The Government is consulting on whether people think direct elections to National Park Authorities are a good idea. What are your views?
Please feel free to add your comments below. We will collate these responses and forward them along with the survey results.
To find out more about the Government’s consultation see the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs’ website. You can also send your views directly to Defra by emailing NNPAMembership@defra.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 28th November.
Please note that you are only permitted to vote once in this survey.
PARWICH.ORG 
It is the view of the Conservative Group at Derbyshire County Council, which I lead, that having directly elected members of the Peak Park is not a good idea. This is largely in view of the fact that Parish Council, District Council and County Council members are already elected and their remits cover the very matters the Peak Park concerns itself with. Whether there should be as many / any Secretary of State members is, of course, a different matter for deabte!
I have little confidence in Parish Councils, and of their ability directly to influence policy of the Peak Park. Direct representation is needed.
Parwich.org always tries something new & interesting. What a talented bunch you are!
Why we need members to be directly elected:
1. If it’s OK in Scotland then why not here?
2. National Park Authorities are the only planning authorities which are not directly elected.
3. In 2002, Government Ministers said that National Parks should be exemplars in tackling the challenges facing rural areas generally – that is they should become models of sustainable rural development.
4. To be such an exemplar, National Park Authorities should ensure that they have an objective of addressing the social and economic needs of the people and the communities of the Parks alongside the objectives for landscape conservation – as they do in Scotland.
5. So, National Parks must be concerned with its communities and their wellbeing, and as the Community Empowerment White Paper published in the summer says this means having clearly defined representation, which can only be delivered through direct elections!