Gloucestershire councils united in opposition to a Cotswolds National Park
the The Cotswolds should not be turned into a National Park – according to local authorities across Gloucestershire. Both Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council have passed motions outlining their oppositions to the idea of a Cotswolds National Park. It comes after the recent government Glover Review and subsequent report for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The report by journalist and writer Julian Glover, who worked alongside an advisory group of experts, made a series of recommendations to the government about protecting national assets. In his report, Mr Glover said:“Today, we have a system which is fragmented, sometimes marginalised and often misunderstood. “Indeed, it is not really a system at all, but 10 National Parks, who do not always work together effectively, and an entirely separate network of 34 less powerful Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. “That is why our central proposal is to bring National Parks and AONBs together as part of one family of national landscapes, served by a shared National Landscapes Service (NLS).”
disagree entirely, saying National Park status would have a negative effect for people already living in the Cotswolds and those wanting to move there. At a meeting in January, Cotswold District Council’s councillors and officers discussed the recommendations and decided to take a lead role in plotting a response.
is OUT February 2020 PUNCHLINE ANNUAL The council wants to bring together all 15 local authorities that claim part of the current Cotswolds AONB on their patch and work together to “more effectively protect and enhance this iconic landscape.” Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of Cotswold District Council, said: “I’m pleased we could bring local councils together to discuss the findings of the Glover Review.
Starting a business in 2020? On the Cotswolds, Mr Glover said: “The area is world- famous for its natural beauty, hugely popular with visitors from around the world and its landscape and villages are one of the emblems of England. “It is a big contributor to the national economy. These things would be better supported by National Park status.” However, the local councils in Gloucestershire “Both Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council have passed unanimous cross-party motions outlining our opposition to the Cotswolds AONB becoming a National Park. “Some of the excellent suggestions put forward in the Glover Review shouldn’t be predicated on our area becoming a National Park, this could hike house prices, further worsening the housing affordability crisis in our area” l
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62 | February 2020 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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