29/06/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

Plans to make the people who run Yorkshire's National Parks

face elections are proving to be controversial.

For over 60 years, most of the members of National Park Authorities

have been appointed by local councils.

Now, the government says they need to be more accountable.

Our Political Editor Len Tingle has the story.

Of the Second World War, thdre was a move to reappear in the shattered

economy with a view to redeveloping the countryside. In 1951, the Peak

District became the first n`tional park. It was followed in thd next

few years by two in Yorkshire. For over 60 years, the park authorities

have been elected by the local councils. Members are appointed not

elected. This could be set to change. Providing for direct

elections for National Parks Authorities. This means thex will

have to pick themselves up for election, every four or fivd years.

We should not be complacent in the way we run our democracy. Btt the

general public seem very happy with our current system. The people who

make these dishes and have little or no idea of what it is to work in a

national park. These could have huge and serious consequences. There is

no further information from the government this week as to how this

will be implemented. A convicted burglar has gond

on the run from Hatfield Prhson Damian Pearson was sentenced to

three and a half years in prison at the beginning of last ye`r.

South Yorkshire Police say he has links to Doncaster, particularly

the Wheatley Park area. Otley's Lizzie Armitstead s`ys she

she was "gutted" not to havd won the Women's National Road Champhonships,

after a dramatic sprint finhsh. Armitstead went into the 64`mile

race in Wales as favourite, after winning the title last year, but

despite breaking away from the pack and leading the way for sevdral

miles, she was caught up in the final stretch and be`ten

to the line by Laura Trott, It was a case of being aggrdssive

all day, but unfortunately, I got caught on the last lap. Are you

excited about the Tour de France coming here? Yes, very excited.

cycling as well as bad.

Former Leeds Rhinos star Kehth Senior has completed his latest

and toughest, charity challdnge Senior cycled more than 1,000 miles

in eight days, from France to Headingley,

to deliver the match ball at today's Rhinos game.

To celebrate the Tour de Fr`nce coming to Leeds, the Rhinos

wore their new yellow kit, while Senior and his team

included stage one of the Grand Depart in their route.

On the pitch, there was a whn, a loss and a draw for our tdams

The Rhinos just edged out the Catalan Dragons, beating thdm

by a single point. Wakefield were held to a dr`w

by Hull, thanks to a last`mhnute converted try, while Bradford Bulls

were comfortably beaten at Warrington, 50`24.

Into tomorrow, it should be a dry and fine day for many others. This

evening, most of the showers will fizzle out. It should be drx

overnight, with clear sky. Temperatures dropping down to single

figures, as low as seven in rural areas. Chilly start to the day

tomorrow. The best of the stnshine through the morning. A bit lore

cloud building up during thd course of the day, which could bring the

odd isolated shower. Temper`tures rising to about 18 or 19 Celsius.

The risk of a few showers on Tuesday, but plenty of fine weather

fine weather on Wednesday.

Good evening. For some of us, there has been some sunshine but we have

had showers around. Heavier ones during the morning. Starting to lose

their intensity as they moved south. Mainly affecting parts of eastern

England. As we keep a shower in the forecast, most places should be dry.

Some sunshine around. Feeling warmer. Through the night, it will

become fairly chilly with broken cloud giving clearer skies. Towns

and cities, temperatures up by dawn. Still in double figures. But in the

countryside, it will be cooler than that. A chilly start to tomorrow

morning but bright, with sunshine around. We will pick up some areas

where there is slightly more cloud. Throughout the afternoon, it