We support the emphasis on green tourism in para. (c) (ii).

We support the recognition of tourism as a key sector of the district's economy. We agree that in order to attract more, and higher spending, visitors, there is a pressing need to improve the current standard and quantity of visitor accommodation (paragraphs iii and vi). Paragraph (iii) needs to acknowledge that there are other leisure and recreation establishements based in the countryside besides golf hotels that have potential to expand, thereby providing better quality tourist accommodation. In particular, angling centres, which by their nature require a countryside location, are well suited to providing a range of tourist accommodation suitable for the countryside, such as self-catering chalets and lodges in a tranquil rural setting with recreational activities provided on site. To this end, the policy should not restrict itself to "country house and golf hotels" but be widened so that it includes other recreation and leisure establishments that are appropriate locations for tourist accommodation in the countryside.

National planning policy support for this comes in Paragraph 34 (ii) of PPS7. It advises that there is scope for "tourist and leisure related developments" in "areas statutorily designated for their landscape, nature conservation and historic qualities". To this end, para. (c) of Box 26 should refer explicitly to the AONB as a location for improved visitor accommodation, including holiday lodges.

Furthermore, paragraph 29 of the consultation draft of PPS4 advises LPA's to "consider proposals (for economic development) favourably unless there is good reason to believe that the economic, social and/or environmental costs of development are likely to outweigh the benefits". Provision of good quality tourist accommodation should therefore be supported, if it comprises development such as holiday lodges which is compatible with its surroundings.

Paragraph (vi) recognises the role of holiday chalets, caravan and camping sites to the tourist economy and this is welcomed. In addition, the policy could refer to the suitability of holiday lodges, which have become a popular way of upgrading existing static and touring caravan parks. The appearance of lodges is much more compatible with a rural environment and their promotion can do much to improve the visual quality of the countryside, particularly when sited in sensitive landscapes in lieu of traditional static and touring caravans.

To this end, it is suggested that paragraph (iv) explicitly refer to holiday lodges as a sustainable means to upgrade existing caravan and camping sites.