West Cumbria Coal Mine We have written to the Secretary of State supporting others requests, including that of the World Wide Fund for Nature, that he ‘call in’ the application for a new metallurgical coal mine near Whitehaven for his determination. Expand 16th October 2020 We have written to the Secretary of State supporting others requests, including that of the World Wide Fund for Nature, that he ‘call in’ the application for a new metallurgical coal mine near Whitehaven for his determination. An Article 31 holding Direction has now been placed on this application to allow the Secretary of State time to consider whether call in is warranted. This means that Cumbria County Council cannot issue a decision notice until the Secretary of State has decided whether he will call in the application. We have been assured that the Secretary of State will give due consideration to our representations, along with those submitted by other parties, when deciding whether to call in the application.
Offshore Wind announcement We welcome addressing the country’s demand for energy with home-produced renewable energy. Expand UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out commitments (6/10/20) to ensure that offshore wind will produce more than enough electricity to power every home in the country by 2030, based on current electricity usage, boosting the government’s previous 30 GW target to 40 GW. Our view is, We welcome addressing the country’s demand for energy with home-produced renewable energy. The move suggests the pressure on Cumbria’s landscapes for windfarm development should be reduced. This is obviously good for the landscape itself, and many communities feel threatened or blighted by windfarms. We need to be aware of seascapes as well as landscapes. Some of the Lake District National Park is coastal, as are two of our AONBs. We have also asked Natural England to consider a southern extension to the Lake District National Park, and this is also a coastal area. There is a visual connection between some of the high fells and the sea. Reducing the threat to the landscape reduces a threat to the visitor economy, so valuable to local businesses and jobs, and this move is also positive in terms of green jobs. Overall, we welcome in principle but will still need some consideration case by case, particularly if closer to shore.
Planning for the Future Consultation on proposals for reform of the planning system in England. Expand 2nd October 2020 We have now submitted our response to the first of the Government’s consultations regarding the national planning reforms. This consultation seeks views on the prposed new approach for calculating the number of houses needed and several proposals for short-terms changes to the planning system aimed at supporting the development sector’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Our response sets out our concerns about: the new method proposed for calculating the amount of housing that should be built in each area. The new approach will see an increase in housing numbers of 178% across Cumbria compared with the previous model; the principles on which the planning reforms and the proposed method for calculating the amount of housing are based, which assume that just building lots more houses is, in itself, the primary or sole solution to the ‘housing crisis’, without consideration of measures such as controlling second homes, bringing empty homes back into use or ensuring that new housing meets genuine local needs; the raising of the threshold beyond which affordable housing can be required on a new development; the use of rural exception sites for the Government’s ‘First Homes’ scheme, rather than for affordable housing more generally; allowing Permission in Principle to apply to major development sites. We also made clear that we share many of the views expressed on these issues by other organisations such as CPRE – The Countryside Charity. You can read our full response here. 6th August 2020 We are carefully considering the Government’s announcements regarding changes to the planning system. The changes proposed are significant and will affect many aspects including the way designated landscapes are treated, the role of local planning authorities, how the public can engage with the system and the means by which developers contribute to delivering affordable housing and infrastructure. There are certainly some areas of concern but others that have scope to be positive, depending on detail yet to be published and which will be the subject of further consultations. We will be issuing a fuller statement in due course, as well as preparing a response to the consultation. You can find out more about the proposals and respond to the consultation here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future
St Cuthbert's "garden village" Carlisle Expand Update 14th September 2020 We attended a technical stakeholder workshop in Autumn 2019 to contribute to working up the detailed proposals for the garden village, including reiterating our messages about how the setting of protected landscapes, green infrastructure and sustainable travel should feature in the plans. We were also pleased to learn that the Garden Village will be subject to its own local plan document, meaning that specific policies for the Garden Village will be drawn up against which each of the planning applications will be assessed. Further information and latest updates can be found here. This project is closely linked with the Carlisle Southern Link Road application, which is progressing and which we recently commented on Update 14 August 2018 We are pleased to see that preferences expressed in our earlier comments for smaller expansions to several settlements rather than one huge extension to Carlisle have been taken on board. We also welcome the many positive intentions set out in the consultation document, particularly for green infrastructure. However, we still have some concerns, including over the scale of and justification for the development; the reliance of the project on increasing road capacity through a southern link road; the likelihood of these positive ambitions materialising in the final plans and the lack of evidence of proper consideration of landscape and visual impacts. Read our latest response here Update 2 August 2018The deadline for the public to respond to this consultation is 10th August. There will be further opportunities to respond further along in the process though. 28th March 2018We have responded to the first consultation about the proposed 'garden village' south of Carlisle. The UK government has indicated that it is minded to support the development of an entirely new and very large settlement of up to 10,000 homes to the south of Carlisle and has awarded some initial funding for the development of this concept. Read our full response here.
