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Visitor slump adds to national park’s financial woes
AN UNEXPECTED slump in visitors to one of Yorkshire’s national parks has compounded an already perilous financial situation which will see job losses enforced and services dramatically scaled back.
The North York Moors National Park’s visitor numbers have fallen by about 10 per cent during the peak summer period as financially-stricken householders ditch days out and holidays to save money.
The North York Moors National Park Authority is facing a shortfall of nearly £65,000 following a decline in car parking fees and sales at its visitor centres as well as a fall in fees for planning applications.
The park authority’s chief executive, Andy Wilson, said: “Tourism is the lifeblood of the North York Moors. But if people do not visit the park, they will not realise just how special it is.
“We exist as an authority to help them appreciate the park for what it is. Without the income from visitors, that will be increasingly difficult.”
Visitor numbers were down by 13,250 between April 1 and August 31 at the visitor centres at Sutton Bank and Danby – about a 10 per cent fall compared to the same period last year.
Car parking fees fell by 13 per cent on budget projections – a total of £3,000 – between April and August, while sales of national park products declined by 16 per cent, or £26,000.
The fall in planning fees led to a 16 per cent reduction – £9,000 – over the same period for the financial plan for this year.
The dramatic reduction in income has emerged as the national park authority is due to meet on Monday next week to approve a blueprint to tackle what amounts to a 35 per cent reduction in funding in real terms over the next four years.
Six full-time and six part-time posts are expected to be lost between now and April 2014, including one of the authority’s directors.
One of the hardest-hit services is the Moorsbus scheme – which carries about 10,000 passengers each year – and is due to be ditched at the end of October 2013.
The park authority’s grant is being reduced by 21.5 per cent from £5.1m in the current financial year to £4.3m by 2014/15.
The Yorkshire Post revealed last month that concerns had been expressed over the state of the region’s multi-billion pound tourism industry, with some attractions reporting a drop in visitor numbers of more than a third.
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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