Cuts of up to 40% in real terms to National Park Authority Government funding in England has led to more than 225 job losses over the past fives years and had a huge impact on services they provide, The Campaign for National Parks has warned.
Following a Freedom of Information request sent to all ten National Parks in England, the Campaign has released a national briefing showing the extent and impact of the cuts to National Parks over the last five years.
A Freedom of Information request found that National Park Authorities in England received £44.7m for 2015/16 compared with £56 million in 2010/11. The report also found that many National Parks have had to cut specific projects and programmes. These include the New Forest cutting its Sustainable Development Fund by 55%, the Broads closing three of its six tourist information centres and withdrawing from maintaining all its rights of way (around 23km), while the North York moors has stopped flood prevention work. The North York Moors has also cuts budgets in its biodiversity and historic environment work.
The Campaign is therefore calling on the Government to effectively resource National Parks, while also enabling them to take innovating approaches to access new or existing funding streams.
Fiona Howie, Campaign for National Parks chief executive, said: ‘Funding available for public transport programmes – that get people out into and around our Parks – has been cut; information centres are closing down or shortening their opening hours; public rights of way are not being maintained and grants for rural businesses – the lifeblood of the community – are being cut.
For the briefing see national briefing
For more information, see the Campaign for National Parks website at cnp.org.uk
