This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19312329#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Consultations continue for NI national park | Consultations continue for NI national park |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Environment Minister Alex Attwood is to discuss with the Ulster Farmers' Union whether there should be national parks in Northern Ireland. | |
The Mournes, the Causeway coast, the Antrim Glens and Fermanagh Lakelands have been identified by Mr Attwood as likely areas for the designation. | |
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a national park, and the minister wants two to be created. | |
The Ulster Farmers' Union has argued that national parks are unnecessary. | |
Protected countryside | |
Its president, Harry Sinclair, said they feared extra restrictions would be placed on what farmers could do with their land. | |
"Our members feel very strongly that national parks don't have any benefits for them as landowners. | |
"Research would show that the number of tourists who visit an area just because it's a national park is very small. | |
"I don't see why we need national parks." | |
National parks are areas of protected countryside. England has 10 national parks, Wales has three and Scotland has two. | National parks are areas of protected countryside. England has 10 national parks, Wales has three and Scotland has two. |
Each park is administered by its own independent government-funded body which looks after its conservation and promotes its benefits to the public. | Each park is administered by its own independent government-funded body which looks after its conservation and promotes its benefits to the public. |
'Win-win' | |
Mr Attwood insisted national parks would not bring extra restrictions for farmers. | |
"I appreciate that farmers have concerns about how national parks might affect them but we can have a model that reflects our particular circumstances, including land ownership | |
"The Northern Ireland model can take what is best elsewhere, work up what is best for us and achieve a win-win; a win for all local interests in park areas and a win for the people and economy of Northern Ireland." | |
Mr Attwood said he would be circulating a paper to the executive recommending they endorsed the principle of legislation to give the Department of Environment updated powers to designate areas as national parks. | |
The minister said it was not true that most national park land in Great Britain was publicly owned. | |
"It is true that we have a different pattern of land ownership here, with smaller family-owned farms," he said. | |
"That is why I am advocating a national park model that reflects this local pattern." |