Parts of Cannock Chase and Chasewater could be handed over under cost-cutting plans

Chasewater Country Park and parts of Cannock Chase currently managed by Staffordshire County Council are being considered for ‘management transfers’.

Apedale, Deep Hayes and Greenway Bank country parks are also on the list of land that could be passed to outside bodies.

The council is also considering other ways to boost income including car parking charges, improving cafe facilities and hosting events at sites.

The ‘final proposals for management and delivery’ are the latest part of the council’s long-running Countryside Estate Review. It was considered by the Prosperous Staffordshire Select Committee.

Councillor Gill Heath, cabinet member for communities, told the meeting that the aim was to save £318,000 in the years leading up to 2024.

The preferred proposal identified in the report involves a mix of transferring sites to environmental bodies or a trust and managing some sites in-house.

If a number of the sites cannot be taken over by other organisations, the council said it will look to make changes including ‘staff unit restructuring’, using volunteers, considering external contract arrangements for some maintenance operations and developing income streams such as car parking charges at key sites.

Back in 2015 concerns were raised that some sites could be sold off. But the council stressed this was not case.

More than 11,000 people signed an online petition opposing the sale of publicly-owned green spaces.

And in 2017 Staffordshire County Council invited organisations interested in taking on management of sites to come forward.

the expressions of interest, two sites – Consall Nature Park and Wimblebury Picnic Area – were identified for transfer of management via long leasehold agreements.

Alongside the country parks the council currently manages six major local sites including Hanchurch Hills and Froghall; two minor local sites including Froghall and three ‘greenways’ – routes linking Leek to Rushton, Oakamoor to Denstone and Stafford to Newport.

A report to the committee said: “At a time of budget pressures, the resources needed to manage and maintain them are being further constrained by pressures from higher visitor numbers and recreational use. As a result, the current countryside estate operating model is not financially sustainable.”

The meeting was told new car parking charges at Chasewater had been a success, but Councillor Kyle Robinson said: “My fear about that would be increasing charges would potentially deter quite a lot of people from using recreational activities.”

By Kerry Ashdown

Local Democracy Reporter