Land use conflicts and solutions in upland limestone landscapes - National 5 Geography

Quick version

The Yorkshire Dales is a popular tourist destination but the large numbers of tourists can result in conflict with different groups, including local people, farmers, industry and people working to conserve the area, such as:

wear to limestone pavement and paths
traffic congestion on local roads
air and noise pollution from visitor traffic
litter detracts from the appearance of the area

Local industry can also find itself in conflict with tourists and local people:

quarries spoil the look of the natural landscape
large lorries transporting quarried stone cause air pollution
blasting of rocks causes noise pollution
wildlife habitats can also be destroyed in the process

Other conflicts exist relating to:

Farming: - livestock may be disturbed by walkers and their dogs, while farmers may restrict access to walkers or other visitors

Conservation: - large numbers of tourists cause damage to the natural landscape and ecosystem in popular places. Pesticides and fertilisers used on farms may run off into rivers, affecting water quality and aquatic life.

Conflict 1: tourists vs locals

The Yorkshire Dales are a popular tourist destination. The arrival of a large number of tourists to the region can create challenges for the local people who live there.

Below are some of the conflicts which can arise between locals and tourists in coastal landscapes as well as solutions which can be adopted to deal with the identified conflicts.

Problems and solutions: Limestone pavement erosion - warden protection. Traffic congestion - sustainable travel promoted. Noise/air pollution - more cycle paths. Footpath erosion - stone paths built. Increased litter - bins removed to encourage litter to be taken home. Holiday homes increase - first time buyer schemes.

Click here for a text version of the above information in a table.

Problems	Solutions
The limestone pavements suffer from wear and tear, and from the removal of stone, because of the sheer number of visitors.	Legislation and a warden service are in place to protect limestone pavements.
Severe traffic congestion on local roads near to main attractions like Malham Cove, limits the movement of locals especially during peak season.	The use of public transport, walking and cycling are promoted.
An increase in vehicles results in a build-up of air and noise pollution from car exhausts.	Cycling is promoted within the National Park, and there are a number of cycle paths.
The demand for car parking exceeds the number of spaces provided, which results in parking on grass verges.	Some farmers open up fields for car parking during peak season. A Dales Visitor Guide advising visitors of environmentally positive behaviour has been published.
Footpaths have been eroded, particularly in the areas around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar.	Surfacing busy paths and building steps up the side of Malham Cove, to prevent further erosion.
Litter detracts from the appearance of the area.	Litter bins have been removed, with the aim of encouraging visitors to take litter home.
House prices in the area increase as people move to the area and houses are bought as holiday homes. Local first-time buyers are unable to get onto the property ladder.	National Government schemes offer help to first time buyers. Additional council tax charged for empty properties and holiday homes. New housing banned from use as holiday homes.
Areas begin to look artificial as tourist facilities, signs and man-made walkways are constructed.	Developing a wider spread of ‘honeypot’ areas, and the local authority can refuse planning permission for new unsightly developments that conflict with the aims of the National Park.

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Image source, R A Kearton/Getty images
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Limestone pavement wear
High volumes of visitors can slowly wear and damage limestone pavement, so wardens can create alternative routes to allow affected areas to recover.
Image source, PeteStuart/Getty images
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Traffic issues
Parking issues around main attractions can be dangerous, bad for the environment and an eyesore. Promoting public transport, walking and cycling are alternative solutions. Ribblehead, Yorkshire Dales
Image source, Andrew Bret Wallis/Getty images
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Reducing noise/air pollution
Reducing noise/air pollution can be helped by creating cycle paths that are car-free. These can feel safer for cyclists, allowing visitors and locals of all ages and abilities to get around and see more of the landscape.
Image source, PaulMaguire/Getty images
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Footpath erosion
Resurfacing popular paths with stone will protect them from erosion.. Sedber Lane, Grassington, Yorkshire.
Image source, R A Kearton/Getty images
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Increased litter
Increased visitor numbers can prove too much for rubbish bits. Removing bins is designed to encourage people to take litter home with them, and stop rubbish from being spilled from bins in busy areas.
Image source, boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images
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Home ownership
Second home ownership increases, causing local first time buyers to struggle to get on the property ladder. National Government helps first time buyers through home ownership schemes.

