Reprieve confirmed for axe-threatened garden

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 11:20

HERITAGE body the National Trust for Scotland has confirmed that a closure-threatened Lothians visitor attraction has been given a reprieve.

Inveresk Lodge Garden in Musselburgh had faced a funding crisis, but recently received support from East Lothian Council.

The Trust, which also recently announced plans to cut 90 full-time posts, confirmed there would be no redundancies among staff working at the garden.

The charity's chief executive Kate Mavor said the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, would also remain open.

She said: "We are very pleased that these properties will remain open and that visitors will be able to enjoy them for years to come. The Trust is hugely grateful to the local authorities, communities and individuals who have pledged their support to the charity and these properties. "

East Lothian councillor Stuart Currie added: "We will continue to work together to secure the future of the garden over the longer term."