Dartmoor Visitor Centre in Princetown Set for 2025 Closure Amid Funding Difficulties

The Princetown Visitor Centre, situated within the Duchy Hotel on Dartmoor in Devon, is slated to close in March 2025, according to officials, citing financial challenges. The Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) confirmed the impending closure, which remains subject to a consultation process. The authority formalized its decision at a meeting held on November 1, with negotiations scheduled to commence with the landlord, the Duchy of Cornwall. A spokesperson for the authority stated that funding has decreased by 40% since 2011. While one-off grants have been appreciated, they are not considered “long-term solutions.” The spokesperson added that the authority’s current priority is supporting its employees, and a consultation with staff and trade unions will be conducted. The DNPA issued a statement, saying: “The scale of the financial challenges for England’s National Parks, as well as the wider public sector, is well documented though it doesn’t make these decisions any the less painful or difficult.” The authority disclosed that proposals to close the Princetown visitor centre were initially examined in 2022. However, a one-off grant of £440,000 from the government in March 2023 allowed the centre to remain operational until March 2025. Kevin Bishop, chief executive for Dartmoor National Park Authority, commented: “It’s really bad news for us as an authority, it’s bad news for Dartmoor as a national park, I think it’s bad news for the local community. “For 15 years we have seen our core income reduce, for the last five years it has been standstill. “The financial reality is that our core income is reduced, we are looking at a deficit for the next financial year of £500,000″We’ve got no idea whether we will get an increase from government, we need to act now to try and start balancing the books.” He further stated: “We need to remember that even if Princetown closes, there will still be two visitor centres in Dartmoor, both award winning. “We will look at what we can do if we have to close the visitor centre at Princetown, we are committed to community and we will do everything we can to make sure we deliver a national park that everyone can be proud of.”