MP WELCOMES CHANGE THAT WILL ALLOW LOCAL RESIDENTS TO BE ELECTED TO NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITIES

Local MP Tim Farron has today welcomed news that local residents can now be elected to National Park authority boards. Tim has for years spearheaded the campaign to democratise our national parks.

Anyone living in theLake District will now be eligible to sit on the National Parks Authority.

As part of a shake-up aimed at allowing residents more of a say when it comes to running the parks, ministers want local people to take up what were seats previously reserved for parish councillors.

Tim has led a long campaign for elections to the National Park and to end the appointment of authority board members by Defra.

Tim said: "Over the last year I have pressed the government at every opportunity to democratise our national parks and so I am delighted that they have finally agreed to take this step down that road. I have long believed that the people who live in the park should have a strong voice and should be listened to - ever since I was elected in 2005 I fought to make this happen. I will continue to push them to speed the process up and make sure we see action. The day local residents can be elected to the authority will be a great day!"