A LANDMARK agreement between national parks and the government is set to see improved emergency service responses across a vast area of North Yorkshire and the North East.

The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme aims to cut the length of time it takes blue-light services to reach incidents in national parks including the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland.

The three national parks span a collective 4,235sq km and emergency services have increasingly voiced concerns over meeting response target times.

After facing criticism for its response times in the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Ambulance Service worked with Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group to review the availability of ambulances in the area.

The Joint Accord brokered between National Parks England and the Home Office aims to provide emergency services with 4G voice and fast data service communications while protect the special qualities of the parks by minimising any adverse environmental impacts.

The programme will enable future levels of government spending on emergency services mobile communications to be reduced by up to £1 million a day.

Jim Bailey, chair of National Parks England and the North York Moors National Park Authority, said the agreement was an important step forward in making sure rural communities had responsive emergency services.

He said: “National Parks have always been about finding pragmatic long term solutions to the many competing demands on land.

"Ensuring modern telecommunications infrastructure is no different. The stunning landscapes and towns are the lifeblood for our rural economies.

"And we are delighted that the Home Office is committed to working with national parks to protect them. This is a welcome sign that we hope will be replicated by other Government departments.”