Control of city's parks taken back from charity

Leazes Park has been managed by the charity since 2019

A council is to retake control of its parks after pulling funding on a charity set up to run them five years ago.

It brings to an end what was described as a "visionary plan" to give control of 33 Tyneside parks and more than 60 allotments to Urban Green Newcastle (UGN).

In March it was revealed that UGN was facing a £6.7m shortfall in funds over the next five years.

Jim Beirne MBE, the charity's chair of trustees, said they "must accept the decision" but added that "we could have achieved so much more".

Plinths at the entrance to Leazes Park have not been repaired since they were damaged in May

A council-commissioned review of UGN found "no evidence" that it could continue operating without "substantial financial support from the council for the foreseeable future".

Inflation, worse than expected repairs bills, and council-imposed limits on staging large music festivals have been blamed for the charity's problems, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Newcastle City Council deputy leader Alex Hay said he was committed to protecting the future of the parks but residents should "temper expectations".

"Given our challenging financial position, it is important that we point out that we do not have the resources to fix all of the issues overnight," he added.

Mr Beirne said the charity had achieved "great things" but had to accept the council's decision.

UGN had aimed to secure prestigious Green Flag Awards for all of Newcastle’s parks by 2026, but only Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene now hold that status – with both Leazes Park and Walker Park losing it this year.