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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Consultations continue for NI national park | Consultations continue for NI national park |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Environment Minister Alex Attwood has discussed 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. | 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. | 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. | The Ulster Farmers' Union has argued that national parks are unnecessary. |
| Protected countryside | Protected countryside |
| Its president, Harry Sinclair, said they feared extra restrictions would be placed on what farmers could do with their land. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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' | 'Win-win' |
| Mr Attwood insisted national parks would not bring extra restrictions for farmers. | 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 | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "That is why I am advocating a national park model that reflects this local pattern." |