Kendal Flood Defence Scheme We are disappointed to hear that The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has decided not to call in the application for Kendal’s flood defence scheme. Expand The latest Kendal Flood Risk Management Newsletter provides an update on all 3 Phases of the planned flood defences works within and to the north of Kendal, including Burneside, Staveley and the wider Kent catchment. Read it here (pdf file) Update 27th August 2019 Our overall concerns about the Kendal Flood Defence Scheme, as set out in our responses to the planning application, still stand. This includes fundamental concerns over the failure to undertake upstream measures prior to installing downstream measures; failure to maximise and prioritise natural flood management measures; failure to maximise property-level resilience and defence; failure to fully consider more forward-thinking alternatives to traditional, hard-engineered flood defence walls and the loss of several hundred trees. Despite this, I can confirm that Friends of the Lake District supports, in principle, the use of part glass, part wall flood defence structures along Aynam Road as an alternative to solid wall structures. It is our view that if a part glass, part wall structure were to be used along sections of the scheme such as that along Aynam Road, then this would be likely to result in a lesser visual impact and reduced compromise to public connectivity with the river compared to the approved proposals for a solid wall structure. This does not constitute a declaration of support for the overall Kendal Flood Defence Scheme as currently proposed, or any individual aspect of it, and our objections to the scheme as a whole, and our fundamental concerns, remain. Update 8th May 2019 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme - Planning Application No. SL/2018/0925 - Secretary of State decides not to call in the decision to approve the scheme. We are disappointed to hear that The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has decided not to call in the application for Kendal’s flood defence scheme. This means that the local planning authority’s decision stands. The Secretary of State made clear he has not considered the matter of whether this application complies with Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, saying that the local planning authority is responsible for considering whether these Regulations apply and, if so, for ensuring that the requirements of the Regulations are complied with. We do not think that the EIA rules were properly complied with. Unfortunately this decision may represent the end of the road for influencing Kendal’s flood defence scheme. We will let you know if any further information comes to light. 21st March 2019 - Kendal Flood Defences scheme approved by SLDC, but we submit a request for the decision to be 'called in'. We spoke at a Planning Committee meeting on 21st March before proposals for 12km of flood defence walls through Kendal were approved by South Lakeland District Council. This is Phase 1 of a three phase project. We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the walls on Kendal’s historic environment, on its character and on people’s enjoyment of the river corridor, as well as impacts on common land and the way in which the project (which includes felling 545 trees) has been approached. View our second response to the plans here. Although approved by the council, we have, alongside local residents and other local and national organizations*, submitted a request to the Secretary of State that the application be ‘called-in’. This would mean that the application would be assessed by the Secretary of State, who would then decide whether or not the council has made the right decision. We have made the request for two reasons; one being impacts on Nationally Designated Heritage Assets, and the other relating to the lack of certainty, or any assessment of, Phases 2 and 3 actually being carried out, which are upstream flood defence and flood risk management measures on which the scheme is wholly dependent. * The people and groups that have asked for the decision to be called in: Friends of the Lake District Lakeland Arts (the Abbott Hall) Kendal Civic Society The Georgian Group (supported by the Victorian Society) - both national organizations Aynam Road Residents’ Group (including several people who have direct experience of having had their homes flooded) two individual residents a local architect specializing in historic environment Read our original response to the plans here. 14th February 2019 - Environment Agency issue amendments including reducing the number of trees to be felled from 779 to 545 In response to concerns raised by members of the public and organisations, the Environment Agency has issued new documentation relating to their planning application to build flood defences along the River Kent in Kendal. How to viewAll the documents are available via this webpage Type SL/2018/0925 into the ‘Planning Application Number’ box on the right hand side of the page and click ‘Search’. On the next page click ‘View plans and documents’. On the next page click in the box that says you agree to this statement (copyright rules) and then click on ‘Proceed’. From there, it will be easiest if you click on ‘Received date’ to sort the documents by date and then click on page 2. From there you can click through pages 2-10, which include the most recent amended documents – all those with ‘Amended’ as the first word in the title. The most helpful are those with ‘Tree removal and retention plan’ in the Description column as despite the name, these also give information on the flood walls proposed. They cover the whole route of the Kent through Kendal section by section. The new documents include amendments such as reducing the number of trees to be felled from 779 to 545 and a commitment to replacing lost trees 6:1 instead of 4:1. However, this is still a large number of trees to lose and those to be saved do not include prominent trees on areas such as Aynam Road and Gooseholme. While a 6:1 replanting ratio is commendable, new trees will take many years to provide the benefits that mature trees do. Many of the concerns we raised in our original response remain, including the small number of homes to be protected, increased flood risks for some homes and reliance on two later phases of the scheme, yet to be devised. We are concerned that as parts of the scheme are mutually dependent on one another and that each would be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment legislation, the three phases should not be treated separately, but assessed as one project. We will be submitting a further response to this application to take into account the revised documents by the deadline of 3rd March. 21st December 2018 - Our response to SL/2018/0925 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme We have now submitted our response to SL/2018/0925 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme - Phase 1 Kendal Linear Defences. You can read it at this link: FLD response to SL20180925.pdf 21st December 2018 - Additional information provided by the Environment Agency Information relating to the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme provided by the Environment Agency Fact Check figures: Kendal_Factcheck_V2.pdf Kendal Future Flood Risk Management Update: Kendal_newsletter_Final_Dec_18.pdf 18th December 2018 - Press Release issued today - Kendal Flood Defence Scheme The Environment Agency has proposed a Kendal Flood Defence Scheme to try to reduce the flood risk to homes and businesses in the town that was one of the Cumbrian communities badly affected by Storm Desmond in 2015. The Plan includes flood defence barriers and embankments along much of the riverside within the town, and areas at Mintsfeet, Beezon Fields and Gooseholme being allowed to flood in order to store and slow down water flow. Local landscape charity, Friends of the Lake District, while welcoming measures that will reduce flooding risks, has raised some questions on this particular plan. Lorayne Wall, Planning Officer at Friends of the Lake District, “We feel that given the scale, complexity and importance of this scheme, insufficient time has been allowed for members of the public and relevant organisations to properly consider all the documentation and its implications. “There is concern over the large number of trees to be felled given that trees contribute so much to the character of Kendal as well as helping to provide cleaner air, habitat, bank stabilisation and intercepting and storing water. “There is little mention of natural flood management measures within the town, further upstream or across the wider river catchment. There may be further opportunities to reduce run-off rates, reduce the peak flow of water and in turn, reduce the need for such significant and highly engineered measures within Kendal. There needs to be more consideration of alternatives such as increased flood resilience measures and pop-up flood barriers, such as those in Cockermouth, which would have more limited impacts. “This plan offers a valuable opportunity for an innovative solution that delivers on flood mitigation and defence for Kendal whilst protecting and enhancing what is special about the town. We feel that more time and effort should be invested to make sure that this happens.” The application is currently being considered by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC). It will be considered by SLDC Councillors at a meeting in March and it is expected that works will start shortly after that if approved.
Carlisle Southern Link Road consultation Cumbria County Council is currently carrying out a public consultation about proposals for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The consultation closes on 12th July. Expand 14th September 2020 We have recently submitted a response to the planning application for the link road. Whilst we recognise that the link road has Government support and is likely to go ahead, we have reiterated concerns raised earlier in the process about the principle of building the new road, explaining why more sustainable travel solutions should be prioritised. Our full response can be read here 15th July 2019 We have now submitted our full written response to the Carlisle Southern Link Road public consultation. You can view or download our submission at this link. Carlisle Southern Link Road Public Consultation Response (pdf) 29th April 2019 Cumbria County Council is currently carrying out a public consultation about proposals for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The consultation closes on 12th July. The proposal is closely associated with St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, which will involve around 10,000 homes being built south of Carlisle. Both projects have financial backing from the Government and so are highly likely to go ahead. The consultation enables residents to view and comment on the proposed route of the road and details such as location of junctions and bridges and opportunities for cycle provision and green infrastructure alongside the scheme. Friends of the Lake District will be responding to the consultation in detail once we have had a closer look at the proposals. The consultation can be found online at https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/cslr/ and there are a series of public drop in events in Carlisle (see webpage for details).
