A PROPOSED 38 per cent pay rise for the chairman of the Brecon Beacons National Park has been rejected - as the authority considers staff redundancies.

Julie James said she believed she was showing 'leadership in difficult times' in rejecting the proposed £3,425 pay rise.

Quango the Independent Renumeration Panel for Wales (IRPW) wants to up the pay for the part time chairmen of Wales' national park authorities - as well as increase the basic pay rate paid to park members - even though Welsh national parks are facing massive budget cuts.

The Welsh Government is cutting the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority's budget by 8.9 per cent in the coming financial year and further cuts expected in 2015 mean the authority faces a near £650,000 shortfall over the next two years.

It has said it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies as it grapples with the spending cuts.

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