Losehill Hall closure - Drop-in event for public to have say

The Peak District National Park Authority is holding a public drop-in event for people to give their views on the future of Losehill Hall in Castleton. People can call in at Losehill Hall, a residential environmental learning and conference centre, on Thursday October 14 between 4pm and 6.30pm to get information from senior officers and offer their ideas.

They can also give their views, before November 8, online at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/losehillconsultation

Richard Campen, Director of Operations, said: "This drop-in event is an opportunity for people to talk to senior staff about the reasons behind the Authority's decision, and to put forward their ideas for the future of the building and its services."

Over the next four years the Authority expects to have to make savings of between £1m-£1.9.

The closure of Losehill Hall would save £250,000-£300,000 a year in running costs and contribute an estimated 15 per cent to the savings required.

As a result the Authority took the difficult decision to withdraw its learning services from Losehill Hall from April 2011, and to seek possible partners or purchasers for the building.

A reduced learning team will operate education services from other centres.

Work to redeploy the 41 full and part-time staff has started, but if necessary, redundancy notices will follow in January, though this could change if a potential partner wanted to transfer some posts. Around 45 casual staff will also be affected.