Gooseholme Bridge, Kendal Cumbria County Council is replacing Gooseholme Bridge which was destroyed by the Storm Desmond floods. Expand 14th September 2020 A Government Inspector has approved Common Land consent for the new Gooseholme footbridge. Although the ramp up to the bridge will remain in the position proposed, which we had concerns about, the Inspector’s reasoning was fair and we are pleased that the Inspector has taken on board our comments and those of Open Spaces Society to restore the land next to Melrose Place to grass. This will enable it to be made use of in ways that are appropriate to its status as part of the Common. 18th November 2019 Friends of the Lake District was invited to take part in the Gooseholme Bridge consultation in early October. We suggested that a proposed access ramp be placed to the north of the bridge. This change would protect the bulk of New Road common and retain valuable green space within Kendal town centre for the public to enjoy. Our motivation is to find the best solution that we can for New Road common whilst getting the essential bridge back in place. We are still waiting to hear back from Cumbria County Council (CCC) with an explanation as to why the ramp cannot be re-designed to accommodate this change. If CCC is unable to provide evidence as to why this is not feasible then we would urge it to adopt the change in order to get this essential crossing reinstating and preserve valuable green space with Kendal town centre. 7th November 2019 Our submissions to the Planning Inspectorate were made during Cumbria County Council's allotted consultation period on 10th October 2019. We also attending the drop in session and have been in regular contact with Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency for some time now. The consultation period is designed to gather comment and suggestions to facilitate the best possible outcomes for planning and development projects. With this in mind, we have made the suggestion that the proposed ramp is placed to the north of the bridge, on land which has not been enhanced for public use, thereby protecting the bulk of the common and retaining valuable green space within Kendal town centre for the public to enjoy. 5th November 2019 Cumbria County Council is replacing Gooseholme Bridge which was destroyed by the Storm Desmond floods. This bridge is a historic crossing and an important link between two sections of Kendal, and between two parts of common land, and its replacement is welcomed by Friends of the Lake District. The bridge crossing is even more important now that the New Road Common has been enhanced for the public to sit and enjoy the riverside. As part of the process, the county council needs to obtain permission for works on common land and has applied for this recently. The permission will cover the new ramps needed on New Road and Gooseholme Commons. These are necessary to make the bridge accessible for less able people and multiple users, again a development which Friends of the Lake District welcomes. Friends of the Lake District has made no objections to the application relating to Gooseholme Common. However, the plans for New Road are the first ones we have seen showing the extent of land to be taken by the ramps. New Road Common has been transformed back into an enjoyable green space for the public since the cessation of car parking. The proposed ramps would remove a significant area of this valuable green space and sever the common. Our suggestion is that the proposed ramp should be located to the north of the bridge, on land which has not been enhanced for public use, thereby protecting the bulk of the common for the public to enjoy. If Cumbria County Council are willing to amend their plans to protect more of the common, we would fully support the scheme.
5G Phone Masts There is clearly a need for an improvement in connectivity both for personal use and in helping to sustain and develop our vital rural economies but there is a balance to be struck. Expand 10 September 2020 5G phone masts Last year, we submitted a response to the national consultation on proposals to simplify planning rules relating to telecommunications infrastructure. The Government asked for views on whether relaxed rules might help to improve rural mobile coverage and speed up the roll-out of 5G and also what the rule changes might be. Having considered the responses to the consultation, the Government is satisfied that the proposed reforms would have a positive impact on their ambitions for the deployment of 5G and extending mobile coverage. However, the Government appears to have taken on board comments made by us and others that the increase in permitted development rights for telecommunications infrastructure should not apply in the same way in protected areas such as National Parks and AONBs as it does outside these areas. We recognise how important digital connectivity is for rural communities, but we are pleased that the need for special attention to be paid to protected landscapes and their settings in any reform of the rules has been recognised. A further consultation is proposed on the technical detail of the proposed changes, including detail of how the rules might vary to give greater protection for these areas. Read the outcome to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-permitted-development-rights-to-support-the-deployment-of-5g-and-extend-mobile-coverage Update 25th October 2019 We have submitted a response to the national consultation on proposals to simplify planning rules relating to telecommunications infrastructure. The Government asked for views on whether relaxed rules might help to improve rural mobile coverage and speed up the roll-out of 5G and also what the rule changes might be. Recognising how important digital connectivity is for rural communities, we have responded to the consultation highlighting the need for special attention to be paid to protected landscapes and their settings in any reform of the rules. We have made suggestions as to how the rules could be amended to enable telecommunications infrastructure to be installed or upgraded in ways that minimise the impact on the landscape and ensure that opportunities are taken to enhance it. The consultation document can be accessed here Our written response to this consultation can be viewed / downloaded here (pdf) 27th August 2019 Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has announced a consultation on proposals to simplify planning rules with a view to improving rural mobile coverage. The consultation document can be accessed here Friends of the Lake District fully understands that rural communities are keen to obtain levels of digital connectivity such as fast broadband and good mobile ‘phone signals in order to support both work and leisure. Such technology is essential not only for our rural communities to remain vital and viable into the future but also to ensure that the emergency services, including Mountain Rescue, can continue to operate effectively across the country. However, these needs must be balanced with the essential provisions of the environment, including the health and well-being benefits we derive from the peace, tranquillity and beauty of the landscape and its many components. As such, we welcome the recognition given by Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport that the proposals for new taller communications masts will have to strike a balance between the landscape and better connectivity and respect certain areas of outstanding natural beauty. We also acknowledge her suggestion that larger masts may accommodate more equipment, potentially reducing the number of masts required overall. We have not yet considered the current consultation in detail but in order to ensure that this balance can be struck, where new communications infrastructure is required we would be keen to see: • The choice of location of masts being informed by landscape evidence such as Landscape Character Assessments, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments and evidence on the Cumulative Impact of Vertical Infrastructure; • Special considerations for protected landscapes and their settings, such as additional need and landscape evidence requirements, additional design and mitigation requirements and a lower maximum height (as is currently the case); • Consideration of alternatives to new masts, such as mounting equipment on existing buildings or existing masts wherever viable and appropriate; • Maximise mast sharing between different providers; • A commitment to rationalise mast provision (i.e. to always use the minimum number of masts needed) and to remove any masts that are no longer required; • New mast provision to be coupled with undergrounding of existing wires as mitigation and a commitment to underground new wires.
