Visitor rise after lockdown eases Dales National Park finance fear

A WAVE of visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park as the public has shown a heightened love of nature in recent months has helped stave off an impending financial crisis.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has revealed continuing high numbers of visitors since lockdown restrictions were lifted has meant that it is not facing a financial shortfall.

The authority’s officials have, however, warned that the rapidly changing situation due to the Covid- 19 pandemic over the past six months means that “a considerable risk” remains to its financial position.

The announcement will come as a relief for the park’s residents and businesses after the authority took emergency action in May to cut planned spending on some of its key priorities.

At the time, the authority highlighted how councils across England were receiving £ 3.2bn to help them to deal with the immediate impacts of coronavirus.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had advised National Park authorities not to expect a handout, to cut planned programmes and use their reserves.

A report to a meeting of the Dales authority’s finance committee next week states that since May, the outlook has improved after a decision was taken to reopen car parks and visitor centres considerably earlier than had been projected.

Before and after restrictions were eased, concerns were expressed over strident messages to ward off visitors by some members of Dales communities.

Concerns have also been raised over crowds of visitors failing to social distance in parts of the National Park. Before the lockdown was eased, Malham had proved to be a hotspot for day- trippers from as far afield as London and

Essex, with 12 fines issued in the village by early May.

However, the report states “the number of visitors that have flocked to the National Park” has had an “extremely positive effect” on its finances. Exact visitor numbers have yet to be compiled, but the increase comes after the lockdown heightened people’s appreciation of the countryside.

The report states assumptions about reductions in planning fees due to the lockdown proved to be over- pessimistic, and bank interest income did not fall as had been expected, leading to a forecast of £ 350,000 of extra income for the year.

The report states: “Although the current projection is considerably more positive than had been allowed for in the revised budget, it does assume that the second half of 2020/ 21 will be unaffected by Covid- 19, both in terms of income, especially from visitors and planning applications, and expenditure on programmes.

“Given how rapidly the situation has changed over the past six months, there remains a considerable risk that our financial performance going forward won’t be as projected.

“However, at this stage, because of the continuing high numbers of visitors, there is no emerging risk of a financial shortfall.”

The report states the authority’s planned spending was about £ 250,000 less than had been allowed for in its budget to August 31.

It also said that as external partners, such as contractors, are following Covid- 19 safety rules, it is more difficult to estimate when projects will be completed.

At this stage... there is no emerging risk of a financial shortfall. Report to a meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park finance committee.