Tony Favell

The chair of a national park authority has been appointed an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Tony Favell, who heads the Peak District National Park Authority, received the award for political and public service.

Councillor Favell, a member of High Peak Borough Council, is a former Tory MP and has chaired the Peak authority since April 2011.

He said: “I am absolutely thrilled.

“It is an enormous honour to receive this recognition for having done everything I have loved doing. However, I would not have achieved it without the support from my wife, Susan, and everyone I have worked with over the years. It really is marvellous.”

Jim Dixon, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “This is a richly deserved award.

“Tony has given selfless service to the people of the Hope Valley, the High Peak and the Peak District national park.

“He has championed the role of local people and the importance of helping young people from neighbouring cities experience the national park.”

At the Peak District National Park Authority, Cllr Favell has played a leading role in improving communications over matters such as planning and the use of 4×4s on green lanes.

He has campaigned for improved rail services on the Hope Valley Line, between Manchester and Sheffield, the protection of the national park landscape and support for the growth of rural businesses as well as improving services for residents, including access to better broadband.

He has overseen a period where the authority has had to implement big cuts as the coalition Government reduced its budget by 28 per cent.

The authority sold off its learning centre Losehill Hall near Castleton in Derbyshire and authority employees have been made redundant.

Councillor Favell is president of High Peak Conservative Association and deputy chairman of the High Peak and Hope Valley Rail Partnership as well as president of Stockport Mencap.

He has lived in Edale for 43 years and was previously been a senior partner of a Peak District firm of solicitors; MP for Stockport; chairman of Tameside and Glossop Acute Services Hospital Trust and a part-time tribunal judge.

He worked in the Treasury whilst serving as an MP, and was former Prime Minister John Major’s Parliamentary Private Secretary for four years.

He has also been an Edale parish councillor, president of Hope Show and president of the Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials Association.