4x4s on Fell Lanes We are disappointed to hear that GLEAM (Green Lanes Environmental Action Group) have lost their court challenge against the Lake District National Park's decision not to stop recreational 4x4 traffic on fell roads in Consiston/Little Langdale. Expand Update 27 August 2020 We are disappointed to hear this week that GLEAM (Green Lanes Environmental Action Group) have lost their court challenge against the Lake District National Park Authority decision not impose Traffic Regulation Orders preventing the use of fell roads in the Consiston/Little Langdale area by recreational motorised traffic. Ultimately, the challenge was dismissed on all three grounds, the first and most important one around the Sandford principle and how the Park Authority dealt with it. Ultimately, this decision was about whether in law the Park Authority had carried out proper process in making the decision. The debate about what is appropriate in terms of the use of the routes will carry on. Part of the resolution made by the Park Authority was to set up a consultative group looking at how problems could be addressed and how the routes could be managed. We had offered to be part of this process. The full decision can be read here https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2020/2293.html&query=(Stubbs) Image above: Tilberthwaite fell lane - one of the routes regularly used for recreational 4 wheel driving. Update 8 October 2019 The Lake District National Park Authority has today decided that they will not start the process that would lead to a Traffic Regulation Order on fell lanes at Tilberthwaite and High Oxen Fell. With the notable exception of the chair of the committee, members supported the officer recommendation that a voluntary management group be set up for the Tilberthwaite route. We are very disappointed at this decision. The voluntary management approach has been used for a number of years and has, in our view, failed. Both routes are classified as red under the current system which indicates that they are busy and sites where potential conflicts will is likely to occur. The Park Authority has failed to put the conservation of the natural beauty of the area first. Update 4 October 2019 An important meeting takes place on Tuesday at the Lake District National Park Authority where consideration will be given to the future management of the motorised use of two fell lanes at Tilberthwaite and High Oxen Fell. A report has been published recommending against starting the formal process that could lead to a Traffic Regulation Order that would restrict motorised access for motorised recreational vehicles on both routes. The report can be found here: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/green_roads/future-management-of-tilberthwaite-and-oxen-fell-roads The report essentially recommends an approach on the Tilberthwaite route that would involve a partnership management group made of interested parties. The High Oxen Fell route would be monitored. We are very concerned that the voluntary approach is being relied upon in this instance. This has been tried in the past through a scheme called the Hierarchy of Trail Routes (HOTR). The routes are assessed into amber, red and green categories. Both routes in question are classified red, meaning they are under the greatest pressure, that there may be environmental issues plus the potential for misunderstanding or conflict with other users. It is recognised that repairs have been carried out to the Tilberthwaite route but this does not deal with the conflicts between users. The Environment Act 1995 sets out the purposes of National Parks considers that where conflict exists between the first aim of conservation and the second aim of promoting understanding and enjoyment- then conservation should take priority. The HOTR scheme identifies the problems associated with routes classified as red- we believe a conflict exists here so conservation should take priority. Friends of the Lake District are disappointed with the recommendation and while recognising that any TRO has to be well founded legally consider that the Park Authority have missed an opportunity to place conservation of natural beauty at the heart of their activities. This is something that the recent Glover Review of National Parks emphasises. We would urge the Committee to consider recommending a formal consultation on the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order. Update 25 September 2019 The long awaited report to the Lake District National Park Authority Rights of Way Committee has been published. Sadly, but not unexpectedly it has failed to recommend the introduction of a process that could lead to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on either of the routes under question. Instead it continues to rely on the voluntary approach, recommending the setting up of a partnership management group in relation to the Tilberthwaite route.We are very concerned that the voluntary approach is being relied upon again in this instance. This has been tried before. It’s current guise has been operating for many years in the form of the Hierarchy of Trail Routes. The scheme assesses routes into amber, red and green categories. Both routes are classified as red, meaning they are routes under the greatest pressure, that there may be environmental issues plus the potential for misunderstanding or conflict with other users. We have continually said that we believe there to be a strong case for TROs to be introduced. Under the Sandford Principle where there is conflict greater weight should be attached to the first purpose of National Parks to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage. As set out above voluntary approaches trying to resolve this conflict have, in our view, failed. Consequently, the next logical step would be for the Park Authority to carry out a formal consultation as a step in the process of introducing a TRO to ensure that the natural beauty and tranquillity of the area is conserved. It is also telling that ICOMOS has written to the National Park Authority setting out their concerns that motorised use of such lanes is having an adverse effect upon the qualities of the World Heritage Site. We will be writing to the Authority to express our concerns. Read the Report re: Tilberthwaite and High Oxen fell roads here 18th April 2019 We have been receiving a high volume of e-mails about motorised use of fell lanes. We have held the position since May 2018 that we believe there is a strong case for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on the Tilberthwaite and High Oxen Fell routes. This position is on a policy basis that this use of the routes is not in line with the Sandford principle because it causes disturbance to the quiet enjoyment and tranquillity of the area. We have also previously said that the use of the routes other than for land management purposes is not compatible with National Park purposes, which lends support to the case for a Traffic Regulation Order. From the comments received we understand that this is an important issue for many people and we will continue to highlight this. As we explained previously the Lake District National Park Authority are carrying out a consultation on the future management of the routes and we would encourage anyone with concerns to contact the National Park Authority and to complete the survey which forms part of the consultation on the routes. The information gathered from the consultation exercise will be used to compile a report to the Rights of Way Committee in October and we will be writing to the Park Authority prior to this meeting supporting the introduction of a TRO. A number of e-mails raise the issue of the general use of motorised vehicles on fell lanes within the National Park. We have long raised concern about the nature of the activity and its’ conflicts with the purposes of the National Park and recognise there is a pressing need to establish a long term solution on the wider issue. We are aware that the National Trust would welcome the introduction of a TRO at High Tilberthwaite. We support this position and will continue to work with them and other partners on the wider issue of motorised vehicles on fell lanes. 12th February 2019 We understand that the Tilberthwaite and High Oxen Fell roads are now open to motorised vehicles. The Lake District National Park Authority will be hosting two drop-in sessions for feedback about the routes on: Tuesday 26 February from 3.30pm – 7pm at Coniston Sports and Social Centre, Shepherds Bridge Lane, Coniston LA21 8AL. Tuesday 5 March from 3.30pm – 7pm at Skelwith Parish Rooms, Community Hall, Skelwith Bridge LA22 9NW. The Lake District National Park Authority will continue to monitor the use of the routes both in terms of their condition and vehicle movements through spring and summer this year. There will also be on- site surveys and an online survey. The information gathered from these exercises will be used to compile a report to the Rights of Way Committee in October. A briefing note about the future management of the routes can be found here: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/green_roads/future-management-of-tilberthwaite-and-oxen-fell-roads We would urge all who care about protecting the routes to get involved in the surveys and/or attend a drop in session. 