ONE-in-six jobs could be axed at the Lake District National Park Authority and all but one of its tourist information centres closed, reports Jennie Dennett.

It is understood that LDNPA members are due to consider the proposals at a closed doors meeting today (Friday) as the authority attempts to claw back a budget shortfall expected to reach £850,000 by 2007/8.

According to leaked LDNPA documents, which have been obtained by The Westmorland Gazette, some 35 posts are at risk of redundancy. However, the park's chief officer Paul Tiplady said this week that redundancy proposals were still subject to consultations with UNISON and the staff affected.

He added: "(Today) members will consider a series of options aimed at addressing ways of increasing our income and reducing our costs. And we have always said redundancies cannot be ruled out."

It is understood that members will also debate the future of the LDNPA's tourist information centres, including a proposal that might see eight out of nine close unless another body can be found to operate them.

It is understood that one plan is for a Cumbria-wide information service run with Cumbria Tourist Board which would leave only Keswick in its current form. The LDNPA's other centres are at Bowness Bay, Coniston, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Ulls-water, Waterhead, Borrowdale and Pooley Bridge but it is not yet clear what would happen to them.

Talks are under way with CTB to develop a new commercial tourist infor-mation service using private sector investment that would retain some of those centres. However, the LDNPA would not discuss the proposals further ahead of today's meeting and no one was available for comment from CTB.

UNISON chiefs confirmed that today, LDNPA members were due to be greeted by angry staff protesting about the job losses but also proposed cuts to redundancy payments.

According to the union, the authority wants to change its policy on the way redundancy payments are calculated to ensure it can afford the payouts.

Staff reacted angrily, arguing that people had already made decisions based on the previous policy.

A letter, which, by yesterday (Thursday), had been signed by half the authority's employees, is to be handed to the members stating that, "trust and respect between staff and key senior managers has all but broken down". It urged members to reject the proposed redundancy deal.

An LDNPA employee, who declined to be named for fear of being added to the lay-offs list, said: "There are other ways to deal with this situation: what staff want is another chance to go back to the table and explore better ways that won't lead to mass redundancies and service cuts."

UNISON representative Peter Winter said it had requested assistance from Government conciliation service ACAS to resolve the issue.

Asked if strike action had been considered he said: "I don't think we are anywhere near that yet."

In addition to lay-offs the LDNPA is selling properties to get its finances in order. Beckside Farm near Ulls-water and Woodend Farm, near Bassenthwaite, are being sold.