LAKE District National Park Authority members are to be allowed to claim expenses for using electric cars.

National park staff have been able to claim for using electric vehicles which help cut carbon emissions.

But no such scheme existed for its 20 members, which consist of councillors drawn from across Cumbria, alongside Secretary of State appointees.

They are permitted to claim expenses for petrol, diesel and public transport travel.

Park chief executive Richard Leafe agreed to review the allowances scheme  after a request from members.

As a result, national park members can now claim a non-taxable 35 per mile for going electric.

Kerry Powell, director of communications and resources for the LDNPA, said: “We put an electric vehicle mileage rate in for staff 18 months to two years ago at 35p per mile. We hadn’t updated the members’ allowances scheme to also include a mileage rate for electric vehicles, so this quite rightly proposes we apply the same rate to members.”

In 2018-19, the LDNPA paid £89,000 in allowances and expenses to its members.

They can claim a basic of £3,000 for national park work and extra if they hold additional responsibilities.

The LDNPA has won a national awards three years on the run for reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles.

It has also reduced the number of miles staff drive on behalf of the authority by 36 per cent over a four-year period.

Low energy computers have been brought in alongside video conferencing facilities and woodchop boilers at Murley Moss and its northern office at Threlkeld near Keswick.