New prices at Shugborough after National Trust takeoever

[joshua]

http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/11/02/free-parking-and-new-prices-at-shugborough-amid-national-trust-takeoever/


Free parking, new prices and a revamped ticket office – just some of the differences visitors can expect to see when they return to the Shugborough Estate next year.

Project manager Hayley Mival at Shugborough on the day the National Trust took over the running of the estate
Free parking, new prices and a revamped ticket office – just some of the differences visitors can expect to see when they return to the Shugborough Estate next year.

Changes are already afoot at the historic 900-acre grounds in Stafford after the National Trust officially took back ownership from Staffordshire County Council yesterday.

The biggest difference that visitors will notice when the heritage site re-opens on March 21 next year is how much they will have to pay – for better or worse.

The trust has scrapped the council’s three-tier pricing structure, which saw people able to enter the gardens for £3.50, with a full access ticket setting them back £15. From next year entry to Shugborough will be at a flat rate of £12. The charity will also be removing the £3 parking fee. Access to a public right of way through the site, which has proved popular with dog walkers, will still be maintained and free to use.

Another change will see £25 annual passes to the estate, which allow the holder to visit as many times as they want between March and October, axed.

Instead visitors will be able to purchase a National Trust annual membership for £63.

The trust has said that this will also allow unlimited access to the charity’s other 350 attractions including the likes of Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses, as well the Elizabethan farmhouse Moseley Old Hall.


People will also be able to visit Shugborough at any point in the year, with the site set to

be open 364 days a year once it is up and running.

National Trust project manager Hayley Mival said: “We are keen for both people outside of Staffordshire and people who live in the county to come and see this fantastic jewel that Staffordshire has got.

“The changes will help it reach its potential that perhaps it has not in the past. Ultimately we want to give people a reason to visit Shugborough.”

 

[pinky]

I wonder if they are keeping the farm. it would be great if it's included in our national trust passes.

 

[bunique]

They're keeping the ancient breed of cows and buying in some ancient breed sheep according to a comment they made on Facebook yesterday. The rest of the animals are the property of the council and have been sold apparently.

 

[HopesDad]

So basically the cost of entry to the house has gone down very slightly, entry to the gardens, which is by far and away the most popular ticket bought by most people, has quadrupled in price and the cheap season ticket has been scrapped.

And they've sacked most of the staff but are asking for volunteers to do the same jobs (the ones they said were redundant) for nothing.

And even if we don't go we are still at subsididing the NT through council tax, due to the Council's deal.

Good, eh?

 

[entdh]

So basically the cost of entry to the house has gone down very slightly, entry to the gardens, which is by far and away the most popular ticket bought by most people, has quadrupled in price and the cheap season ticket has been scrapped.

And they've sacked most of the staff but are asking for volunteers to do the same jobs (the ones they said were redundant) for nothing.

And even if we don't go we are still at subsididing the NT through council tax, due to the Council's deal.

Good, eh?

33% reduction (if you drive) is better than "very slightly". just sayin.....

 

[HopesDad]

33% reduction (if you drive) is better than "very slightly". just sayin.....

If you drive and go on your own then it would be indeed a 33 per cent reduction. As most people go either as a couple (28 per cent reduction) or a group of 4 (24 per cent) then the reduction becomes less significant compared to the almost four-fold increase that visitors to the garden will face.

And as NT are very well aware, many people will visit the house once in a season but the gardens at least half a dozen times. A couple who want to visit the gardens six times in a year (which many do) will have to pay out over £100 extra to see the same thing.

 

[bunique]

The council made the staff redundant, not the trust. The trust runs on volunteers. Would people have preferred it be sold into private hands?

 

[HopesDad]

The council made them redundant, as they were council employees. This was because the NT said they didn't want many paid staff and planned to run the operation with volunteers. I understand that the redundant staff were offered the opportunity to continue working, but in a voluntary capacity.

 

[Yalla]

So the taxpayer has funded the redundancies?

