Sponsored by
Minister's praise for Uni and national park
ENVIRONMENT Minister Hilary Benn congratulated the University of Derby at Buxton on its sustainability and capacity for regeneration during a visit on Friday.
Calling in at the Devonshire Dome campus during a tour of the Peak District, Mr Benn said he was impressed by the way in which the splendid building had been brought back into public use. "What the University has done here is fantastic," he said.
Dean Dr Peter Dewhurst said: "We were delighted to welcome Hilary Benn to the campus and show him something of the work we have been doing, since the site was refurbished and re-opened in 2005.
"Four years later we feel that there are very strong links between 'town and gown', and that these have helped rejuvenate Buxton and the wider area. The commendation from Mr Benn only adds to this."
Mr Benn was in the area to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the legislation which created national parks. During the day, accompanied by High Peak MP Tom Levitt, he visited Dovedale, Ilam Hall Youth Hostel and Longshaw Moorland Discovery Centre.
In Dovedale he met volunteers from the National Trust engaged in conservation and tourism management.
He also saw fence repairs being carried out by former drug addicts as a voluntary part of their treatment.
"It is tremendous to see how volunteers can really make a positive difference in managing the countryside," he said.
At Ilam Hall guests heard Mr Benn give a speech on the importance of national parks in the modern world before he formally reopened the newly refurbished hostel. At Longshaw he saw practical examples of nature conservation in action.
Mr Benn paid tribute to the leaders and employees of the Peak District National Park.
"National Parks are at least as important today as they were when a Labour government created them in 1949," he said.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Buxton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
