THE chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has welcomed the publication of a Government review about the way national parks are run.

A raft of proposals, which includes the possibility of directly-elected membership of national park authorities, was outlined by Natural Environment minister Richard Benyon after several months of public consultation.

The consultation followed a Coalition pledge to review the governance arrangements of national parks in order to increase local accountability.

Carl Lis, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “I am happy the Government has listened to the voices of those who responded to the consultation.

“There are some interesting and contentious issues in the document that will generate major debate over the coming weeks.

“But our main focus remains on delivering our day-to-day services and purposes in the current difficult financial climate."

Speakling at the launch of the consultation document Mr Benyon said: “Our national parks are our most treasured landscapes enjoyed by millions of people every year and contribute significantly to regional economies.

“The changes we are making will give the local communities a greater say in how their national park is managed.”

To view the consultation responses and plans visit www.defra.gov.uk/rural/national-parks