The Peak District National Park planning service wants to know local people’s views on the vital issues of land use, to help draw up new policies for decades to come.

• Should industrial land be protected or released for housing?
• Where is the best place for tourism and recreation development?
• How much more quarrying should be permitted?
• What is the best way to manage traffic in a national park?

Residents and business owners can find out more at a series of public exhibitions across the National Park:
Thursday March 29 at Bamford Institute, 7 – 9pm
Thursday April 12 at Chapel en le Frith Town Hall, 7- 9pm
Monday April 16 at Bakewell Medway Centre, 7- 9pm
Wednesday April 18 at Dungworth Village Hall, 7 – 9pm
Tuesday April 24 at Parwich Village Hall, 7 – 9pm
Thursday May 10 at Warslow Village Hall, 7 – 9pm

High Peak Borough Council has won the Local Government Chronicle's Council of the Year Award at an awards ceremony in London, on Monday 12 March 2007.

The Local Government Chronicle awards are regarded as the top prizes, which celebrate achievement in local government. The Council of the Year is the principal award, which celebrates the winning council’s achievements in many different fields.

Chief Executive Peter Sloman said: “This is an enormous achievement for front line staff, managers and councillors, who have worked hard to achieve the targets we set ourselves to improve the quality of life in High Peak."

The Peak District National Park Authority has made an official commitment to tackling global warming by signing the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change.

The National Park Authority is already leading the way on energy-efficient heating systems, installing ground-source heat-pumps at its new Moorland Centre in Edale and Parsley Hey Cycle Hire Centre, and a biomass boiler at its Losehill Hall environmental education centre in Castleton.

It also supports eco-friendly businesses and community organisations through such schemes as the Peak District Sustainable Development Fund and New Environmental Economy programme, offering grants and guidance.

National Park Authority chair Tony Hams said: “As an environmental organisation it is up to us to provide strong and visible leadership for the local community in mitigating climate change".