Funding review has mountain to climb

A REVIEW has been ordered into the way that the costs of managing the Pentland Hills Regional Park are met.

It costs 380,000 a year to manage the park. A 1996 agreement had stated that the city council would pay 61 per cent of the costs, with Midlothian Council paying one third and West Lothian Council giving 4.8 per cent.

But the city council's contribution for 2011/12 is now expected to rise to 313,135 - 82.6 per cent of the total costs, compared to 14.6 per cent from Midlothian and 2.9 per cent from West Lothian. David Jamieson, the city council's parks and greenspace manager, said: "The regional park service has continued to operate at its current level as City of Edinburgh Council has compensated for the increased budget shortfall.

"In the current economic circumstances, the park's budget requires to be put on a more sustainable financial footing."

A report to be considered by the Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee next week calls for a review of funding.