Lake District National Park Centre, Brockhole

HC Deb 15 July 1969 vol 787 cc56-8W

Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details of the estimated annual costs of running Brockhole, near Windermere, as a Lake District National Park Centre, including wages, loan charges and other major costs.

Mr. Skeffington

The estimated annual cost of running the Lake District National Park Centre at Brockhole is £32,000, which includes £14,000 for wages, £9,000 for loan charges and £3,600 for rates.

Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details of the total expenditure which has been incurred by the Lake District Planning Board in establishing a National Park Centre at Brockhole, near Windermere.

Mr. Skeffington

The National Park Centre at Brockhole was purchased at a cost of £65,000 and is being developed within an estimated cost of £56,000 which includes £19,000 for the car park and £14,000 for toilets. Details of the balance of the development costs will not be available until accounts have been rendered to the Park Planning Board, but it includes such items as the construction of a jetty, the laying out of grounds, and the conversion and equipment of a flat for the director.

Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what charges are made for the car park at Brockhole, near Windermere, at the Lake District National Park Centre; how many visitors are expected in a full year; what the total revenue from car park and entrance charges will be; and to what extent it is estimated that the revenue from car parking will make a contribution to the cost of the project.

Mr. Skeffington

The charges made for the car park at Brockhole are:

Cars: 2s. for the first hour and thereafter 1s. per hour.

Coaches: £1 for two hours and then 4s. per hour.

The number of visitors in a full year is estimated at 100,000 and the annual revenue from the car park at £12,000. There is no entrance charge but further revenue is expected from the cafeteria vending machines, from a putting green, from the rent for the director's flat, and from the sale of publications. The Countryside Commission will contribute 80 per cent. of the net expenditure.