RESIDENTS are being asked if they support plans to hand over the running of public parks in their home city to a new charitable trust.

Newcastle City Council’s proposals, which come in the face of cuts to its parks budget of more than 90 per cent over seven years, are a first for a local authority.

A consultation that runs until April 21 is seeking views of residents on transferring 33 green spaces and possibly 50 hectares of allotments to a charitable trust.

The parks, which are not a service local authorities are legally obliged to provide, would remain owned by the council and free to access.

But a trust with the sole purpose of running the parks could open up new sources of funding, ensure they are looked after and provide new volunteer opportunities, while maintaining paid staff levels, the council believes.

It been advised by the National Trust on the plans and awarded a £237,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop them, with a requirement to share the findings with other local authorities that might want to take the same route.

A recent report by MPs warned the squeeze on council budgets across England meant parks faced a return to the neglect of the 1980s and 1990s without innovative management and funding measures.

Council cabinet member for culture and communities Kim McGuinness said: “Our parks budget has suffered greatly at the hands of central government, but despite this, we’re committed to maintaining and sustaining the beautiful parks and green spaces the city is known for.”

Pressure on overall budgets meant parks potentially having to close their gates, which, she said, the council was not prepared to let happen.