in party manifestos to protect National Parks as well as providing more public transport into our treasured landscapes have been welcomed by the Campaign for National Parks.

But more needs to be done to strengthen the protection for National Parks and ensure they receive a fairer share of resources.

Among the key commitments are:

• Stronger protections for our natural landscapes and maintaining national protection for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Conservatives)
• Commitment to protect, expand, properly fund and improve non-car access to our National Parks – this supports the sustainable access call in our manifesto. The commitment is part of a “new legal framework for the protection of landscape and wildlife.” (Green party)
• Oppose the use of pylons which carry energy through National Parks in favour of using underground or undersea cables (Plaid Cymru)
• Ensuring that improving the natural environment becomes a core commitment of every government department and agency (Liberal Democrats)
• Making wildlife habitats and green spaces an important part of the tourism industry and refusing to allow shale gas exploration (Labour)

Fiona Howie, Campaign for National Parks chief executive, welcomed the commitments but said more detail was needed to ensure that National Parks remained as beautiful and inspirational places, while making a significant contribution to the economy.

“We would like to see the next Westminster Government take up our Manifesto commitments to strengthen the protection for National Parks; ensure a fair share of resources; increase sustainable access, particularly among those who have not  visited a National Park before and plan for the sustainable future of National Parks.”

Notes to Editors

1 Our Manifesto “National Parks in the 21st century” can be found at www.cnp.org.uk/manifesto-national-parks

2 We have issued a series of questions for people living with National Parks to ask prospective parliamentary candidates. This can be found at http://www.cnp.org.uk/news/stop-cuts-national-park-authority-budgets-put…