Community and culture - Aim and objectives

Aim

Thriving and active local communities in the National Park will enjoy a high quality of life that helps to sustain the environment, local traditions and contemporary culture. All sections of these communities will have opportunities to influence and develop local services that meet their needs.

Objectives:

CC1. By 2007 use the Local Development Framework to set targets for increasing the amount of affordable and local needs housing, and then work through partnerships to meet those targets, including through social housing for rent, subsidised ownership, and shared ownership.

CC2. Improve the integration and flexibility of community transport services to meet the needs of local communities, and visitors where possible.

CC3. By 2011 develop and implement eight walking/cycling routes, each of which links one of the surrounding villages to the local service centres of Grassington, Skipton, Settle, Ingleton, Sedbergh, Hawes, Leyburn and Richmond, so that essential facilities and services can be accessed easily and safely on foot or by bicycle.

CC4. By 2011 develop and implement sympathetic traffic management schemes, to reduce the impact of vehicles in at least eight villages and other locations, and achieve accident reduction rates in line with County Councils’ targets.

CC5. Support and contribute to meeting targets set in local Community Strategies and sub-regional programmes for improving access to services within or closer to communities.

CC6. By 2010 obtain reliable data on community activity and quality of life in the National Park, and a better understanding of the range of cultural activities available.

CC7. Support community groups to record, maintain, celebrate and share their cultural heritage through community based projects, events, festivals and activities.

CC8. By 2011 develop and implement a programme to raise awareness of wider environmental issues, such as resource depletion, climate change and waste management.

CC9. Support at least one community to develop by 2009 a pilot programme to carry out ‘sustainable development appraisals’ for their area and encourage active community involvement in ’green projects’.

CC10. Use the National Park’s Sustainable Development Fund and other funding sources to support at least 15 new projects each year that bring economic, social and environmental benefits to the National Park.