9th November 2018 Autumn is a great time to get out and about in the National Park but with the temporary closure to motorised vehicles of the route between Little Langdale and Tilberthwaite offers a unique and tranquil experience that contrasts strikingly with the normal experience in recent years due the increased use of motorised vehicles. It’s a good idea to take a walk on this route- while its quiet. Signs at the start of the route indicate current restrictions, though users must be mindful of the works that are being carried out on the track. Friends of the Lake District believes that the motorised use of the route by vehicles other than for land management purposes is incompatible with National Park Purposes and there is a there is a strong case for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in this location based upon conserving and enhancing the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Park. 'Save Langdale Green Lanes' is a campaign challenging the use of 4x4 vehicles and motorbikes in this location. You can view more information about this issue and the campaigns objectives on its website at: www.savethelakedistrict.com (links to external website content) 22nd May 20184x4 Use in High TilberthwaiteDue to the incompatibility of this use with National Park Purposes, Friends of the Lake District believes there is a strong case for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in this location. 'Save Langdale Green Lanes' is a campaign challenging the use of 4x4 vehicles and motorbikes in this location. You can view more information about this issue and the campaigns objectives on its website at: www.savethelakedistrict.com (links to external website content)
Consultation on a proposed Car Park at Ullock Moss, Portinscale We have responded to the consultation Ullock Moss, Portinscale Car Park. We welcome the principle of managing access to Catbells and in principle may support the idea of park and ride type proposals. However, we think there are a number of issues around this particular location. Expand 29th July 2020 We have today submitted a written response to the consultation Ullock Moss, Portinscale Car Park. We very much welcome the principle of managing the situation around access to Catbells and in principle may support the idea of park and ride type proposals. However, we think there are a number of issues around this particular location. Read our full response here> 29th June 2020 A pre application consultation is being carried out by Crosby Granger Architects for a proposed car park at Ullock Moss, Portinscale. We think the proposal raises concerns around the principle of a car park at this location, how this fits with planning policy and potential landscape impacts upon the site and its surroundings. We will be looking carefully at the proposal and responding accordingly. The link below provides information on the proposal and a link to survey monkey for your views. The consultation runs until 31 July. https://www.crosbygrangerarchitects.co.uk/ullockmoss/
Keswick Premier Inn We’re really pleased to see that changes have been made to proposals for a Premier Inn Hotel in Keswick, directly reflecting points made in our response to the plans. Expand 18th August 2020 We’re really pleased to see that changes have been made to proposals for a Premier Inn Hotel in Keswick, directly reflecting points made in our response to the plans. Whilst we remain aware of the concerns of many within the community relating to the principle of the development and the impact of a hotel of this nature and size, we think the changes make a substantial improvement to the detail of the scheme. The revised Heritage Statement now covers in some detail important aspects that were previously omitted, including an assessment of the impact on the Conservation Area and it’s setting and the importance of these to the wider settlement and landscape character. Also now included are an assessment relating to views into and out of the Conservation Area. This includes views to and from the surrounding fells and from historic viewing stations such as Latrigg, as well as from the Cumbrian Way. A further addition is a more detailed assessment of the specific cultural heritage and World Heritage Site implications. The addition of this information will mean that a more informed assessment of the proposal’s impacts can be made.
Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine We received the disappointing news that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision. Expand Update 25th July 2019 In November 2018, the Lake District National Park Authority decided to approve an application for a Dual Purpose Aerial Wire at Honister Slate Mine. We were concerned by the basis for their decision to approve, and requested that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘call in’ this application. The Lake District National Park Authority agreed not to issue their decision notice on the Honister Zip Wire until the Secretary of State decided whether or not he would ‘call-in’ the application for his approval or refusal. We received the disappointing news yesterday that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision. Update 4th December 2018 We have been assured by the National Planning Casework Unit that the Lake District National Park Authority has agreed not to issue their decision notice on the Honister Zip Wire until the Secretary of State has confirmed whether or not he will call-in the application. 15th November 2018 Friends of the Lake District is concerned about the basis for the decision to approve an application for a Dual Purpose Aerial Wire at Honister Slate Mine, and has requested that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government “calls in” this application. This means we have asked that the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is prevented from granting permission and for the application to be determined instead by the Secretary of State. We have done this because we believe the decision was contrary to legislation relating to National Parks and to national and local planning policy. The Sandford Principle requires that in National Parks, where there is a conflict between economic and landscape interests, the requirement to conserve and enhance the landscape must be given greater weight. In coming to their decision, the LDNPA gave significant weight to the economic benefits of the proposal, but limited value was placed on the non-visual aspects of landscape character. The decision was contrary to both the Authority’s own officer recommendations and Natural England’s objection on landscape impact grounds. The application has also been determined before a legally required assessment of the proposal’s impact on sites of international biodiversity importance has been concluded. We await the Secretary of State’s decision on whether or not the application will be called-in. If he agrees to call-in the case, he will also confirm that an inquiry will be held and the decision will be reviewed by a Planning Inspector. If he decides not to call it in, we will work with other interested organisations to consider whether any other action can be taken. Cumbria Wildlife Trust, ZipOff, the Open Spaces Society and CPRE all support our view and have also asked for the decision to be called in. Image credit: Ben Barden, Cumbria Photos 7th November 2018 Planning Application: Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine - APPROVED Friends of the Lake District considers there to be little justification for the Lake District National Park Authority Members ignoring the advice of its Planning Officer and agreeing to this development. We consider this to be a highly sensitive location and that this development will have a detrimental impact on the landscape character, tranquillity and biodiversity of the area. Both lines are intended to be used for the movement of stone and the shorter line is to be accessible for all including those who may not be able to access the full via ferrata. The applicant contends that the new uses outweigh the detrimental impacts of the proposal. Whilst the two proposed new uses of the wire are commendable in terms of supporting the existing business use of the site and providing a new experience in the Lake District which is accessible for all, in our opinion, they do not outweigh the detrimental impacts of the scheme. We consider the zip wire to be an inappropriate addition to the offering which will result in unacceptable detrimental landscape impacts. Our main concerns are: The conflicts with the National Park purposes The landscape and visual impacts of the development in this high fell landscape Impacts upon tranquillity by means of incongruous noise and movement at the site Transport impacts on the local road network Potential impacts upon open access land. Additionally, we feel that the application failed to provide sufficient information regarding the potential number of users, particularly on the additional shorter line. Whilst the capacity of the ‘main’ line is limited by the numbers of people completing the via ferrata there will be no such restriction on the shorter line and it is likely to become a popular attraction in its own right. The application did not address this issue and we are now concerned that this development will intensify the tourism and recreation activity on the site and create additional noise and traffic impacts. We also have major concerns relating to the potential for adverse impacts on international biodiversity designations; concerns shared by Natural England in its response to this application. 