THE Snowdonia National Park Authority has been forced to axe jobs and facilities across Dwyfor and Meirionnydd in a bid to save nearly half a million pounds.

At a recent meeting at Plas Tan y Bwlch, members said they had no choice but to give their approval on the steps to be taken in response to a 5 per cent reduction in grant from the Welsh Government.

During the past two years, Snowdonia National Park Authority has suffered a 14 per cent cut of £872,000 in its services.

However, during the next financial year, the park authority will suffer a further cut of £423,000 with the possibility of even more losses in 2017.

In a bid to save the money, the Park has been forced to accept early retirements and voluntary redundancies, axe staff, delete vacant posts and reduce spending on archaeology, listed buildings, biodiversity, woodland, agriculture, access and projects.

In the latest report, the permanent closure of Dolgellau’s Tourist Information Centre was also announced.

Emyr Williams, chief executive of Snowdonia National Park Authority said: “The draft budget received from the Welsh Government indicates a 5 per cent cut for the next financial year and for a small authority which attracts a core grant of £5m, these cuts are difficult to achieve."

For the full story, see this week’s Cambrian News north editions, out now