PLANS for new conservation boards with sweeping powers over rural areas have been criticised by farmers and landowners.

The government proposes to take powers such as planning decisions away from local authorities and into the hands of management boards along the lines of national park authorities.

The boards would control land newly designated as areas of outstanding natural beauty, AONBs, with 60pc of the membership being made up of people appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Internal wrangling between locally-elected representatives and Secretary of State appointees at the Yorkshire dales national park authority was cited as the reason for the resignation of its chief executive, Mrs Heather Hancock, earlier this year, and there are fears that the same situation could be created if the proposals in the Countryside Access Bill are approved.

Two of the areas designated as AONBs are the North Pennines and Nidderdale.

Dr Malcolm Bell, planning expert with Ward Haddaway solicitors in Newcastle, believes there is nothing to be gained in the government's proposals.

He said: " I suspect problems would outweigh the benefits.

"I do not think it is broken and it does not need fixing. In none of the areas can I see what is to be gained by changing a democratic authority into an undemocratic one."

Durham County Coun Alan Scott, from Teesdale, also believes planning matters should be left to local people and fears conservation boards would only increase red tape and stifle development.

He said: "People who live outside the area know nothing about it at all, hence the treatment we have had from the government recently. These boards would cause chaos, and we have enough bureaucracy already.

"People who have money for development should be encouraged, not discouraged. It's no good leaving the place to look like a museum; we are living in the 21st century now and should move with the times."

The Earl Peel, who lives near Masham, is one of the peers currently debating the Bill in the House of Lords. He said he and many other peers objected to the government making last minute amendments without any prior consultation.

He told the D&S Times yesterday: "The whole process of tagging on a major piece of rural legislation shows contempt for local councils and local people.

"I am astonished that local people have not been offered proper levels of consultation. It is another example of draconian central government legislation on rural matters.

"Nobody is keener on good rural management than I am, but I believe the best people to do this, given clear direction from the government, are the people who live and work in these areas of outstanding natural beauty.