Staffordshire Council wants to give up Shugborough contract

The council has a 99-year lease on the hall and its grounds and spends around £650,000 a year maintaining it. But, given the current economic climate, bosses think it would be 'sensible' to offload the estate.

Mark Winnington, cabinet member for the economy, said: "We are meeting colleagues at the National Trust to explore the feasibility of relinquishing our lease and passing the management of the Shugborough Estate to them.

"I must stress these are early days and there have only been preliminary discussions, certainly no decisions have been reached and we will keep staff and the public fully informed."

The venue, in Great Haywood, on the edge of Cannock Chase, is the UK's only complete working historic estate. More than 250,000 people visit the restored buildings on the estate including working kitchens, dairy, water mill, brew house and farm, all staffed by costumed guides.

But the authority anticipates it will have spent £650,000 this year alone on maintaining and running the estate.

Mr Winnington said: "The council has invested in Shugborough over the years to keep it safe in the heart of Staffordshire but at a time when every pound counts, it seems sensible to discuss options for the estate's future.

"The Shugborough Estate is a vibrant part of Staffordshire's visitor economy and, whatever happens, I want it to remain that way."

In February, the county council agreed to outsource the running of the grounds, although not the building, to public service provider Amey as part of a wider move to hand over the maintenance of highways and country parks but a deal never went through. It is understood that Amey is not involved in the current negotiations.

At the time, the National Trust said it had a 'strong preference' that Shugborough was not included as part of the deal.

Today, Harry Bowell, Midlands regional director for the National Trust, said: "At this stage the National Trust is working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to carry out early-stage feasibility studies to explore options for the management of the Shugborough Estate.

"It is important to stress that no decisions have been made at this stage."

Shugborough was closed for winter at the end of October. But thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the hall this Saturday and Sunday for the annual Christmas fair and candlelit mansion house weekend.

It is not due to open again until mid-March.