WEST Somerset’s MP has said “streamlining” Exmoor national park authority is “an option” as it faces a cash crisis.

Ian Liddell Grainger said some ‘ruthless’ decision-making may be needed. He said: “The magnitude of the savings that are being discussed requires far more than one-off cash injections from asset disposal.

"What needs to be examined in great detail is the dividing line between statutory duties and obligations and functions that may be desirable but are not mandatory.

“With savings on this scale some ruthless decisions are going to have to be taken but the aim must be to impose them where they do the least damage. We have to ask ourselves, for instance, whether we need 22 committee members assembling in person for a meeting every month, together with all the associated travelling costs that entails.”

The National Park Authority revealed in November it was facing 'tough' decisions to save money as a result of a gap in funding.

it said proposals to be considered could affect the ‘rights of way’ network, visitor and outdoor activity centres and staff who it said are a vital part of maintaining and protecting park resources and projects.

The National Park said it receives £1 million less grant funding than it did in 2010 and will have to make a further £500,000 worth of cuts by 2025, to deal with the spending gap.

Sarah Bryan, Exmoor National Park’s chief executive, said: “These are really difficult times for us. We manage a beautiful landscape working with farmers and the local community, but the Authority now risks having to close up to two of our three visitor centres, make redundancies “right through the organisation” and no longer being able to manage 1,000km (620 miles) of paths."

The Authority says it could also be forced to sell land that belongs to the nation such as woodland and moorland and to increase charges in certain areas.

It said in a statement: "This would be a huge disadvantage to people on low incomes who have found landscapes like this invaluable, particularly in the last few years during covid."