Cuts of up to 40% in real terms to National Park Authority government funding in England have led to more than 225 job losses over the past five years and huge impacts on the services they are able to provide.
New information about the impacts of these cuts was published by the Campaign for National Parks. This was based on responses to Freedom of Information requests sent to all ten National Parks in England.
The cuts mean that National Park Authorities in England received £44.7m for 2015/6 compared with £56m in 2010/11. Based on an English population of 53.5m, National Parks cost the English taxpayer just 83.5p per year.
They have led to the closure of or reductions in public transport services – affecting people wanting to visit and explore our treasured landscapes. But they have also led to the closure of information centres, an end to much work to rights of way to keep footpaths open and a halt to many Authorities work on climate change, flood defence and conservation.
Fiona Howie, Campaign for National Parks chief executive, said the effects of the cuts meant most National Park Authorities had already had to make substantial cuts to the services they provide and that any future cuts would have a severe impact on local communities and the management of these national assets.
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