LEADERS of North Yorkshire’s national parks have said they would be surprised if the first national review of the country’s most protected areas in 70 years leads to boundary changes.

Members of the 841sq mile Yorkshire Dales National Park and 554sq mile North York Moors National Park authorities have sounded notes of caution in response to the government’s suggestion that some national parks could be expanded.

The government’s 25-year Environment Plan states it will commission a ‘Hobhouse review’ of national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The UK’s first national parks were created by an Act of Parliament in 1949 following the 1947 Hobhouse Report, which remains the basis for most protected landscape designation in England.

It states: “This will consider coverage of designations, how designated areas deliver their responsibilities, how designated areas are financed, and whether there is scope for expansion.

“It will also consider opportunities to enhance the environment in existing designations, and expand on the existing eight-point plan for national parks to connect more people with the natural environment.”

Chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority Jim Bailey described the review as “a welcome step”.

He said it was important to check that all areas of the national park were still fit for purpose and there was nothing missing 66 years after it was created.

Mr Bailey said considering changes to the park’s boundaries would prove controversial, costly and time-consuming, but other work could include schemes such a “a nod to the historic value of Whitby” .

Carl Lis, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales park, which was expanded in 2016, told a meeting of the authority that Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove had spoken to national parks leaders about re-examining the areas.

He said: “We raised the Hobhouse issue with him and he was very bullish on that. He is really keen on enlarging some of the existing ones, he didn’t talk much about creating new ones.”

The meeting heard national park officers were concerned over the lack of clarity over what the Hobhouse review would include.

Authority member Jocelyn Manners-Armstrong added: “The Hobhouse thing absolutely terrifies me because something that can be given to you can also be taken away. Even if it does involve expanding national parks, it probably doesn’t include expanding the money for national parks.”

The authority’s chief executive David Butterworth said he would be “surprised” if the national park was earmarked for another boundary extension.

When the park authority considered plans to include parts of Lancashire and Cumbria in its boundaries in 2010, members were told the main issue was: “Do the areas being considered have sufficient natural beauty and offer sufficient opportunities for open-air recreation?”

For decades some residents in Nidderdale and Lower Wensleydale have claimed, despite being given Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status, the areas have been “poor relations” to the rest of the Dales, suffering economically after being excluded from the park.  

Councillor Flo Grainger, chairman of Masham Town Council, said in principle, expanding the park to include Lower Wensleydale and Nidderdale would be a good idea.

She said: “I would certainly be in favour of it if it was a benefit for the area and it didn’t mean restrictions that would harm farming, but they do manage up the dales.

“It is certainly beautiful enough, it is a stunning place to live and there are plenty of things to do.”