More anti-white prejudice in the disunited Kingdom

Lake District is facing mass resignations by its volunteer rangers over a decision to scrap free guided walks in the national park because they do not attract enough people from ethnic minority communities. Ranger-led walks are among 900 Lake District events planned for 2005-06 that are to be dropped because they appeal mostly to “white, middle-class, middle-aged people”. The cost-cutting move is part of a strategy that hopes to win extra government and European Union funding for the park by meeting targets to attract more young, urban, black, Asian and disabled people. Some people have accused the authority, which is due to ratify the decision today, of saying that white people are no longer welcome in the Lake District.

The park’s 300 volunteer rangers bring thousands of novice walkers to the Lake District every year. In addition to the scenic walks, volunteers run slide shows, pathfinder courses and farm visits for children, map and compass courses and sea and mountain rescue courses for adults. Next year’s events guide for England’s largest national park was due to go to print when the rangers were told that it was to be torn up. There was no consultation.

Mick Casey, a media officer for the authority, said that the events programme was used by only 35,000 of the 14 million people who visit the Lake District annually. “The majority who do the walks are white, middle-class, middle-aged people,” he said. “The Government is encouraging national parks to appeal to young people, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.”

Derek Tunstall, 51, a Lake District volunteer for 32 years, said that the rangers cost the authority only œ32,000 last year in travel expenses, courses and safety equipment. “Some people who come on the walks every year feel devastated,” he said. “There will be widespread resignations if it goes ahead.” Among those considering resigning is Derek Lyon, 73, a former chairman of the Lake District Voluntary Rangers: “We treat everyone the same on the walks, whatever their skin colour, age or social background. Stopping them seems incomprehensible.”

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Posted by jonjayray on Thursday, January 6, 2005 at 07:06 PM in Marxism & Culture War
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Posted by Pericles on January 07, 2005, 07:40 AM | #

BBC website 6/1/05

An ethnic minorities campaign group is urging a rethink of plans to scrap free walks in the Lake District.
The Lake District National Park Authority wants to axe 400 walks run by volunteer rangers.

It said walkers are too “white, middle class”, but has agreed to a special meeting to discuss the plan.

But the Black Environment Network (Ben) said ditching walks is not the way forward and they are necessary to ensure visitors’ safety.

‘Encourage’ groups

Ben and the Council for National Parks has just finished a three-year project called Mosaic trying to encourage ethnic minorities to visit the countryside.

Ben’s UK director, Judy Ling Wong, said instead of scrapping the walks more effort should be put into encouraging different groups of people to get involved in them.

She said: “We found that for Asian and black people, getting involved was a learning process.

“For people already living in these countryside areas going up mountains is normal, but for beginners, from a safety point of view it can be daunting.

“I do not believe in scrapping programmes already in place, but to build on them and encourage different groups to take part.

£32,000 saving

“For example certain religions would want all-women walking groups, which can be organised with a little bit of thought.”

The Lake District authority said it would save £32,000 from the Park’s £9m annual budget by scrapping walks.

This money is paid out in expenses to the 300 volunteers who act as guides on the walks.

Instead of rubber-stamping the decision to drop the walks, the authority said on Tuesday it will hold the special meeting to discuss the plan, within a month.
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Is it possible there will be an increase in house breaking as a result?

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