Dartmoor National Park Authority News Release

31 May 2012

Secretary of State re-appointments to the Dartmoor National Park Authority

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced the re-appointment of Secretary of State ‘national’ members Peter Harper and Trevor Smale to serve on the Dartmoor National Park Authority.  Peter Harper has been reappointed to 31 March 2016 and Trevor Smale reappointed to 31 March 2013.  Secretary of State appointees are the national voice on the National Park Authorities, which have strategic responsibility for conservation, recreation, planning, access and resources.

Peter Harper has been managing the family farm in the Teign valley on east Dartmoor for the last 16 years. Prior to that he served as an officer in the Army Air Corps for 8 years.   Peter is a keen forester having recently gained a degree in forestry through the Open University, he is also an active member of SW Confederation of Timber Growers, and a member of the NFU and farmer member of the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project.  As a keen walker he has managed a Ten Tors team for the last 14 years.  Peter Harper will receive the basic allowance £1,560/year plus a special responsibility allowance of £1,560/year as he is Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee.

Trevor Smale has a qualification in planning and he remains a Chartered Town Planner.  He has also qualifications in management and he also has an MBA.  Most of Trevor’s working life was in the public sector.  Latterly he was a Managing Inspector in the Audit Commission and then a Council Chief Executive.  Early retirement was followed by a move to the voluntary/charitable sector.  After working at the Devon Wildlife Trust he is now the South West Regional Manager for the LloydsTSB Foundation.  Other roles have included Board Membership of the Devon and Cornwall Learning and Skills Council and a Visiting Fellow at Plymouth University.  Trevor Smale will receive the basic allowance of £1,560/year plus a special responsibility allowance of £1,560/year as he is Chair of Development Management.

Ends

For further information

John Weir, Head of Communications, Dartmoor National Park Authority

Tel: (01626) 832093

Notes for Editors

Further information on all Dartmoor National park Authority’s Members can be found on the Authority’s web site. For information about National Park Authorities, including appointments, please go to: www.defra.gov.uk/rural/national-parks (external link, opens new window) .

In 1949 the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was passed and the first UK National Parks were designated in 1951.  Dartmoor was designated in October that year, the fourth area of land in the UK to receive National Park status.

Dartmoor National Park Authority's purposes under the Environment Act 1995 are:

• to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;

• to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public.

In carrying out this work, we are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.

Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's web site.

You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

For News Releases from all UK National Parks visit www.nationalparks.gov.uk (external link, opens new window).

There are 15 members of the National Parks family in the UK: Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, South Downs, Yorkshire Dales, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, the Cairngorms and the Broads.  National Parks are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment.  However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers.  Over 34,500 people live in Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.