MP demands end to the “blight” from national park boundary changes

A public inquiry was held last year after five councils objected to proposals to change the boundaries of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks.

The inquiry should have led to the planning inspector making a recommendation to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

But no final decision has been made and there has been no indication as to when the uncertainty will finally be lifted.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron said: “People deserve to know either way what the government plan to do. Not knowing is beginning to cause uncertainty and blight.

“It seems this report is languishing in Whitehall gathering dust. Residents affected by this decision need to know either way.

“I will be pushing ministers hard on this in the coming weeks. It is totally and utterly unacceptable to think they can sweep this under the carpet.”

The proposals to change the national park boundaries date back to plans set out by Natural England in 2011.

In broad terms, the changes would see the Yorkshire Dales National Park expanded to the north and west while the Lake District would take in areas to the east and south of its current boundaries. The two parks would meet for the first time around Tenby.

Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire County Councils and Eden and Richmondshire District Councils all raised objections. But they were backed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.