THE National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has defended its plan to mothball Bannockburn until 2022 after it was revealed by this newspaper.
Yesterday, The National published new details of redundancy and closure plans drawn up by the heritage charity over a projected £23 million coronavirus cash shortfall.
This includes plans to make 57% of its staff redundant, with the losses concentrated in the south and west region, where 158 jobs are on the line.
It also includes keeping eight key properties closed until 2022. The multi-award-winning Bannockburn visitor centre is on that list, along with Souter Johnnie’s Cottage in Ayrshire and Holmwood House, by Alexander “Greek” Thomson in Glasgow.
READ MORE: Bannockburn closed until 2022 under Scots National Trust plans
A whistleblower said staff were “shocked” by the extent of the closures, with many other properties set to stay shut until into 2021, despite employee confidence in their ability to run them safely. The National asked NTS if these sites had been chosen due to budgetary reasons or concerns over social distancing. No answer was provided, but last night the Trust defended its blueprint.
Chief executive Simon Skinner said: “I appreciate that many people will be disappointed if their favourite property is closed for a time longer. These are not choices we wanted to make, but we need to take them to ensure that the Trust gets through this period and emerges from the other side ready to do what it does best. We have approached the Scottish Government for financial support and, if this were forthcoming, it may allow us to open more properties more quickly.
“Nonetheless, if people want to help us recover faster, going beyond basic survival, I urge them to support us by remaining as members or donating to our new emergency appeal.
“We have always existed for the benefit for the people of Scotland as funded by our members and supporters – with a little more help we can save the Trust and in turn we can return to saving Scotland’s national treasures at our full capacity.”
The Scottish Government said it is “exploring” support options, stating: “We remain very concerned about the proposed redundancies and we are disappointed the decision was taken ahead of confirmation from the UK Government about the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We have called on the Trust to reassess its position and any request for public funding should be focused on minimising job losses and keeping properties and sites open.”
READ MORE: The National Trust for Scotland sites shut until 2022
The National’s history columnist Hamish MacPherson said the Bannockburn closure was “outrageous”. He said: “As for the other sites remaining closed, they are all important locally, so why not left local people run them, even if only temporarily? NTS is such a behemoth in Scottish heritage that it could do with handing over some properties and land to smaller more localised trusts.
“It may be it is flagging up Bannockburn to persuade the Scottish Government to stump up more cash for its rescue plan but I would hope NTS chairman Sir Mark Jones will openly engage with the government on proposals that keep Bannockburn open.”
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