National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

General powers and duties of Commission

85 General duty of Commission to advise on questions relating to natural beauty

Without prejudice to the duties of the Commission relating to National Parks, it shall be the duty of the Commission—

(a) to inquire into and report on such questions as may from time to time be referred to them by any Government department, being questions affecting the natural beauty of areas of outstanding natural beauty or other areas or places;

(b) in circumstances where it appears to the Minister and to the Commission desirable that their assistance should be generally available, to inquire into and report on such questions referred to them by any other body of persons or person;

(c) to bring to the attention of the Minister or of local planning authorities the effect on the natural beauty of such areas or places as aforesaid of developments, or developments of any class, which appear to the Commission to be likely to be prejudicial thereto.

86 Information services to be provided by Commission

(1) It shall be the duty of the Commission to take such steps as appear to them expedient for securing that persons interested—

(a) will be informed of the situation and extent of, and means of access to, National Parks, other areas, being areas of outstanding natural beauty, and long-distance routes for which proposals under section fifty-one of this Act have been approved, and the accommodation and facilities available for persons wishing to visit National Parks and such other areas or persons wishing to use such routes:

(b) will be able to learn about the history, natural features, flora and fauna of National Parks and the objects of architectural or historical interest therein and the opportunities for recreation available therein,

and that suitable methods of publicity are used for the prevention of damage in National Parks and such other areas as aforesaid and otherwise for encouraging a proper standard of behaviour on the part of persons visiting National Parks and such other areas ; and the said methods shall include the preparation and publication of a code of conduct for the guidance of persons visiting the countryside.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of the last foregoing subsection, the Commission may for the purposes thereof procure the production and sale to the public of books, guides and maps, the exhibition of posters and other advertisements, the giving of lectures and the provision and exhibition of cinematograph films.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the steps mentioned in subsection (1) of this section include the making of contributions towards expenses incurred by other bodies of persons.