News

£3.1 Million Extra Funding for National Parks and Broads

6th April 2006

England's National Parks and the Broads Authority will receive an extra £3.1 million over the next two years, Landscape Minister Jim Knight announced in the New Forest National Park today.

Mr Knight said the increase demonstrated the Government's commitment to National Parks, which had also been reflected in a new Act given Royal Assent last week.

"I have often said that if I could find an extra pound in our budgets I would give it to National Parks, who do such wonderful work and provide such good value for money," he said.

"I am very pleased to announce that, despite very tight budgets across Government, I am increasing the total grant for National Parks for 2006/07 to £43.12 million in 2006/07 and to £44.24 million in 2007/08, a total of £3.1 million extra over the next two years."

Mr Knight said that as well as ensuring that each Authority received these inflation-linked increases on their core grant, Defra would provide £200,000 to each Authority to continue the very successful Sustainable Development Fund. He also announced a one-off grant of £1.2 million to the New Forest National Park to meet the costs required to set up the Authority, which assumed its full powers on 1 April, and is currently considering whether further initial support is needed during the Park's first years of operation.

Mr Knight said that the funding increases were only part of the recent good news for National Parks, with the new Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act giving National Parks new powers and restoring the 56 year old legal framework for designating National Parks to what it was prior to the High Court judgment on the Meyrick case.

"These laws deliver our commitment to helping National Parks in England and Wales protect their most vulnerable rights of way and unsealed highways by giving National Park Authorities the ability to make Traffic Regulation Orders to regulate and restrict traffic on recreational routes.

"I am very pleased that we are able to extend these powers to National Park Authorities, which will be particularly useful for resolving problems caused by off-road vehicles on rights of way and unclassified roads. This will help prevent damage, avoid danger, preserve the character of roads, and help conserve and enhance the beauty of our National Parks."

"And by clarifying the legislation for National Parks, we have enabled the interpretation for designation to continue as has been applied for over 50 years, so safeguarding the high quality and diversity of the Parks."