Northumberland

This article explains how Northumberland National Park has decided it cannot afford to pursue its legal challenge over cuts to be imposed by Defra. The cuts amount to 33%.

The article reports claims that Defra has “salami sliced” the budgets of all 10 park authorities without taking into account their individual circumstances and ability to raise alternative funds, such as from the sale of assets.

Authority chairman John Riddle said: “The authority has decided that its current priority is to use its limited resources to address the significant challenges required by budget reductions.

“We are deeply concerned, however, that if the allocation of funding for national parks is not addressed and revised it is likely that future funding decisions will have an even greater detrimental effect on the least-funded national park, which is Northumberland.”

I don’t think many people fully understand the funding and operation of National Parks. While the cuts they face are unfortunate it will be interesting to see how their profile (and plans to review their governance) play in terms of a broader awareness of just what they are all about going forward.