Prehistoric attraction consigned to history

AN ailing tourist attraction in the north east of Scotland, hailed as a flagship attraction when it opened in 1997, will finally close its doors at the end of next month after lurching from one financial crisis to another.

Aberdeenshire Council took control of the Archaeolink Prehistory Park at Oyne six years ago after spending 1.5 million of taxpayers' money in a bid to keep the trust-run centre going. And since then the council has been providing an annual subsidy of 135,000 to keep the visitor attraction open.

But it has now been revealed that the four full time members of staff are to lose their jobs on 31 March, the day before the prehistory park was due to open for the new season.

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said that the local authority's visitor attractions sub-committee had decided to withdraw funding for Archaeolink from 2011 onwards. "Funding for the four staff positions will end on 31 March and the members of staff directly affected have been served notice," he said.

"We have worked with the staff affected in the lead-up to the withdrawal of their posts, and would thank them for their hard work and dedication during their time at Archaeolink."