Policies and Campaigns

We have a number of Policy Statements outlining our position on issues which we feel are important to the National Park :- Countrysdie Access, Housing, Railways, Minerals, Farming and Forestry - see the links on this page for details.

We are currently campaigning on several issues, and are watching out for future issues in our Emerging issues list. We have had notable successes on various historic issues as below.

As from October 2017 we have started publishing below our comments made to YDNPA on planning applications.

Our Campaigns to Protect the Dales

Current

• Protecting/enhancing the national park (through our work to monitor and comment on major or significant planning applications and our policy development work)

• Proper funding for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

• North Craven Quarries/rail

• Saving digitally our cultural heritage  - our “Capturing the Past” HLF project

• Sustainable Communities - for example our Vibrant Communities events and campaigns to keep local schools open

• Upland Farming

• Local Transport (buses, rail…)

• Affordable Housing

• Reducing the use of single use plastic in the Dales

• Better cutting times for roadside verges to protect wildflowers and wildlife

Emerging

• Promoting the YDNP as an asset to “The Northern Powerhouse”

• Energy (fracking, solar, wind…)

Past Campaigns

• YDNP/LDNP extension

• Protecting Green Lanes

• Public Rights of Way and Access. (New extended area brings this up the list again)

• Traditional (Farm) Building protection

• Support for the saving of the Settle to Carlisle line

• Setting up of Dales Bus and annual support

Campaign to protect Stainforth Pack Horse Bridge. We are working with North Yorkshire Highways, the National Trust (owners of the bridge), Stainforth Parish Council, the National Park Authority, the landowners, and local heritage organisations to protect this historically significant bridge from further damage by vehicles. The photo shows damage inflicted in May 2016. The intention, discussed with relevant parties on 5th Feb 2018, is to have a physical barrier in place at either side of the bridge set at the width of the bridge so that drivers are aware of the narrowness of the structure before they attempt to cross. Most, we expect, would turn around. Barriers have now  been installed (Summer 2018) but the design is being "tweaked" so they work most effectively. 

See the video, making the case for the use of rail rather than road for movement of quarry products in Ribblesdale.Road to Rail

Personal accounts of the history and challenges of quarrying in Ribblesdale can be heard here -

Quarry Tales - including comments by FOTD chair Mark Corner.  Part of an HLF funded 'Stories in Stone' project led by YDMT.