THE Yorkshire Dales National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2004 and its newly elected leaders have issued statements promising to make it a year to remember.

Steven Macaré, a photographer from Harrogate, has been re-elected as chairman for a year which will see important changes in the way national parks work alongside the regional development agencies.

Significantly, Carl Lis, leader of Craven District Council, was elected as deputy chairman for he is a quarry manager from Ingleton and quarrying is one of the most controversial subjects in the park.

Said Counc Lis: "As leader of Craven District Council and as a quarry manager in the national park I know the issues that affect the people who live and work in rural areas. I face them every day in both my professional life and in my political life as leader of a rural authority.

"As deputy chairman I will support the work of the Authority to influence regional and national decision-making and, in doing so, contribute to the realisation of the wider aspirations of the National Park's communities."