MP calls for locals to come forward for National Park Board - to fight for better accountability

South Lakes MP has urged local people to come forward to be one of the two new Government appointed members being sought to serve on the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA). Tim is asking residents to put themselves forward and when they join the authority to work to ensure that the authority has at least some of its members directly elected.

Tim has campaigned for direct elections to our two national parks for many years. He has highlighted the concerns raised by people across the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales that the people who are making important decisions about the parks are not accountable to the people those decisions will affect. Of the 22 members of the National Park authorities for both the Lake DistrictNational Park and the YorkshireDalesNational park, none are directly elected to the national park board.

To apply to be a member of the LDNPA, please go to: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/secretaryofstatemembervacancy

Commenting, Tim said: "I hope that lots of local residents will put themselves forward to be on this authority and then work with me to end the ludicrous situation that not a single member of our National Park boards is elected! Introducing accountability over decision making for our National Parks is essential to ensuring legitimacy to the Park authorities and will help to bring about a greater sense of community ownership over the process for those living within the park boundaries. It's not impossible to do, after all Scotland's national parks already have directly elected members - surely its time that our national parks followed their lead?

"The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks both have huge significance to the lives and communities of people in South Lakes so they deserve a say in how they are run."