671 

8 July 1999

BRITAIN'S FINEST LANDSCAPES NEED YOU - SEARCH IS ON FOR PEOPLE TO 
PROMOTE NATIONAL PARKS

Do you have a keen interest in the countryside and England's finest
landscapes? Then the Department of the Environment, Transport and the
Regions would like to hear from you. New members are needed for the
English National Park Authorities (NPAs) and the Norfolk and Suffolk
Broads Authority.

The NPAs were set up to conserve and enhance the natural beauty,
wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks and to promote
opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special
qualities by the public. Though not nationally owned, the Parks are
`national' in recognition of their special value - their beauty and
the opportunities they provide for leisure and recreation - to the
public.

The Broads Authority, which has the same status as a National Park,
is a special organisation which also manages the land and water space
and promotes public enjoyment of the Broads. It has an additional
responsibility to protect the interests of navigation on the Broads. 

Candidates will be expected to provide a voice for the national
interest on the Authorities and should:

- have a good understanding of the issues affecting the National Park
and be prepared to work to achieve the Park's purposes; 

- be able to contribute positively to debate within the National Park
Authority;

- be ready to make decisions on many aspects of Park management
including conservation, planning, housing, recreation, agriculture,
forestry and resource issues; and

- be able to commit a minimum time input of 2 to 3 days per month.

Environment Minister Alan Meale said:

"The National Parks and the Broads contain some of our finest
landscapes - each with their own special characteristics: dramatic
expanses of wild open country, moorland, mountains and fells, lakes
and waterfalls, gentle river valleys, meadows, fens and waterways.
The people that we are looking for - the new Secretary of State
members - will have a special role to play in the Authorities that
are responsible for the conservation and enhancement of these
nationally important areas.

"The membership of the Authorities must have the right balance of
personal qualities and experience, so I am looking for candidates
from a broad range of backgrounds, representative of the social and
cultural mix in the country at large. I am particularly keen to see
more applications from women, members of the ethnic minorities and
promising young people - groups which are currently under-represented
on the Authorities. 

"I will not just be seeking those with formal qualifications and long
track records in conventional careers, but will be keen to receive
applications from those with other kinds of experience, such as that
gained through community or voluntary work."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

There are seven National Park Authorities in England: Dartmoor;
Exmoor; Lake District; Northumberland; North York Moors; Peak
District; and the Yorkshire Dales. The Broads is a National Park in
all but name. 

The Secretary of State appoints a number of members to each Authority
to represent the national interests of the Parks, and, at a local
level, parish interests. The remaining members are appointed by the
local authorities with land in the Parks. The next national
Secretary of State appointments are due on 1 April 2000 (1 June 2000
in the Broads).

Members are expected to contribute positively to debate within the 
National Park Authority and to make decisions on many aspects of Park
management including conservation, planning, housing, recreation, 
agriculture, forestry and resource issues. Secretary of State 
members are not paid but they are eligible for travel and other 
expenses incurred in the course of their appointments. Members are 
expected to commit a minimum time input of 2 to 3 days per month, the
majority of which is within normal working hours.

Alan Meale has written to all MPs with constituency interests in the
English National Parks and the Broads, inviting nominations for
consideration as national Secretary of State members of the Park
authorities and the Broads Authority. A wide range of organisations
have also been invited to submit nominations. Nominations are
required by the closing date of 10 September 1999. All those with an
interest in the Parks are encouraged to put forward names for
consideration. Self nomination is allowed.

Nomination forms can be obtained from the Countryside Division of the
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Room 916,
Tollgate House, Houlton Street, BRISTOL BS2 9DJ






 


Dr Paul Nathanail
MSc Contaminated Land Management

Land Quality Management
School of Chemical Environmental and Mining Engineering
University of Nottingham
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
UNITED KINGDOM

tel 0115 951 4098
fax 0115 951 4640
mobile 07970 843 061 
email [log in to unmask]

MSc modules can be attended as a short course.

Contact me for further details



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