Purpose and duty
National Park purposes are to conserve and enhance wildlife, natural beauty and cultural heritage, and to promote opportunities for public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks. In pursuit of their purposes, National Park Authorities have a duty to seek to foster the economic and social wellbeing of the local communities in their area. At present they are the only local authority with such a duty.
The Sandford principle
The Sandford principle applies to the purposes of National Parks and is enshrined in section 62 of the 1995 Environment Act. It states that every effort should be made to reconcile any conflict that may arise between the two purposes. However, where there is an irreconcilable conflict between the two purposes, greater weight should be attached to the first (i.e. conservation).
Funding
Under the 1995 Environment Act National Parks receive 75% central Government funding via the National Parks Supplementary Grant. The other 25% comes from Local Authorities.
LINKS
South
Downs AONBs (Countryside Agency)
South Downs (Friends of
the Earth)
Countryside Agency page
Council for
National Parks
East
Sussex Ecology Page
Mill Hill Page
Dry Valleys
History of Shoreham (includes the Downs)
River Adur Basin
| Adur Valley |
