Losehill Hall
The Youth Hostel Association will take over a national park learning centre under plans approved today.
The Peak District National Park Authority controversially decided to dispose of Losehill Hall near Castleton in a bid to save £250,000 a year.
The decision, made today, will see 36 staff lose their jobs, as the learning team is cut to just five. In addition, five fewer casual workers will be needed at the hall.
YHA was named the preferred bidder today by the authority, beating bids from the Field Studies Council, North Yorkshire Youth and the Lindley Educational Trust.
The association will renovate the hall and reopen it as a youth hostel, providing accommodation for 30,000 young people each year.
The national park authority said YHA plans to work in partnership with the truncated learning service.
Narendra Bajaria, chair of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “We evaluated all the bids to see if they were financially viable and to assess what contribution they would make, particularly the way their work would help achieve national park purposes by enabling people to enjoy and learn about this special area.
“We believe the YHA bid offers the best potential for a partnership which will see Losehill Hall go forward as an environmental learning and activity centre, delivering benefits to the national park, to the Hope Valley and to more young people than before.”
Members made their decision after hearing eight speakers from environmental organisations, the YHA and Field Studies Council, Castleton Parish Council and staff members.
They were also presented with 311 responses to an online public consultation, 150 letters and emails, and a 188-name online petition. In addition a drop-in public consultation at Losehill Hall attracted 30 people.
Most wanted Losehill Hall to continue as an environmental learning centre, and for the local economy to be strengthened.
The Grade 2 listed Losehill Hall, with 41 bedrooms, four training rooms and 27 acres of parkland, was built in 1882 as a private house. It became a holiday and education centre for the Co-operative Society in 1952, and the former Peak Park Planning Board took it over as a national park study centre in 1970.
