Plan for fourth national park is branded a £4m 'ego project'

A WREXHAM councillor has branded plans for a new National Park a “£4m ego project” as others said there would be “no blank cheque” to fund the plan.

- By ALEC DOYLE Local Democracy Reporter

The Executive Board of Wrexham County Borough Council has joined Powys in agreeing to formally reject the Welsh Government's proposed Glyndwr National Park spanning the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

And there was scathing criticism of both the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales for continuing to move forward with a plan that lacks public or local government support.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Public Protection, said the National Park plan was missing vital information around the financial implications for local authorities.

“Natural Resources Wales have failed to provide the necessary information and clarity with regard to the governance, planning policy, financial arrangements and housing,” he said.

“There's also the problem that it has not been made clear about the cost of delivering the statutory duties that would fall upon the local authority. We have made it clear we need more information about this and this information has not been made available to us.

“What the Welsh Government are proposing, in particular what NRW are proposing, is that a number of these issues will be dealt with post-designation - which is effectively asking us to sign a blank cheque.

“We are not prepared to do that.”

Glyn Ceiriog Independent Cllr Trevor Bates slammed the whole idea.

“Why we're discussing a £4m ego project without any guarantees I don’t know,” he said.

“The report says there would be no direct budget implications but obviously there would be. Does no-one realise that patients are dying because of the state of our NHS at the moment?