Roger Williams, Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, welcomed the inclusion in the Queen’s Speech for a Bill to provide the holdings of local elections for a proportion of the membership of the National Park Authorities in England.
Roger Williams has been campaigning for this in Westminster for as long as he has been a Member of Parliament. There is criticism that members of the National Park Authority have no direct mandate from the people for whom they make important decisions on planning, rights of way, nature conservation and the local economy.
Having direct elections will give an opportunity for candidates to set out their views on how the national parks should carry out these important functions. All members of National Park authorities in England, at the moment, are appointed by local authorities, parish councils or the Secretary of State.
Commenting, Roger Williams MP said:
“While I have been campaigning in Westminster for the Liberal Democrat policy for direct elections in National Parks, my colleague Liberal Democrat AM William Powell has been pressing for these same powers in Wales. National Parks in Scotland already have directly elected members and it works well with keenly fought elections and good turnouts. Direct elections will help ensure that National Parks respond to the needs of the people living in them, and foster sustainable economic development and jobs within their boundaries.
“I urge the Welsh Government to legislate on this as soon as possible in order to bring it into line with England and Scotland.”
