A VACANCY on the board of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has come up following the stepping down after four years of former Buckden parish councillor Chris Clark, the authority’s member champion for sustainable development.

The applicant needs to be a parish councillor or chairman of a parish meeting in one of the 25 parishes in the the Craven East part of the national park.

All have been invited to submit nomination papers by Monday, October 5. If the authority receives more than one nomination, an election will be held.

Neil Heseltine, chairman of the national park, and one of the four parish members, said:“The position is open to all and, with current ways of working, might fit with a mum or dad working from home, for instance. Parish members are local people who help to lead the national park authority. They can have a big impact on what the authority does and the decisions it makes, such as on planning.”

He added: “Chris Clark was a respected parish member and his expertise on farming and sustainability will be much missed. We’re looking for someone to replace him who will continue to ensure the authority fulfils its statutory purposes.

“A parish member committed to looking after this special place and making it a thriving area will be able to make a really positive difference.”