AMBITIOUS plans to upgrade a popular tourist attraction will be reviewed because of a £1m budget shortfall.

Beamish Museum, in County Durham, hopes to carry out seven projects costing £3m, but has been unable to secure funding.

Director Richard Evans told the museum’s committee, which is made up of councillors from councils in the region which support it, that its business and operational plan would have to be reviewed.

He said it was because regional development agency One North East was unable to support its application for a £1.5m grant for a programme of projects.

He said: “No reasons for the decision have been provided, but it is thought to be due to the well-publicised reduction in both regional development agency and local authority budgets.

“The lack of funding to support projects at Beamish means there is now a need to review the capital and revenue investment programme in the action plan.”

Funding for an Edwardian fairground and pleasure park, costing £500,000, is in place.

But plans to create a coal-fired fish and chip shop, bakery, tea room and a photographer’s studio have no financial backing.

The museum also wants to carry out a £650,000 refurbishment of the entrance – but has only managed to secure £150,000.

Mr Evans said: “The current plan covers the period to March 31, next year.

There is now an urgent need to begin planning for the period beyond this time frame, to secure the longterm future of Beamish as a world-class resource for the North-East region.”

A spokesperson for One North East said it had wellestablished relationship with Beamish, providing £363,000 towards development work and the building of the New Lamp Cabin visitor facility since 2007.

She said: “Unfortunately, due to intense budgetary pressures, it has not been possible to allocate further funding to assist with delivery of these plans in the current round.

“Discussions continue to explore options for how the plans might be achieved in the future and Durham County Council supports this approach.”