50 captures

02 Mar 2005 - 15 Dec 2018

Mar	APR	Sep
	12
2004	2005	2006

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NEWS RELEASE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Out of hours: 020 7270 8960

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March 1st 2005 is the birth date of the New Forest National Park, Alun Michael Rural Affairs Minister confirmed today. The New Forest becomes the newest member of the National Parks family and the first in England since the 1980s.

The decision to designate the New Forest as a National Park was announced in June 2004, following a seven month public inquiry. Since then, further hearings have been held to determine the exact boundary of the Park, and March 1st marks its formal designation.

Mr Michael commented:

"This will be an historic day. After 900 years of special recognition, and 50 years after it was first considered for designation, the New Forest will finally have National Park status.

"It takes its place alongside areas such as Dartmoor and the Lake District in the first rank of our protected areas. Like the existing Parks it will have a vital role in conserving our natural and cultural heritage, and in balancing environmental priorities with those of communities. It needs to protect its unique character - valued by so many people, and acknowledged as a national treasure for nearly a thousand years - whilst remaining a working, living place with social and economic needs."

Notes for editors

1. The New Forest National Park is England's smallest National Park by area at around 570 square km, but one of the largest by population, with an estimated resident population of around 34,000.

2. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Authority will have 22 members, of whom 12 will be drawn from the local authorities and parish councils within the Park, and the remainder appointed by the Secretary of State through an open recruitment exercise. The Members will be formally appointed in March and the National Park Authority will come into being on 1 April. An interim Chief Executive and a small Establishment Team are working to set up the Authority. More information about the next steps may be found on their website: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk or (press only) by contacting Rachel Shimell (02380 73298, rachel.shimell @ntlworld.com) or Miranda Johnson (01962 890208, mirandajohnson@btinternet.com).

3. A leaflet explaining changes in planning rules is being launched by New Forest District Council, to coincide with the designation of the new national park on 1 March. It sets out in a non-technical way the main changes in the planning rules and advises residents and businesses where they can seek more help if necessary. Leader of New Forest District Council Melville Kendal said: "New Forest District Council will work closely with the new national park authority to ensure the smooth introduction of new regulations, on this historic day." The leaflet is available from all New Forest District Council officer or by logging onto the website www.nfdc.gov.uk and following the link to planning.

4. National Park budgets come from the Government. The New Forest National Park Authority will receive around £3.5 million a year in grant from Defra when it takes on its full responsibilities in 2006/07. On top of this it will receive £200,000 per year to pay Sustainable Development Fund grants which aim to develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living in the Parks, whilst enhancing and conserving local culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and communities. Actual funding in its preparatory year (2005/06), when it will be recruiting staff, securing offices and building up its capacity, will reflect its lower spending requirements during this period and will be agreed with the Authority once it is established.

5. The Confirmation Order is being placed on deposit in local authority offices in the New Forest for a minimum of 28 days. Under Part III of the First Schedule to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, any person wishing to question the validity of the Order may make an application to the High Court within the 6 weeks (from 14 March to 29 April) when the Order is on deposit, following the publication of the confirmation notice in local and national press. The application must be made on the grounds that the Order is not within the powers of this Act or that any requirement of this Act, or of any regulation made under this Act, has not been complied with in relation to the making or confirmation of the Order.

6. Maps of the boundary will be available for viewing at:

• Local authority offices, with the Confirmation Order;
• Local libraries;
• On the MAGIC website www.magic.gov.uk and the Countryside Agency website at www.countryside.gov.uk/LivingLandscapes/finest_countryside/national_parks
• The Ordnance Survey is reissuing its 1:25,000 Explorer maps of the New Forest area to show the National Park boundary.

7. For more information on National Parks generally, visit the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/issues/landscap/index.htm. For more on the New Forest National Park visit www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/issues/landscap/newforest/index.htm.

END

Public Enquiries: 08459 335577
Press Notices available via Defra website
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

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