National Trust makes 'devastating' decision in popular coastal resort

Residents further afield from Plymouth in North Devon are bracing for change as fears escalate following the National Trust's decision not to renew the car park lease with a local parish council.

The beauty spot at Marine Drive in Woolacombe has been under the guardianship of the National Trust since 1984 when it was purchased from Devon County Council. Following this acquisition, a 16-year lease agreement was struck with Mortehoe Parish Council for the car park, an arrangement set to expire naturally on March 31, 2025.

Mortehoe Parish Council chair Kevin Cook expressed concern, noting: "Life in the peaceful villages of Woolacombe and Mortehoe will become very different next spring as a result of the negative impact of a decision made by the National Trust.

"Jobs will be lost, services reduced and a community will never again have the same relationship with the organisation tasked with being the geographic and cultural conscience of our nation."

Councillor Cook added, as reported by DevonLive: "Unilaterally, and without any prior consultation, the National Trust has decided not to renew a long-standing lease with Mortehoe Parish Council, the body looking after the interest of the two local communities of Woolacombe and Mortehoe."

"This leasing of Marine Drive car park to the parish council, created the only source of earned revenue for the parish and enabled the National Trust to also benefit financially without any risk. It provided employment for at least three local people and was free to use for over four months each year for anyone coming over to Woolacombe - beach goers, walkers, surfers, runners and dog-owners."

From next March, those jobs will disappear; the complimentary parking will be no more and year-round charging will be implemented for all - unless you have already settled your membership fee to the National Trust.

The parish council has stated they will attempt to balance their finances by reducing their maintenance budget, which could potentially lead to poorly maintained public spaces and a loss of leisure facilities.

Cllr Cook added: "The National Trust has been fully aware of the devastating effects upon the community yet presented their chosen option as a "fait accompli" and was only forced to review their disaster-laden decision after pressure at their 2023 AGM and further, subsequent discussions which brought forward alternative proposals which would not have sounded the death knell for the two villages."

"The National Trust has used many excuses to justify their insensitive actions, basing them on the need to consolidate, unify, and generate income for conservation work. Above all, they have focused on the need to give benefit to their members and this would seem to be a slap in the face for any non-members who used to believe them when they described themselves as being 'for everyone, for ever'. We thought they were our friends."

In response, The National Trust issued a statement: "The National Trust opened discussions about the changes in December 2022. Since then, the charity has met with the Parish Council regularly both online and face to face in the past two years to discuss various options to work together and held regular meetings with councillors over this change of management, offering solutions to several of their concerns which were refused. The National Trust has repeatedly offered to preserve the employment of the council staff at Marine Drive and this was refused."

"It costs The National Trust £250,000 per year to maintain the immediate surrounding area of Woolacombe. We have plans to improve the area for nature and people going forward, maintaining and improving the 40 miles of paths and bridleways at Woolacombe for everyone to enjoy, as well as conservation work to the dunes to improve the habitat for nature. All the income received from Marine Drive will go directly into the charitable work of supporting vital conservation and access work at Marine Drive, Woolacombe and the surrounding coast and countryside.

"The wider relationship with Mortehoe Parish Council will involve us continuing to work closely with the parish council on the various leases and schemes we have as part of our joint working, such as the Woolacombe affordable housing scheme (which has just secured full Planning Permission), Meadow Playing Fields, and Community allotments, amongst many others."

"You can find more information on our website here Marine Drive at Woolacombe Devon | National Trust."