1 April 2008
Dartmoor National Park Authority
New Secretary of State Appointment
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has appointed a new Member, Peter Harper, to serve on the Dartmoor National Park Authority for three years from April 1 2008. He will replace John Elson who completes his appointment with the Authority on 31 March 2008.
Peter has been farming the family farm in the Teign valley for the last 13 years. Prior to that, he served in the army air corps for eight years. He has been a Member of the Dartmoor local access forum for the last 7years, serving for the last 3 years as Chairman. Peter serves on the Confederation of Timber Growers South West Committee, is a member of the NFU and a farmer member of the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project. He is a keen hill walker and team manager and trainer for the Ten Tors Expedition. In his spare time he enjoys skiing and sailing. Nigel Hoskin, Chairman, Dartmoor National Park Authority said: ‘Members appointed by the Secretary of State to National Park Authorities have an additional responsibility relating to what is termed the national interest. In John Elson, we have had the best of both worlds, given his detailed knowledge of the Moor as well as local business and tourism matters set against a good understanding of the wider issues affecting Dartmoor and the other National Parks. |  |
I am delighted to record my personal and the Authority’s collective appreciation of his contribution.With John's departure, we are fortunate to have Peter Harper joining the Authority. He also has local business experience and is well versed in farming, access and youth issues. I am confident that he will be a great asset to the Membership in the coming years.’
Ends
For Further Information
Rebecca Webber, Member Services Officer
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Notes for Editors
The National Park Authority’s duties and powers are derived from the Environment Act, 1995. The statutory purposes of National Parks, which the Dartmoor National Park Authority has the duty to pursue, are:
- to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area;
- to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the area’s special qualities by the public.
In pursuing these purposes the National Park Authority also has the duty to seek to foster the economic and social well being of the local community.
Dartmoor National Park Authority Members
The National Park Authority comprises 22 members. Six members are appointed by Devon County Council (external link, opens new window), and six by the District Councils (three from West Devon Borough Council (external link, opens new window), two from Teignbridge District Council (external link, opens in new window) and one from South Hams District Council (external link, opens new window). Ten members are Government appointees, four of whom represent parish council interests. The other six members are appointed by the Secretary of State for national interests and are persons, usually local, with specialist knowledge of, or a particular interest in, the National Park. They are usually appointed for an initial period of up to 4 years with the option of re-appointment for a period of up to ten years and help provide the balance of local and national interests that is essential to the management of a National Park. Advice on how individuals can be nominated for appointment by the Secretary of State is available from Defra (external link, opens new window) or the Chief Executive (National Park Officer).
In appointing members to the National Park Authority, constituent Councils must pay regard to the desirability of appointing members who represent wards situated wholly or partly within the National Park.
John Elson started his career in a large electronics firm specialising in military applications of laser technology. He attended Carshalton and Farnborough colleges studying electronics and a diploma in industrial management. He was born in Surrey and moved to Okehampton with his wife and 3 children in the late '70s.
He is now proprietor of Dartmoor Active Leisure ltd. who own and manage Okehampton Youth Hostel and activity centre which runs activity holidays for schools, families and individuals. The centre receives 20000 visitors a year and employs 50 staff.
John has been a keen climber, walker and paddler for most of his life and he has been a member of Dartmoor rescue group for 13 years and Okehampton section controller for 5 years.
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's web site .
You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority .
News Releases from all UK National Parks (external link, opens new window)
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
For maps, guide books, trail guides, clothing and other Dartmoor merchandise visit Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Online Shop at www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
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This page last updated 1 April 2008
Page updated 31 March 2008
