Staffordshire County Councils Countryside Estate Review

Staffordshire County Council’s countryside estate includes large country parks, picnic sites and greenways. The estate is currently managed by County Council staff at a net revenue cost of just under £900,000.

The estate is well-used and highly valued by communities and visitors to the area, with an estimated three million visits each year. Use of the sites is changing with higher numbers of visitors wishing to pursue a wider range of activities.

The sites are therefore making a significant contribution to the health and enjoyment of local communities, but this increasing demand also places greater pressure on the sites and requires active management. With significant pressure on County Council budgets, the current delivery model is not financially sustainable and risks deterioration of the estate.

There is a need to develop a different model to ensure that the quality of the estate and its contribution to Staffordshire’s communities and environment can be sustained into the future. This review is underway to explore how this can be achieved.