Latest news with #PhilMulligan
Metro
3 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Peak District visitors could face £1 entry fee to 'access incredible landscape'
A new way to fund one of Britain's most beloved national parks is being suggested by its chief executive, and it could involve charging visitors a small fee. The Peak District, which stretches across parts of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Yorkshire, became the UK's first national park in 1951. Its rugged moorlands, rolling hills and walking routes like the Pennine Way attract around 20 million visitors each year. But over the past decade, the Peak District National Authority says it has seen a 50% cut in its core funding. Just this year, its revenue grant has been slashed by 9%, all while it faces growing pressures, including wildfires, dangerous parking, rising operational costs and visitor demand. Chief executive Phil Mulligan believes a small visitor charge may be part of the solution. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. 'If we had 10p from each visitor, that would more than makeup for the cuts governments are making to our core grant,' he said in a statement to Metro. 'If we were to make it £1 per person, then we would not need any core government grant.' Unlike UK cities, which can introduce a tourism levy, national parks currently have no powers to charge those who visit. Mulligan says introducing a fee would require legislative change and government support, and even then, implementing it would bring its own set of challenges. 'I don't think anyone would mind paying that to access the incredible landscapes, natural environment and rich cultural heritage we have on offer, it is more a challenge of how you would collect it,' he explains. Most visitors to the Peak District only come for a few hours, meaning charging a bed tax or overnight accommodation would miss the majority. Adding road cameras, like those used for clean air zones or congestion charges, would be 'too expensive' and have a 'visual impact' on the landscape, according to Mulligan. He adds: 'There would also need to be a mechanism for excluding residents, business travel into the National Park, and those just travelling through the National Park to get somewhere else.' Despite these hurdles, Mulligan argues that the current funding model is no longer sustainable. He argues that National Parks are being asked to do more than ever – from boosting mental health and wellbeing to restoring nature and tackling climate change – but they don't have the resources to match. More Trending Mulligan says: 'The future sustainability and sufficiency of the current funding model is in question so we need to be asking the bigger question of how does the nation want to pay for National Parks to remain here for everyone, forever.' The idea of a tourist tax isn't new. Cities and protected areas across Europe already charge visitors small daily or overnight fees to help fund maintenance and conservation. In Venice, tourists are charged a day tax to enter the city during its peak season. In Switzerland and Portugal, hikers pay fees to access certain hiking trails, while Spanish national parks ask for contributions to maintain protected areas. UK cities have started to introduce similar charges. Edinburgh confirmed it would introduce a 'first of its kind' tourist tax on hotel stays, charging visitors £2 per night. While other local councils across the country have been exploring similar options. Chatsworth House – a grand stately home in the heart of Derbyshire on the banks of the river Derwent. Monsal Trail – a walking and cycling path along a former railway line, with stunning views of the Derybshire countryside. Mam Tor – known as the 'Shivering Mountain', this seven-mile loop hike is a favourite among hikers. Ladybower Reservoir – a scenic reservoir encircled by hiking trails. Peak Cavern – also known as 'The Devil's Arse', this is one of the UK's largest natural cave entrances, located in Castleton. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Baby in hospital after vicious dog attack in Manchester MORE: Map shows average savings in different UK regions — how does yours compare? MORE: Here's where two new reservoirs could be built in the UK
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Peak District tourists could face entry fee
Visitors to the Peak District could be charged an entrance fee to help tackle the national park's funding crisis. Phil Mulligan, the chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, said it 'wouldn't need any government funding' if it could charge 10p per visitor. The park, which has around 13 million visitors per year, has cut 10 per cent of its staff in recent months because of what Mr Mulligan called 'declining funding'. He added that there had been a 50 per cent real terms funding cut over the last decade, while the park had grappled with problems such as wildfires and dangerous parking. 'Ever-declining' government funds Mr Mulligan told the BBC: 'We have the pressure of visitors, we have the pressure of delivering for the nation in terms of the ecological crisis, the climate crisis. 'I'm trying to do that with an ever-declining set of government funds, at a time when what's being asked of the national park is more and more. 'I think that [charging tourists fees] is a big discussion that government is going to need to have. But what would be the mechanism for that? I haven't got the powers.' The authority's financial troubles have been blamed on a fixed government grant that has not accounted for inflation or other costs such as the rise in the minimum wage. Mr Mulligan added: 'If [the Government] are going to keep cutting our funding, then there is going to need to be a different way of funding national parks.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Peak District entry fee idea put forward