Conflict 2: industry vs tourists

Problems can also arise between tourists and industry in upland limestone landscapes - here are some of the key conflicts with solutions which can be adopted to help everyone using the land.

Problems and solutions: Quarries an eyesore - trees used for screening. Air pollution - rail transport. Noise pollution - restricted times of day for blasting. Wildlife destroyed - nature reserves.

Click here for a text version of the above information in a table.

Problems	Solutions
Quarries are eyesores and spoil the natural beauty of the area	National Park Authorities can insist on companies screening quarries behind trees to reduce visual pollution, eg Ingleton Quarry
The large lorries needed to remove the quarried stone cause air pollution from dust and exhaust fumes	Promoting rail transport as an alternative to lorries, eg upgrading the rail facilities at Swinden Quarry near Skipton. Covering the lorries helps to reduce dust
Lorries moving quarried rock cause traffic congestion on narrow country roads	The movement of trucks can be restricted to certain times of the day
The blasting of rocks causes noise pollution	Blasting can be restricted to certain times of the day
Wildlife habitats may be destroyed when new quarries or infrastructure developed	Nature reserves can be located away from quarries to protect wildlife, eg Yellands Meadow Nature Reserve
Quarries can leave a scarred landscape when they are finally abandoned	Ensuring the restoration of quarries, eg they can be filled in and landscaped, or turned into a lake or nature reserve

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Image source, Heeritage images/Getty images
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Visual pollution
Planting trees or building earth bunds (as used at Coldstones Quarry here) can help screen a quarry from the surrounding road and houses.
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Air pollution
Using rail to transport material from quarries can reduce noise, road congestion and air pollution from dust.
Image source, John Lawson/Getty images
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Noise pollution
Blasting at quarries causes noise that disturbs locals, visitors, livestock and wildlife. Limiting blasting times can reduce this impact.
Image source, Tessa Bunney/Getty images
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Wildlife protection
National Park status in the Yorkshire Dales makes conserving the landscape a priority. Important wildlife and habitats are identified and given legal protection. The Yorkshire Dales is widely recognised as an important habitat for red squirrels.
Image source, Heritage images/Getty images
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Improving industrial landscapes
The Coldstones Cut is a piece of public art created to be a visitor attraction, offering panoramic views of the Dales and the working quarry. The quarry is expected to cease operating around 2030 when it will be allowed to green over and return to nature.

More examples of conflict and resolution

Farming

Even though many farmers have diversified their income to take advantage of the tourism trade, they are still running farms which are workplaces with sensitive and dangerous animals so visiting users of the land must remain respectful.

Problems	Solutions
Litter dropped by walkers can harm livestock	Visitors should take all litter home with them.
Leaving gates open can allow livestock to escape, creating more work for farmers and putting animals in danger from traffic.	Visitors should always close gates behind them and make themselves aware of the Countryside Code
Loose dogs can chase and worry sheep. This can cause injury, and the stress can cause pregnant ewes to miscarry during the lambing season.	Visitors should keep dogs under control and on a lead where they are close to livestock.
Dog waste can be a health hazard to people and livestock. Plastic poo bags can be dangerous to livestock and wildlife	Owners should take dog waste away with them for disposal. Dogs should be wormed regularly to prevent them passing on parasites or infections.
Cattle can be dangerous especially when looking after calves.	Farmers can put up signs to make visitors aware of where cows are. Visitors should act responsibly to avoid spooking cattle.
Holiday accommodation on working farms can risk disturbing livestock or disrupting farming activity	Visitors can be informed in advance on how to prevent impact on farm workings or block any access with their own vehicle.

