Calls have been made for the National Trust of Scotland to reopen its properties as soon as lockdown allows in a move to save jobs.
North East MSP Lewis Macdonald is urging reconsider redundancies and look at ways of keeping its doors open.
In a letter written to chief executive Simon Skinner, Mr Macdonald pleaded for a rethink on plans to make more than 400 members of staff redundant and to consult with employees on how to move forward.
He also called for discussions on growth with the government and suggested NTS members should be given a final say before any decisions are made.
“There is really no excuse for mass redundancies at the National Trust of Scotland this summer, given that the job retention scheme now extends into October,” Mr Macdonald said. “I am calling for the extended furlough period to be used to protect jobs and plan for future growth.”
“It would seem far more sensible to plan for the new opportunities that will come after this crisis, and senior management at the National Trust need to consult their staff and their members rather than embark on a downward spiral of cuts and closures”.
Mr Macdonald reminded the trust that if places like Castle Fraser, Haddo House and Fyvie Castle close for longer than the lockdown requires then jobs will be lost and the local economy in rural areas of the north-east will suffer.
After being contacted by staff and members of the trust locally, he said he had “no doubt” that the organisation would be aware of the deep concerns their announcement had caused and urgently called for them to review their plans for site closures and redundancies.
He added: “Many properties like Leith Hall owe a great deal to the efforts of the local community, they are held in trust by you on behalf of the wider public, and public access should not be denied any longer than is absolutely necessary.”
His calls came as it emerged that the National Trust will begin opening gardens and parkland properties in England and Northern Ireland for people who have booked tickets in advance.
The phased reopening will begin with around 29 gardens and park properties opening from June 3, with only visitors who have booked in advance allowed entry to limit numbers and keep the public safe.
More sites will open over the coming weeks for properties where social distancing can be observed, and with only around a third of the normal number of visitors permitted.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is also reopening its four gardens around England with a pre-booked tickets system from Monday.
