THREE new faces have been welcomed to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson MP has appointed Julie Martin and Steve Macaré to the authority while Stuart Parsons has been appointed by Richmondshire District Council, filling a vacancy left by the death of another member, Bob Gale, last year.

Mr Macaré and Mr Parsons are both former Members of the National Park Authority.

Mr Macaré, who currently works for the education and examinations charity AQA, is a former county and district councillor and was previously appointed to the National Park Authority by North Yorkshire County Council, serving as chairman from 1999 to 2004.

Mr Parsons spent nearly 16 years living in France – including a long stint at EuroDisney as HR and Training Officer in the Theme Park Operations Division – before returning to live in Richmond.

He represents Richmond West on both the town and district councils and the Richmond division on North Yorkshire County Council.

Mrs Martin is a geographer, landscape architect and planner, she has worked at senior level in environmental consultancy for around 30 years after early experience in local authority and academic posts.

Authority chairman Peter Charlesworth said: “I am delighted to welcome back Stuart and Steve as members and Julie for the first time.”