Conservation

Although encouraging access to the Yorkshire Dales is a main goal of the National Park, conservation and protection of the landscape and its wildlife will always be the priority.

Problems	Solutions
Litter dropped by walkers can harm livestock.	National Park rangers patrol areas and issue fines for littering.
Footpaths can be closed temporarily to allow the vegetation to recover. This may annoy visitors	Park rangers put up signs and provide information on which areas are closed and why.
Pesticides and fertilisers used on farms may run off into rivers, affecting water quality and aquatic life	Catchment Sensitive Farming schemes offer advice and grants to farmers to help them reduce pollution from their farms.
Large numbers of parked cars and coaches can be an eyesore.	Screening car parks and coach parks helps preserve the look of the landscape.
Dog waste can be a health hazard to people and livestock. Plastic poo bags can be dangerous to livestock and wildlife.	Owners should take dog waste away with them for disposal. Dogs should be wormed regularly to prevent them passing on parasites or infections.
New buildings and development can destroy the traditional character of villages and towns	Designated Conservation Areas have restrictions on what new building or alterations to existing buildings can be carried out
Development and large numbers of visitors can threaten or destroy wildlife habitats	Areas can be classed as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Special Protected Areas to protect biodiversity. Nature reserves are managed by groups such as Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to protect or restore habitats.

Transport

The nature of the Yorkshire Dales National Park landscape means there are not many big roads and these can quickly become busy and difficult to navigate during busy seasons and around attractions.

Problems	Solutions
High volumes of traffic through towns and on country roads causes congestion, noise and pollution, as well as increasing travel times for locals and visitors.	Dales Bus has additional services during weekends and holidays. Visitors can travel through the Yorkshire Dales on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.
Some areas of the Dales are difficult to access without your own transport, increasing the number of cars.	Bicycle rental or touring is encouraged as another way to visit the Yorkshire Dales. Signed routes like The Yorkshire Dales Cycleway encourage more cycling as a way to see many parts of the National Park.

Renewable energy

Although renewable energy is a crucial part of combatting climate change, it is more complicated when it comes to finding the right space for this in a protected landscape.

Problems	Solutions
Large scale energy projects are seen as an eye sore and can damage the landscape and wildlife habitats	The National Park Authority encourages small scale and domestic renewable projects, such as the River Bain Hydro project which can meet the electricity need of 28 homes.
Local people do not see any benefit from energy projects	River Bain Hydro is community-owned and profits are used to fund local environmental projects.

Quiz

Recap

The Yorkshire Dales are a popular tourist destination this can lead to a variety of conflicts arising between locals and tourists as well as tourists with industry.

In addition these two groups also can have conflicts resulting from the shared land use with farming, conservation, transport and renewable energy. The table below highlights some of the solutions to some of the main conflicts.

A highlighter pen and sheet of writing with sections highlighted

Problems	Solutions
High numbers of tourists in summer can create traffic congestion and increase journey times and noise/air pollution for locals.	Improving public transport and encouraging its use along with cycle paths can help reduce congestion.
Popular tourist areas may see damage to limestone pavement and vegetation over time as well as increased litter.	Legislation protects limestone pavements and other unique features of the National Park. Wardens can issue fines for littering and can restrict access to damaged areas.
Quarries can be an eye sore on the landscape.	Screening from trees and bunds can both help reduce the visual impact on a landscape as well as any related noise pollution.
Farming activities and livestock may be disturbed by visitors.	Signs on gates and walks as well as Dales Visitor Guide which advises visitors on responsible behaviour.
Air pollution from lorries relating to industrial activity.	Rail transport for quarried stone benefits road congestion as well as air quality.
Second home ownership and holiday lets increase house prices making it harder for locals to stay in the area.	National Park Authority rules prevent new housing being used as holiday homes. Additional council tax charged for second homes.

Yorkshire Dales: land use conflicts and solutions

Quick version

Conflict 1: tourists vs locals

Conflict 2: industry vs tourists