A NEW programme of spending to aid business initiatives and community development in the Yorkshire Dales is to be launched next month.

To free up more money for projects and keep administrative costs to a minimum, the £125,000 fund for sustainable development will be managed by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The cash is the Dales' share of the £1m sustainable development fund for the English National Parks announced by rural affairs minister Alun Michael in July.

Its aim is to aid new business initiatives and community development projects in keeping with the area's special environment.

The fund will be open to individuals or organisations from the public, private or voluntary sectors, from within or outside the park.

Grants will be made available to support projects and enterprises that promote the protection of the park's environment, make careful use of natural resources, recognise the needs of all people and help to maintain sustainable levels of economic growth.

The chairman of the Dales national park authority, Steve Macar, said yesterday: "Our aim is to keep the bureaucracy and costs to a minimum.

"By teaming up with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust we will be able to benefit from their experience in the grant-making field, whilst retaining over all control of the fund.

"By taking this approach, we will ensure the success of the fund and free up more money to go into projects rather than salaries.

"Come October we will be inviting applications to the fund.

"We will be looking for projects that can make a real and measurable difference to the quality of life in the national park; that means projects that create new jobs, support local communities and enhance the special landscape, wildlife and built heritage of the Dales."

The North York Moors National Park is expected to make a decision next week about how it will deliver and manage its share of the fund.