10:10am Saturday 20th February 2010
Three new members have been appointed to a group set up to look at ways to improve public access to the Dales.
The Yorkshire Dales Access Forum (YDAF) was established by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) in 2002 to provide guidance and advice on the improvement of public access in the national park and to contribute to opportunities for open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area.
Joining the forum are Ingleton engineer Stuart Monk, retired youth work director Mike Stephenson, of Foxup, and Malham farmer Neil Heseltine.
Mr Monk has been an active trail rider of motorcycles for more than 25 years and has a good knowledge of the area’s “green lanes”. He is chairman of the North Yorkshire Trail Management Advisory Group and a member of the Yorkshire Dales Green Lanes Advisory Group.
Living in Littondale since 2006, Mr Stephenson has been a recreational user of the national park for more than 60 years and has organised and led expeditions for young people in the Dales. In his spare time, he is a part-time voluntary farmhand in Foxup.
Mr Heseltine was born in Malham, where he lives and farms, and plays rugby for Wharfedale RUFC and cricket for Littondale and, more recently, Settle CC. He is involved with Malham Parish Council, is a committee member of the National Sheep Association and is chairman of Malham Show.
YDAF members Ken Miller and Michael Bartholomew have been selected for a further three years.
Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s member champion for recreation management, said: “The Yorkshire Dales Access Forum is working well, with sub-groups now giving advice on various forms of access and recreation in the national park. We are delighted with the quality of the new and re-appointed members, who will bring useful and varied experience to our work.”
The forum’s annual general meeting will be at the YDNPA’s Yoredale offices in Bainbridge on Tuesday February 23 at 1.15pm.
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