ADMISSION prices at one of York’s most iconic landmarks will not be increased to make up for a six-figure cut in funding from the Government.

York Minster had been hoping to receive £1 million from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward towards a project which is aimed at restoring its famous Great East Window.

But it is now having to look for an “alternative source of funding” after the organisation, which is to be scrapped from 2012, was forced to withdraw the money because of financial cutbacks.

However, Minster bosses say they will not be increasing the cost of visiting the cathedral to cater for the funding shortfall, which has also seen the National Railway Museum in Leeman Road lose out on a £5 million Yorkshire Forward grant towards revamping its Great Hall.

The admission prices at the Minster are currently £8 for adults and £7 for over-60s and students, with under-16s getting in free, and a spokeswoman for the building said these would stay the same for the current financial year.

“The issue of the absence of funding from Yorkshire Forward will not directly influence admission prices at York Minster for next year,” she said.

“However, they may change when we review the entire budget for the 2011/12 financial year.”

The York Minster Revealed project, which the Yorkshire Forward cash was intended to help, also includes creating a new piazza entrance to the South Transept of the historic building, improving disabled access and upgrading toilet facilities, and the Minster’s chapter steward has described the news as “a disappointing result”.

He has also said another funding source was in place to ease the effects of the grant being taken away, although no details of this have yet been revealed. York Central MP Hugh Bayley has arranged a meeting with Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey to discuss the issue.

From 2012, Yorkshire Forward and other regional development agencies will be replaced by Local Enterprise Partnerships, taking over functions relating to planning, housing, transport, infrastructure, employment and enterprise.