Published: 2024-03-11 by, News Team in the Local news category

Newcastle's Green Spaces in Peril: Urban Green Faces £6.7M Crisis

The future of 33 parks in Newcastle is currently under review as the charity Urban Green faces a financial crisis. In 2019, Newcastle City Council entrusted Urban Green Newcastle with the management of the parks and over 60 allotment sites in an effort to secure their future amid local government budget cuts.

However, it has been revealed that the trust has already depleted the funding allocated for the first 10 years and is projected to encounter a £6.7 million shortfall by 2029. Urban Green attributes its financial struggles to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, although it claims to be "bringing in more income than expected."

Newcastle City Council has announced plans to reassess the future of the parks, prompting opposition councillors to question the charity's value for money. The council initially pledged up to £7.7 million to support Urban Green during its first decade of operation, envisioning the trust to become self-sustaining thereafter.

The hope was that Urban Green could tap into funding sources inaccessible to the council and generate additional income to maintain and improve the city's green spaces. However, the charity's latest financial reports indicate that the 10-year funding has already been exhausted.

The council, identified as the primary funding source for Urban Green beyond April, has committed £1 million to balance the charity's books for the next year. All options, including the possibility of bringing park control back to the civic center, are being considered.

Councilor Colin Ferguson, leader of the city's Liberal Democrat opposition, has urged for urgent clarity regarding Urban Green's future. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding additional public funding to address the projected £6.7 million gap.

In response to the financial challenges, Urban Green highlighted achievements including meeting income targets and delivering projects such as upgrades to the Hadrian’s Cycleway. Despite facing higher costs due to inflation and the pandemic, the charity asserts that two-thirds of its income is now self-generated.

Urban Green currently manages the following area parks, including several in the Jesmond area:

Armstrong Park, Big Waters Nature Reserve, Benwell Nature Park, Elswick Park, Denton Dene South, City Stadium, Exhibition & Brandling Parks, Havannah and Three Hills Nature Reserve, Harbottle Park, Gosforth Central Park, Jesmond Vale, Iris Brickfield, Heaton Park, Ouseburn Park, Kingston Park West, Hodgkin Park, Percy Pit, North Kenton Park, Jesmond Dene Park, Prestwick Carr, St Lawrence Park, Leazes Park, Sugley Dene, Summerhill Square, Nuns Moor Park, Tyne Riverside, The Quarry (South Gosforth), Paddy Freeman’s & Castle Farm Parks, Throckley Dene & Walbottle, The Spinney, Walker Park, Walker Riverside Park, Westerhope Park.

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