Looking after

How we work to look after the National Park, conservation, ranger services, biodiversity and policies.

Peter Harrison.

Councillor Peter Harrison

I am a member of Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council.

Contact me

If you want to contact me about the work of the Peak District National Park Authority you can do so in the following ways:

Telephone: 01298 812081

Email: peter.harrison@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Address: 21 Longmeade Drive, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK23 0XP

About me

I was born and educated in Sheffield where I started my working life in local government.

I spent most of my weekends as a young man walking in the Peak District National Park enjoying the fresh air and beautiful landscape it had to offer. Sheffield was then referred to as a "dirty city in a golden frame". The "golden frame" is thankfully still there for us all to enjoy.

I moved into the High Peak in 1965 from an authority in Warwickshire and in 1974 was appointed High Peak Borough Council's director of housing and estates, becoming director of planning as well some 15 years later. I am obviously interested in seeing there are opportunities for affordable housing for our families and I have, therefore, served as a member of the boards of two housing associations - one of which, Moorlands, is currently providing much needed affordable accommodation in the national park.

I am a member of Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council. I represent the parishes of the High Peak and wider Metropolitan areas on the Peak District National Park Authority so I feel it is quite useful to have experienced both city and rural life. I was a member of the national park authority from 1999 to 2007 before my present appointment.

Professionally, I remain a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and have a Master of Arts degree in public administration.

Personally, I am a father of five daughters and have 12 grandchildren, most of whom still live locally. 

What the national park means to me

It is a wonderful living landscape maintained to a very large degree by those who live and work within it, especially the estate owners and farmers whose livelihoods are here. It is a place where all of us can find leisure and pleasure and which those who live in the surrounding metropolitan areas can also share.

We have a huge responsibility to ensure that we all care passionately for it and enable our children and grandchildren to enjoy all it has to offer.

Membership of outside bodies

  • Member (and former chairman) of Chapel-en-le-Frith parish council (1979 to present date)
  • Vice chairman of Chapel-en-le-Frith High School governors
  • President of the Chapel-en-le-Frith Carnival committee