Members of the public can expected a top level service from staff at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority – and that’s official.

The Authority has just become one of the first in the UK to be awarded the Government’s new public sector Customer Service Excellence Award.

An external assessor spent two days in the National Park, talking to local communities, visitors, YDNPA staff and volunteers to find out what they thought about the services provided by the Authority.

David Butterworth, the YDNPA’s Chief Executive, said: “The assessor found that the Authority encourages and supports a customer-focused approach throughout the organisation so that excellent services are delivered to all customers.

“And he said this approach has been delivered through the attitude and professionalism of staff and the willingness and enthusiasm of volunteers. The attainment of this Standard is a measure of their hard work and dedication,

“Of course, we still want to improve our customer focus across all our services, although this will be particularly difficult in the current and future financial climate. In the meantime, I would just like to record my thanks and appreciation to the staff and volunteers for all their hard work.”

Authority Chairman Carl Lis said: “The assessor was highly complementary in his feedback and specifically mentioned the hard work and dedication of staff and volunteers as contributing to the Authority’s high level of excellence in its provision of quality services.

“This official recognition is a great pat on the back for all the Authority staff and volunteers who do so much to look after and promote this fantastic landscape.”