17th October 2018 Honister – decision to be made on 7th November. We have submitted a response to the recent extra consultation on the application, making clear that our concerns about the impacts on the landscape, tranquillity and biodiversity of the area remain. This is despite additional information being provided by the applicant that did clarify some of the queries we had raised in our earlier objection. We are pleased to see that Natural England has also responded to this extra consultation and that they share our concerns relating to the potential impact on international biodiversity designations. 13th September 2018 A further consultation is underway on proposals for a zip-wire at Honister Slate Mine. The proposals were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority in January, but following comments received during consultation, the applicants were asked to provide further details of their plans. Now that this extra information has been received, people are being given a further chance to comment. Friends of the Lake District objected to the proposals due to impacts on landscape character, visual amenity and the tranquillity of the area and will be commenting again at this stage. The application can be viewed on www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planningsearch The reference number is 7/2018/2011. The consultation closes on 8 October 2018 and comments can be made by emailing [email protected] or by writing to Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal, LA9 7RL. It is expected that a decision on the proposals will be made at the Lake District National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee meeting on 7 November 2018. you'll find more detailed instructions on how to submit your own comments here> 13th March 2018 Written response submitted to the planning authority by Friends of the Lake District We have now written and submitted a full response to the planning authority which is now available to view / download at the link below: 7 2018 2011 Honister Zip Wire application FLD response.pdf 23rd February 2018 Planning Update: Honister Aerial Flight As you may be aware, another application has been submitted by Honister Slate Mine for an aerial flight (zip wire). Whilst the line of the wire remains the same as the 2012 application (7/2012/2243) the applicant considers the proposal to be different from previous applications because: The wire would be dual purpose and used to transport slate from the mine opening The secondary shorter line at the intermediate point will be accessible for all enabling disabled users and younger children to participate in the zip wire attraction. We recognise that both of these added uses are commendable in terms of supporting the existing business use of the site and providing a new experience in the Lake District which is accessible for all. However, we do not consider that these additional uses outweigh the detrimental impacts of the proposal which have previously resulted in the application being refused.We have carefully assessed the proposals, visited the site and, as an organisation which advocates for the landscape, we have taken the decision to object to the submitted proposals.Our main concerns are: The conflicts with the National Park purposes The landscape and visual impacts of the development in this high fell landscape Impacts upon tranquillity by means of incongruous noise and movement at the site Transport impacts on the local road network Potential impacts upon open access land. We consider that the application does not provide sufficient information regarding the potential number of users, particularly on the additional shorter line. Whilst the capacity of the ‘main’ line is limited by the numbers of people completing the via ferrata there would be no such restriction on the shorter line and it is likely to become a popular attraction in its own right.The application does not address this issue and we are concerned that this would intensify the tourism and recreation activity on the site and create additional noise and traffic impacts.Whilst we commend Honister Slate Mine for their diversification at the site, including the mine tours and via ferrata, we consider that the zip wire is an inappropriate addition to the offering which will result in unacceptable detrimental landscape impacts.From previous applications, we expect and respect that not everyone may agree with our position. Although we object as an organisation, we are encouraging our membership, and members of the public, to engage in the planning process whatever their view.The best way to make your voice heard is to write to the Lake District National Park Authority (the planning authority) with your views on the application. Anyone can make comments on a planning application regardless of where you live, and whether you are objecting to or supporting the proposal.You should email any comments to [email protected] and include Planning Reference Number 7/2018/2011 in your correspondence. The closing date for comments is 26th March 2018. You can also write to the planning authority. We've included some additional notes in the link below which also includes instructions for viewing or downloading this planning application. Additional Guidance on submitting comments to the Planning Authority>And finally, we will be making our full written response available online once it has been submitted to the planning authority.26th January 2018 We have been made aware that the planning proposal detailed below is now live and available to view online at the LDNPA planning portal. Planning Reference: 7/2018/2011 (Full Planning application) Proposal: Dual purpose aerial wire for extraction of stone and tourism use Location: Honister Slate Mine, Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, CA12 5XN View the application We have been invited to consult on the application and now that we are in receipt, we will be assessing as soon as possible. We will not be commenting on the application until we have thoroughly read and assessed the proposal. We have engaged with the applicants when they have requested and we will be interested to see if our advice has been incorporated into the development of the proposals. 12th January 2018 We are aware that Honister Slate Mine has submitted an application for a new zip wire. We will assess the proposal fully once sumbission has been processed and application is made available for download by the planning authority. 26th April 2017 We are aware that Honister Slate Mine is progressing an application for a new zip wire due to be submitted imminently . We have had pre application discussions with the applicants and their agent. We will assess the proposal fully once submitted. Given the likely interest in this proposal we intend to make our response available on this website page at the earliest opportunity.
Borwick Fold Appeal Decision We are very pleased to report that an Inspector has upheld the Lake District National Park Authority’s decision to refuse permission to develop a fish-farming facility at Borwick Fold Tarn, just north of Crook. Expand We are very pleased to report that an Inspector has upheld the Lake District National Park Authority’s (LDNPA’s) decision to refuse permission to develop a fish-farming facility at Borwick Fold Tarn, just north of Crook. Two iterations of the proposal were refused by the LDNPA. We challenged the proposal on both occasions and supported concerned local residents to do the same. The Inspector concluded that the proposal would negatively affect the character and appearance of the landscape and cause harm to the World Heritage Site, and that as a result, it was in conflict with several Local Plan policies. The full wording of the appeal decision is available on the LDNPA's website at:https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1872449/2020_03_04-Appeal-decision-letters.pdf
Environmental Land Management Scheme discussion resumes Defra's paused discussion document on the proposed Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM) has now re-started, read our views. Expand Defra asked for views on a discussion document outlining a little more detail about the proposed Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM), in February but paused the consultation. Discussion about the scheme, in which farmers will be paid for work which enhances the environment, replacing the schemes currently available under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), has now been re-started and we have given our response. Read our response here. Read more about the consultation on the Government website here.