 

[HopesDad]

So the taxpayer has funded the redundancies?

I believe so.

 

[John Marwood]

This is what you voted for folks

Enjoy!

 

[HopesDad]

This is what you voted for folks

Enjoy!

I didn't

 

[John Marwood]

I didn't

Shout it loud

Now is the hour of the 57 per cent

 

[Withnail]

The council made the staff redundant, not the trust.

That is only half true - the council led the first wave of redundancies, that is true, but the Trust made everyone that was left in place reapply for their jobs.

The Trust also let those that were left know what jobs were available for them to reapply for. The Trust also let them only apply for the jobs that remained if the Trust allowed them to apply for the jobs that remained. Those left in place after the initial cull were, literally, told what they could, or could not, apply for.

This is otherwise known as constructive dismissal.

The trust runs on volunteers.

The council tried to run on volunteers before it bowed to the inevitable - it would probably be more accurate, in this instance, to say " the Trust hopes to run on volunteers". Which, tbf is to say one and the same thing, because volunteers will be found. But note that this is the reason that the Farm, as the obvious example, will be utterly transformed - where 'animal welfare' is concerned, only dedicated, qualified practitioners could 'curate' such an 'exhibition' - volunteers simply would not do.

Again, tbf, the Trust has had to make these decisions,and they have made the decisions that they have made based upon the economic realities of the Estate they have retaken unto their bosom.

Would people have preferred it be sold into private hands?

Do you honestly think that a private venture would have been even remotely interested in taking this on as a 'going concern'?

/history
> 1960 The National Trust are bequeathed the Shugborough Estate
> 1960 Staffordshire County Council leases Estate off the NT on a 99yr lease, believing it could be some sort of magical cash cow
> 2014 fluctuating fortunes come to a head - SCC claims an accumulated operational loss of £35m to see out 99 yr lease
> 2015 SCC goes all out Pontius Pilate, washes hands of former 'asset' - agrees to pay £20m over 3 yrs to 'buy out' of lease agreement
> 2016 The National Trust assumes operational control of the Shugborough Estate
/history

At least we get to witness history.

 

[bunique]

So if a private company wouldn't take it on, it would have been left empty? Because I don't think the council would have kept it going under the current economic circumstances

 

[John Marwood]

Stafford voted to shut things down

Shut it down!

 

[kyoto49]

Kids are only really interested in the farm and I stopped going once it wasn't possible to buy a farm only ticket. Wonder how this will sit in the new pricing structure? And what about the Museum, is that still there? Back in the day you could buy a ticket for the farm, or the museum, or the house, or 2 of the 3, or all 3 if you had time. I liked this flexible system! Having said all of that, if most of the anumals have gone, who's going to want to go the farm? Wonder what theya re doing with the Bagot Goats, they were rare weren't they?

 

[HopesDad]

Kids are only really interested in the farm and I stopped going once it wasn't possible to buy a farm only ticket. Wonder how this will sit in the new pricing structure? And what about the Museum, is that still there? Back in the day you could buy a ticket for the farm, or the museum, or the house, or 2 of the 3, or all 3 if you had time. I liked this flexible system! Having said all of that, if most of the anumals have gone, who's going to want to go the farm? Wonder what theya re doing with the Bagot Goats, they were rare weren't they?

I believe the farm has gone, apparently the animals did not fit in with the age of the building or something. Just a couple of specialized cows left.

 

[kyoto49]

I believe the farm has gone, apparently the animals did not fit in with the age of the building or something. Just a couple of specialized cows left.

Shame, the Mill and the animals were the best bit imo

 

[Flopsy Bunny]

My Dad has been a volunteer at the farm for many years and over the past few months it has been sad seeing all the animals go. He has been asked to continue as a volunteer in the farm. To start with he has been asked to source some chickens, breeds which fit into the time period of the house. In time there will be more animals on the farm. There is still a lot of work to be done and decisions to be made but my Dad was passionate about the animals so I think some will make a return over time.