§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of Croxteth Hall and Country Park, Liverpool, before the summer Adjournment.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe residuary body, in conjuction with the Countryside Commission, has consulted widely on the prospects of the future of Croxteth and on the alternatives for its long-term management. Croxteth is a much valued amenity, which receives widespread support. My right hon. Friend and I are glad that there has now been so much open discussion about the opportunities it offers, rather than pessimistic talk about closure.
There is much support for the view that the best way forward now would be to set up a trust charged with both the ownership and management of Croxteth Hall and Country Park. With good will on all sides such a trust could attract financial assistance from a variety of sources and manage the estate as a whole. We would hope that local district councils would form the nucleus of the trust 371W and bear the primary responsibility for safeguarding Croxteth's future. However, there will be others with a positive role to play, and opportunities for a number of national agencies concerned with the heritage and tourism to give financial support. I will now be discussing with the chairman of the residuary body the details of setting up a trust. In the meantime, he will be commissioning a marketing survey and a new management plan which can then be used as the blueprint for Croxteth's management team.