Tree Strategy Consultation Launched The Government is currently consulting on a National Tree Strategy in England. This is positive, but it must be based upon the right trees in the right landscapes. Expand The Government is currently consulting on an England National Tree Strategy. We will be making a full response to this consultation but you may also make your own individual response. We think it is positive that the Government is developing this strategy, but it must be based upon the right trees in the right landscapes, recognising the important contributions that features such as peatlands, hay meadows and wood pasture provide, in terms of carbon capture and biodiversity, as well as health and well being, flood management etc, rather than simply based upon blanket targets for increased woodland cover of any type, in any location. Our existing ancient woodlands in the Lake District and Cumbria are of critical importance. They are unique features which cannot be recreated. While similar species of trees can be planted to reflect these ancient sites, the soils and ground vegetation that is crucial to supporting them is very hard to recreate and is a process that can take many decades, if it can be achieved at all. Given that at this time we are witnessing an increasingly deregulated planning system we would not want to see any of our oldest woodland sites being sacrificed for development against the promise of supposed compensatory new woodland of equal, or greater size. Respond to the tree strategy consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consultation-launched-on-the-england-tree-strategy
Lake District Local Plan Review The Lake District National Park’s new Local Plan will set out planning policies against which all planning applications will be judged, as well as identifying sites for new development. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the expected consultation on changes to the Local Plan will not be held until later in the year. Expand Update 24th March 2020 The Lake District National Park Authority has issued a statement on their Local Plan Examination News page to let people know that due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, the expected consultation on changes to the Local Plan will not be held until later in the year. Keep an eye on the Local Plan Examination News page for further updates. The process of preparing the Lake District National Park’s new Local Plan is now in its final formal stages. The Plan will set out planning policies against which all planning applications will be judged, as well as identifying sites for new development. Update 5th February 2020 We are really pleased to see that a number of the changes we suggested to the Lake District National Park’s new Local Plan have been accepted by Inspectors following the Examination hearings late last year. The Inspectors that are conducting and examination into the Plan have issued a post-hearing letter detailing several changes they wish to see to the Plan, some of which require further work to be undertaken by the National Park Authority. These requests are in light of discussions in the hearing sessions and their own consideration of all the various documentation. In particular, we welcome the Inspectors’ agreement with our concerns that a policy setting out locally relevant criteria to determine what constitutes Major Development in the context of the National Park should be included in the Plan. In addition, we welcome the Inspectors’ request that the Authority should, using the new major development policy, reassess which Plan proposals are likely to constitute major development and whether they would pass the exceptional circumstances test. This is particularly relevant in relation to some of the larger housing developments proposed in the Plan and also to proposals for any other significant developments, such as cable cars. Amongst the other welcome changes requested by the inspectors are a reductions in the areas of some of the proposed development sites in the Plan. We drew to the Inspectors’ attention evidence from the previous Local Plan preparation stage that excluded from development a large area of the Sheepdog Field site at Keswick on landscape grounds. The Inspectors have agreed with that assessment. Another site that the Inspectors have asked to be reduced is a large site at Bootle. The Inspectors have also asked for the National Park Authority to provide further evidence into the viability of the proposals in the Plan. Further information about the requests made by the Inspectors can be found here https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1838189/INS012-post-hearings-letter-to-LDNPA-January-2020.pdf It is important to note that the Examination is not yet over. It is likely that there will be a consultation on a more detailed list of changes to the Plan once the further work required to respond to the Inspectors’ letter is completed. This consultation is likely to cover additional issues as well as those that are raised in the Inspectors’ letter. Following that, the Plan will be amended and the Inspectors will issue a final report that will confirm whether or not they consider the Plan to be ‘sound’. Keep an eye out for general updates about the progress of the Examination here https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review/examination/examination-news Update 26 November 2019 Public Examination of Local Plan review begins The Examination of the Lake District National Park Authority’s new Local Plan is under way. The Plan sets out planning policies against which all planning applications will be judged, and identifies sites for new development. The public hearings in front of independent Planning Inspectors run from 26 November until 5 December at the National Park offices at Murley Moss, Oxenholme. We will be giving our view that the Plan needs to re-focus on conservation and landscape enhancement rather than prioritising tourism growth and man-made attractions. Anyone can attend the hearings to observe. Find out more, including hearing timetable, here>. Update 30 October 2019 The process of preparing the Lake District National Park’s new Local Plan is now in its final formal stages. The Plan will set out planning policies against which all planning applications will be judged, as well as identifying sites for new residential and employment development. Two government-appointed Inspectors are currently conducting an Examination of the ‘soundness’ of the Plan and this will include public hearings to be held during the final week of November and the first week of December. Following the hearings, it is likely that there will be a consultation on any changes to be made to the Plan before the Inspectors issue their decision as to whether the Plan is appropriate to be adopted by the National Park Authority as the replacement for their existing plan. You can find out more at https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review/examination Update 7th October 2019 Friends of the Lake District is now in receipt of a draft timetable of the Local Plan hearings. Preliminary hearings are currently scheduled to take place over two weeks commencing 25 November, probably sitting Tuesday to Thursday each week. We have also received a list of the main issues and questions that Inspectors have raised about the content of the Lake District National Park Authority's 'Local Plan' document. The Local Plan document is a set of policies used to inform decisions on planning applications and appeals, and a local planning authority should review its Local Plan at regular intervals to assess whether some or all of it may need updating. In the case of the Lake District, the planning authority is the Lake District National Park Authority and this update will be the key document informing and influencing its planning decisions for many years to come. The Secretary of State has appointed Sarah Housden BA(Hons) MRTPI and Kelly Ford MSc, MRTPI to undertake the independent examination into whether the Lake District National Park Local Plan is sound and complies with all the legal requirements. The criteria for soundness are whether the Plan’s policies are positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy. Key points are: A draft timetable has been received for the Local Plan hearings – it can change and it is up to individuals to keep checking the website to ensure they have the latest version (they can change a lot, and can change even during the hearings as the Inspectors have to do their best accommodate those who have the right to speak). Members of the public can attend the hearings but only those who commented on the Publication version of the Plan and seek changes to it have the right to speak – see the Examination Information Note for more details. A list of the main issues and questions that the inspectors have about the plan has also been issued – these indicate what areas/aspects of the Local Plan the Inspectors feel it is necessary to