Member Article

Jobs to be shed as park tries to manage 33% budget cut

NORTHUMBERLAND National Park Authority has announced that up to 19 jobs will be lost over the next four years as its income is slashed by over £1million per year.

The move will include management positions being halved, along with a number of administrative and planning posts.

With employment costs representing 80% of the parks current income, the Authority believes the largest saving will need to be made in staffing.

John Riddle, Chairman of the National Park Authority, said: “If we could have achieved expenditure reductions without making people redundant, you can be certain we would have done.”

The Authority has confirmed that it will cease using two out of three National Park Authority-run visitor centres at both Ingram in the Breamish Valley and Rothbury.

New, revenue-generating plans are being considered for the Authority’s properties including its headquarters in Hexham.

Mr Riddle added: “It will be extremely hard for everyone over the next few years and we are having to stop some work and cut services, but by working differently we are determined to keep up the quality service that communities, partners and visitors have come to expect from this Authority.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .