Cuts fear at Shugborough Estate

Scores of popular events that attract thousands of people to Staffordshire's Shugborough Estate are facing the axe in a bid to cut costs.

A review of Shugborough's events programme – including its famous Christmas candlelit evenings – has been launched, throwing the future of dozens of events into doubt.

Staffordshire County Council has ordered the review in a bid to slash the attraction's £1 million annual budget.

Choirs performing at this year's festive spectaculars, which feature artificial snow showers, Santa's grotto, real reindeer and seasonal food stalls, said they had been warned that next year's events were in doubt.

Murder mystery evenings, tours of the private apartments and grounds and bridal fairs are among the events subject to the review.

Council bosses said that despite a 12 per cent increase in visitor numbers this year, the attraction, located near Stafford, is still losing money.

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson, a member of Chase Choral Society which performed at this year's candlelit evenings, said: "When we were there at the weekend, we asked if we could book to do it again next year but we were told they could not do that as it may not go ahead any more. We were shocked."

Visitor numbers rose from 113,844 last season to 127,458 this season, and the number of people going to the candlelit evenings was up 25 per cent from 7,462 last year to 9,351 this year.

County council deputy leader Ian Parry said: "We have increased attendance and income but we still have a long way to go in making it pay its way. Proposals for the review of the Shugborough operation are still out to consultation with the staff." The consultation runs until Monday.

Some workers at the estate, which is owned by the National Trust and managed by the county council, have been placed on notice of redundancy.

Related stories

• Attraction his by £1m losses as jobs to go

• Shugborough visitor numbers up as UK numbers drop

• Move to make Shugborough mansion lightning proof