Owl has been sent the latest Update from the Dorset National Park Team. Had EDDC not been so besotted by the development lobby and thought strategically this would have been headed the East Devon and Dorset JOINT Team. Owl hopes that readers will be aware that the government is seriously considering following the Glover Landscape Review recommendation to create a new National Park combining the East Devon and Dorset AONB’s.
Last October the Ingham regime showed their lack of enthusiasm for breaking from the Tory past when the cabinet decided to do nothing to seize the initiative:
“Resolve to await the Governments response to the recommendations; and note that the Chilterns, the Cotswolds and the Dorset and East Devon AONBs are potential candidates for future designation as National Parks.”
History repeats itself. EDDC is in danger of missing the boat again by sticking its head in the sand as it did with the creation of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Dorset runs away with the prize.
Owl notes that the East Devon Alliance has a priority to Initiate discussions about new National Park with Dorset (inc AONBs).
EDDC’s reluctance to engage is odd considering its love of taking part in JOINT committees on pretty much any excuse.
Update on Dorset National Park
The Glover Review of Landscapes recommended that Dorset along with the Cotswolds and Chilterns be seriously evaluated as future National Parks by Natural England and the Government. The Government in its election manifesto said it would create new National Parks. We await the Government’s response to the Glover Review and news on how they intend to take forward their manifesto commitment.
Economic and Industrial strategies for rural areas.
Dorset is an example of an area that has two complementary parts: the largely rural Dorset “county” and the adjacent BCP conurbation. Its Local Industrial Strategy can reflect and respect this complementarity. Rural areas can capitalise on their unique strengths. They can, for example, draw on their high quality natural environment and heritage to attract businesses and investment, develop expertise in high productivity and specialised manufacturing, farming and foods, creative and digital industries, and stimulate business interest and growth more generally in the green economy.
Communities and businesses would benefit from a National Park which would invest in and grow Dorset’s natural capital and ecosystem services (including high quality foods, clean water systems, and carbon capture in healthy soils and woodlands) and work with the Dorset Council and others to develop policies for sustainable development, transport, energy and tourism, while better conserving and enhancing our unique environment. A National Park would enable Dorset to capitalise on, without compromising, its environment while partnering with the Dorset LEP and the Dorset Council to deliver a thriving economic future.
East Devon Watch 