Funding cuts leave national park 'near cliff edge'
A national park is "close to a cliff edge", facing cuts to education, outreach and ranger services after a reduction in its government funding, according to its boss.
The chief executive of the Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) Tony Gates said a cut of about 8% in its revenue grant for this year comes on top of a long-term financial squeeze.
"I'm really struggling to see how we can remove £350,000 from our budget next year without cutting back some really critical services," Mr Gates said.
The government said it had given England's 10 national parks a £15m capital uplift, calling them a "source of national pride".
But Mr Gates said funding for the national park had fallen sharply in real terms over 15 years, forcing the closure of visitor centres and the shrinking of its team of rangers.
"We're facing the single largest cut in our revenue budget that we've had in our history," Mr Gates said.
"At a time when we face a nature crisis, a climate crisis and a health and wellbeing crisis for our people, the impact is likely that we're reducing the number of programmes in those areas rather than expanding them."
Steve Miller, who owns a campsite at Melkridge, said the park was vital for local tourism.
He said most of his customers come to use the facilities and enjoy the countryside.
"If the National Park didn't exist it would definitely impact the amount of visitors coming," Mr Miller said.
Mr Gates said Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs capital investment was "very welcome", but it still left the park struggling to cover it running costs.
"It helps pay for facilities," he said.
"But I need to have a team in place to identify what those capital investments are... to look after them and maintain them."
Politics North is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00 BST and on iPlayer.
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National park admits it could do 'more' for wildlife
National park cuts will axe rangers, bosses say
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