PLANS to close a "local treasure" after Easter have been met with horror.
Sevenoaks District Council is closing Lullingstone Park Visitors' Centre, Eynesford, to save cash as part of its series of cuts to balance its budget.
But, with schools, families and ramblers increasingly using the centre the decision has received a frosty reception.
Swanley's county and district councillor Mark Fittock said: "The centre's been a great success and the council shouldn't close it down.
"If the council had acted to reduce the centre's administrative costs they could have made it viable."
And Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Sevenoaks Tim Stanley said: "This is an unnecessary cutback. Its closure will damage a local treasure."
The centre provides activities and information on the park's 460 acres.
The council failed to find alternative tenders to run the centre but intends to find an alternative arrangement to re-open the centre in the future.
Councillor Felicity Broomby, said: "It's disappointing we cannot keep the facility open, despite our best efforts."
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