Call for answers on cash cuts to allay 'doom scenario' fears

At a meeting yesterday of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, board members asked chief executive David Butterworth to try to obtain further clarification about how severe a cut in funding it could be facing.

As revealed in yesterday's Yorkshire Post, national parks across the UK could be facing cuts as deep as 35 per cent to their budgets.

Several members agreed with Mr Butterworth that the Government had not provided clear information about the cuts required.

Mr Butterworth told the meeting: "There are mixed messages. There is no overall plan but it is being developed as they go along.

"We need good information so as not to be filled with a doom scenario."

Mr Butterworth previously said a cut of 35 per cent would be "catastrophic" for the park and that services would have to be scaled back as a result.

The chief executive has already held discussions with Unison to discuss how the cuts may impact upon the staff and added: "I don't think local communities have any idea what they are going to be facing."

Concerns were also expressed regarding a review of the governance of national parks, with the suggestion that each authority should have only 12 members.

Councillor John Blackie, of North Yorkshire County Council, said such a move would be bad for local democracy and take local expertise out of decision-making, resulting in "far poorer services".