PLANS to shut historical attractions on winter weekdays to save cash were branded a “backwards step” by tourism chiefs last night.

Northumberland’s Lindisfarne Prioryand Barnard Castle, in County Durham, are among a string of cherished North East tourist sites which may only be open to the public on weekends this winter.

English Heritage says a 32% cut in Government grants and dwindling visitor numbers are behind the proposals which could see 52 workers made redundant in the coming weeks.

It has confirmed bosses are considering the weekday closure of Barnard Castle, Belsay Hall and Gardens, Dunstanburgh Castle, Lindisfarne Priory, Tynemouth Priory, Warkworth Castle, Chesters Roman Fort, Housesteads Roman Fort and Corbridge Roman Town between November and March, starting this year.

A spokesman for English Heritage said: “In common with most visitor attraction operators, English Heritage regularly reviews its opening hours to ensure we are responding to visitor demand and running our historic sites as efficiently as possible.

“Having looked at current visitor patterns, and bearing in mind the 32% reduction to our Government grant in future years, English Heritage is proposing to adjust our winter opening times with effect from November 1.”

Giles Ingram, chief executive of Northumberland Tourism, said: “It is understandable but regrettable and it will not help the region’s ambitions to become a less seasonal destination.

“We have always been keen to have as many attractions as possible open during the quieter times of the year, particularly over the winter period. This is a backwards step for Northumberland.”

MP for Bishop Auckland Helen Goodman, whose constituency includes Barnard Castle, added: “Whilst I fully understand that they have to take practical decisions based upon their visitor profile, I am concerned that they have had to make decisions, based more upon the need to make savings, because of the Tory led government cuts.

“Tourism is a vital part of the Teesdale economy and any reduction in access to key tourist sites will result in less people spending money in the area”.

English Heritage has said the proposals will mean “inevitable” staff reductions.

A spokesman added: “For the North of England, the potential impact would be on 52 members of staff.

“We will be exploring all options for minimising the impact and we are consulting with staff on achieving this.

“One option would be for staff to be employed on an ‘annualised hours’ contract where we would split their pay equally over 12 months so that they have a consistent income.”

Museum shows it is not all bad news

ONE of the region’s leading tourist attractions has been nominated for a prestigious international accolade.

The Great North Museum: Hancock, in Newcastle, has been nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) 2011.

Curators and cultural bosses in the city welcomed the achievement which puts the Hancock in the running for the coveted prize not won by a British museum since London’s Victoria and Albert Museum walked away with the honours in 2003.

Steve McLean, senior manager of the Great North Museum, which reopened to the public in 2009 after an extensive £26m refurbishment project, said: "Since we reopened our doors we’ve had over 1.2 million people visit us. The sheer quality of the place is evident everywhere you look."

Prof Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs at Newcastle University, said: "You need look no further than the current Coming of Age exhibition, which features works by renowned artists including Degas and Renoir, as well as the work of some of the leading contemporary artists in Britain."

Tony Durcan, director of Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning at Newcastle City Council said: "We are absolutely delighted with the Great North Museum. Its quality and its successes have exceeded our expectations. It has proved to be a much loved cultural attraction in a city which loves its culture."

Last summer the museum ranked at number 20 in a Visit England list of the top 20 free places to visit. The attraction was the only North East tourism destination to make the list.

The EMYA award is the most prestigious of its kind in Europe and began in 1977, making 2011 the 34th award.

Any museum in the 47 countries of the Council of Europe, new or old, can be nominated. The European Museum Forum Annual Assembly and European Museum of the Year Award 2011 will be held in Bremerhaven, Germany in May.