Local Lib Dems criticise Riverside Park Budget cuts

11.47.03pm GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

Cllr Neil Bradbury with £2: The proposed new charge for parking at the riverside park

Liberal Democrats in Prudhoe are calling for Labour controlled Northumberland County Council to urgently rethink their plans to drastically cut the budgets for its county parks. The council is proposing to make half of the park rangers redundant, meaning that Prudhoe's Riverside Park will have to share a ranger with Druridge Bay! In addition, the Labour run council is proposing to double parking fares in all of its country parks to £2.

The popular Tyne Riverside Park, one of the four parks under threat, is regularly used by a lot of residents from Prudhoe West including local Lib Dem councillor and activist Neil Bradbury. He said, "This proposal to charge us double and half the staffing levels is madness. I'm concerned that one council worker will never be able to effectively manage two parks over 30 miles away from each other. I am particularly concerned that the increase in parking fees might put off families from enjoying this park." The local Lib Dem team is urging the county council to rethink its proposals.