Charging tourists to visit the Peak District could be the solution to "unprecedented" financial woes, according to the leader of the authority running the national park. The Peak District National Park Authority, based in Bakewell in Derbyshire, says it has had a 50% real terms funding cut over the last decade, while grappling with issues like wildfires and dangerous parking. But chief executive Phil Mulligan said it "wouldn't need any government funding" if it could charge 10p per visitor. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was providing national parks with a capital uplift of £15m. The Peak District became the UK's first national park around 75 years ago and is a major tourist attraction, welcoming about 13 million visitors every year. Pressures due to a fixed government grant that has not accounted for inflation or other costs, such as the rise in the minimum wage, have been blamed for the authority's financial troubles. Speaking to Politics East Midlands, Mr Mulligan said: "We have the pressure of visitors, we have the pressure of delivering for the nation in terms of the ecological crisis - the climate crisis. "I'm trying to do that with an ever-declining set of government funds, at a time when what's being asked of the national park is more and more. "I think that [charging tourists fees] is a big discussion that government is going to need to have. "But what would be the mechanism for that? I haven't got the powers." Mr Mulligan said 10% of the authority's staff had been made redundant in recent months in response to "declining funding". "If [the government] are going to keep cutting our funding then there is going to need to be a different way of funding national parks," he added. Alan Graves, the Reform UK leader of Derbyshire County Council, said he would back the idea of visitors being charged "up to £1 just to go there". He added: "[Charging tourists] sounds like a good idea, but we need to be very careful we don't frighten people off. "So long as it's not too expensive, I think people visiting the national park will contribute. Maybe up to £1 just to go there. "The real difficulty is how do you police that... because there's no point in having these expensive cameras to do that. "But in principle, it sounds like it's a good idea." A spokesperson for Defra said: "Our national parks are a source of great national pride which is why this government is providing them with a capital uplift of £15m. "This is in addition to the £400m we are investing in restoring nature across the country." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Wildfire warning sign placed in Peak District Plans being drawn up to tackle Peak District parking Park authority announces cost-cutting restructure Peak District National Authority
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Peak District entry fee idea put forward
Charging tourists to visit the Peak District could be the solution to "unprecedented" financial woes, according to the leader of the authority running the national Peak District National Park Authority, based in Bakewell in Derbyshire, says it has had a 50% real terms funding cut over the last decade, while grappling with issues like wildfires and dangerous chief executive Phil Mulligan said it "wouldn't need any government funding" if it could charge 10p per visitor.A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was providing national parks with a capital uplift of £15m. The Peak District became the UK's first national park around 75 years ago and is a major tourist attraction, welcoming about 13 million visitors every due to a fixed government grant that has not accounted for inflation or other costs, such as the rise in the minimum wage, have been blamed for the authority's financial troubles. Speaking to Politics East Midlands, Mr Mulligan said: "We have the pressure of visitors, we have the pressure of delivering for the nation in terms of the ecological crisis - the climate crisis."I'm trying to do that with an ever-declining set of government funds, at a time when what's being asked of the national park is more and more."I think that [charging tourists fees] is a big discussion that government is going to need to have."But what would be the mechanism for that? I haven't got the powers." Mr Mulligan said 10% of the authority's staff had been made redundant in recent months in response to "declining funding". "If [the government] are going to keep cutting our funding then there is going to need to be a different way of funding national parks," he Graves, the Reform UK leader of Derbyshire County Council, said he would back the idea of visitors being charged "up to £1 just to go there".He added: "[Charging tourists] sounds like a good idea, but we need to be very careful we don't frighten people off."So long as it's not too expensive, I think people visiting the national park will contribute. Maybe up to £1 just to go there."The real difficulty is how do you police that... because there's no point in having these expensive cameras to do that."But in principle, it sounds like it's a good idea."A spokesperson for Defra said: "Our national parks are a source of great national pride which is why this government is providing them with a capital uplift of £15m."This is in addition to the £400m we are investing in restoring nature across the country."
