A FARMER’S daughter born and raised in Conistone with Kilnsey in Upper Wharfedale has become the newest member of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Liz Hall, 40, will be one of four ‘parish members’ on the board of the National Park Authority, representing the 25 parishes that make up the Craven East part of the national park.

Miss Hall, who runs Estio Healthcare Services, a company which recruits carers and support workers, said she was interested in farming and conservation, and wanted to see a greater diversity of visitors to the area.

“I was born in Conistone and moved out when I was 19 for the bright lights of Skipton. I’ve been back now for nine years and feel very lucky to live here. “

She added: “The perceptions of the national park among the people that live here are mixed, but the experience I had with the planning service, after moving into my grandad’s house, was really positive, so I thought it would be interesting to work with ‘the parks’.

“I am interested in conservation, farming and, from a parish meeting perspective, planning. Equality and diversity are important parts of my work, and I would like to get involved in those issues, too. I think we need to broaden the diversity of visitors to the Dales. It’s a beautiful area that should be accessible to all.”

Two people were nominated for the role of parish member, so an election was held, with each parish having one vote.

Miss Hall was the successful candidate and her four-year appointment has since been approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment.

The parish member vacancy arose after former Buckden parish councillor and member champion for sustainable development, Chris Clark, stepped down from the board, after serving four years.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of 15 national parks in the country, and is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The two main purposes of the authority is to ‘conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage’ of the area, and ‘to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the national park’.

In carrying out these purposes, the authority has a duty ‘to seek to foster the economic and social well being of local communities.’

The national park authority is made up of 25 members, made up of county and district councillors and members, such as Miss Hall, who are appointed by central government.