The landscape of the Yorkshire Dales and the future of its farming community were under threat from the potential loss of European funding, a national park leader has warned.

Councillor Robert Heseltine, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said he feared for the future of the national parks once European Commission Objective 5b funds were wound up next year.

He said the special fund had been a lifeline for areas like the rural Dales and communities had come to rely on it.

"The national parks have benefited greatly from Objective 5b designation and we fear for their economies and landscape if we do not have continuing funding," he said.

He voiced his fears to Graham Meadows, director of regional policy and cohesion at the European Commission when he attended a special conference in Scarborough, hosted by the North York Moors National Park.

"A devastated agricultural sector and a declining rural economy lead directly to a dilapidated landscape. No one would wish to see that happen," said Coun Heseltine..

It was important to persuade the Government and the European Commission of the importance of recognising that sustaining the quality of the landscape and the survival of the upland agriculture and the rural economy, were linked.

Mr Meadows told Coun Heseltine that the northern uplands could draw up a strong case for help through the new rules for Objective 2 funding.

Since 1995, the five northern national parks have attracted £10 million in European grants helping to increase farm diversification.

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