AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

Early day motion 463, tabled 1 March 2000 by Martin Caton (Labour). Signed by 105 members.

That this House recognises the 41 English and Welsh areas of outstanding natural beauty to be an invaluable part of the landscape and countryside heritage, and an enormous asset to local communities and the whole nation, as demonstrated by the numbers of visitors drawn to their scenic and other qualities; but acknowledges that those qualities are widely threatened by inadequate management provision which should be remedied at the earliest opportunity by giving local authorities statutory duties to promote their management, including a legal requirement to produce management plans which deliver effective environmental protection and seek benefits for local people and visitors alike.

Signatures by party: Labour 65, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 8, Labour/Co-operative 7, Plaid Cymru 3.