THERE is a “clear case” for considering if the Cotswolds should become a National Park, says Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

He made the comments last week but added that the Cotswolds was in the very early stages of any debate on the possibility of National Park status.

Sir Geoffrey said the move would require extensive discussion and consultation with all interested authorities and people living in the Cotswolds, however he believes this is a debate that should begin now.

The MP recently visited the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) in West Sussex with Cotswolds Conservation Board chairman Liz Eyre and director Martin Lane, to learn more about how it operates.

He said: “Having gathered evidence on how well the National Park works in the South Downs, there is a clear case for at least considering if the Cotswolds could be conserved and enhanced further by designating the area as a National Park.”

Director of the Cotswolds Conservative Board, Martin Lane said: “The visit was highly informative. It demonstrated how the Park Authority had introduced a new and successful planning arrangement, which worked for differing partners with differing needs, across the whole area.

“We agree that the time is right to explore whether a National Park for the Cotswolds would be good for local communities, the environment and the economy.”