focus on in the hearings. Everyone who commented on the Publication version of the Plan should have received this information directly You'll find further documentation relating to this hearing on the LDNPA website at the following locations: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review/examination/core-document-library https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review/examination Update 24th July 2019 The recent consultation generated 521 responses from 137 individuals and organisations, according to the Lake District National Park Authority's updated Local Plan review webpage. We expect the Local Plan to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in August. Based on usual procedure for the next stage of this process, we would expect public hearings to take place in November, and we await the next steps with interest. Update 30th May 2019 We have highlighted the Local Plan review previously and the process has now reached the final, formal stages. The final chance to comment on the Lake District National Park’s Local Plan ends at 5pm on Monday 3rd June. It is important that anyone who wants to see changes to the Plan before it is finalised makes their response by this deadline as at this formal stage, it is unlikely late responses will be considered. You can find out more and submit your comments here https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review We will be submitting our response before the deadline – you can read what we have to say below: Read our final response to this consultation here, with cover letter here. The new Local Plan will inform new development in the National Park over the next 15 years. Update 20th May 2019 Tourism growth and the landscape - Our concerns about the ability of the Lake District to cope with ever-growing numbers of visitors and a focus on tourism-related developments and the growth of ‘attractions’ remain. The Plan notes current numbers of tourists and the steady increase of around 5% per year but it does not acknowledge that this means there’ll be 45.9million tourists per year by the end of the Plan period compared to 20m now. Many ways in which related issues can be addressed lie outside of the planning system, but we’d like to see the planning policies clearly recognising this and the impacts it will have. This includes ensuring that developments protect landscape character, the Special Qualities and the visitor experience but it also requires a strong focus on supporting those activities that clearly represent quiet enjoyment and modes of travel that reflect he designation rather than promoting built ‘attractions’, activities and transport options that are at odds with the designations, legislation and policy that protect the Lake District. Update 15th May 2019 Light pollution and tranquility – In our response to the previous consultation, we asked for consideration of a policy or policies covering dark skies, light pollution and tranquility. Update 1st May 2019 The Lake District Local Plan - Affordable Housing - We are concerned that the Local Plan sets the site size threshold for requiring affordable housing on new developments at 5 or more. It was previously set at 3 in the previous local plan and the earlier draft of this local plan. We accept this reflects a change to National Policy, but a recently adopted local plan document for the Arnside & Silverdale AONB shows that where there is local evidence and justification, a different approach is acceptable. In order to reflect local evidence of affordable housing need and the stated aim of maximising affordable housing delivery, we would like the original threshold of 3 to be reinstated, or for the Plan to be supported by evidence as to why the threshold of 3 could not be retained. Final public consultation on the revised Lake District Local Plan runs until 5pm on June 3rd. This consultation represents your last real chance to get involved and influence the content of the park’s ‘Local Plan’ so we would urge you to submit a response online and make yourself heard. Visit the link for more information on submitting your response. https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/local-plan-consultation-now-open Update 23rd April 2019 Major development and the Gondola We are concerned that some of the proposals in the Local Plan have the potential to be major development. This includes some allocations, some developments proposed in the distinctive area polices and some proposals in the showcase areas and infrastructure policy. National planning policy includes a presumption against major development in national parks. We think that proposals in the plan should therefore be supported by evidence to demonstrate either that they are not major development and why OR how they meet requirements to be an exception to this policy. Although specific reference to a gondola cable car at Whinlatter has been removed, the LDNPA has made clear that it is still an option. The Plan cannot list specific projects that would not be suitable, but we would like the Plan to make clear that gondolas, and similar development undoubtedly has the potential to be major development and is therefore highly unlikely to be appropriate or acceptable in the National Park. Update 16th April 2019 Read our initial response to the revised Local Plan Available at this link: Response to the revised Local Plan Update 8th April 2019 The Lake District National Park Local Plan Consultation is now OPEN Final public consultation on the revised Lake District Local Plan begins today (8th April) and runs until 5pm on June 3rd. This consultation represents your last real chance to get involved and influence the content of the park’s ‘Local Plan’ so we would urge you to submit a response online and make yourself heard. A 'Local Plan' is a set of policies used to inform decisions on planning applications and appeals, and a local planning authority should review its Local Plan at regular intervals to assess whether some or all of it may need updating. In the case of the Lake District, the planning authority is the Lake District National Park Authority and this update will be the key document informing and influencing its planning decisions for many years to come. We welcome some of the changes to the revised plan, but some of our concerns still remain. For example, specific references to the cable car project at Whinlatter have been dropped, but the park authority has made clear that the idea has not been ruled out. A policy identifying 'Showcase Areas' around Windermere, Derwentwater and Ullswater has also been taken out of the plan following concerns that it would intensify tourism development and relax planning controls, but there are still references to showcase areas in the text. You may find it helpful to read our initial response to the revised plan which is available at this link: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/FAQs/ldnpa-local-plan-review Because this is a legal, formal stage, the rules are very specific on how you should comment and what you can comment on so it is important that you take the time to read the ‘Statement of Representations Procedure’ and ‘Guidance on completing the survey’ before submitting your response. Visit the LDNPA website at the link below to complete and submit your response. You’ll also find the links to supporting documents and guidance on completing the survey. Submit your response We’ll be writing a more detailed response to this consultation in the coming weeks and will make this available online when it is submitted. If you have questions in the meantime or want to let us know your thoughts about the Local Plan then please do get in touch with us by emailing our Planning Officer at [email protected] Update 21st March 2019 Last summer we took part in a consultation on the first draft of a new Local Plan for the Lake District National Park. A 'Local Plan' is a set of policies used to inform decisions on planning applications and appeals. Some 2,700 people responded to last summer's consultation - thank you if you were one of them. In response to the consultation we raised several concerns about the plans, including a focus on economic development rather than landscape conservation; some proposed allocations of land for development and the inclusion of proposal for a gondola cable car at Whinlatter. A revised draft has now been approved by the Lake District National Park Authority for consultation. There have been some welcome changes to the plan, but some of our concerns remain. For example, specific references to the cable car project have been dropped, but the park authority has made clear that the idea has not been ruled out. A policy identifying 'Showcase Areas' around Windermere, Derwentwater and Ullswater has also been taken out of the plan following concerns that it would intensify tourism development and relax planning controls, but there are still references to showcase areas in the text. Some proposed sites for development have been removed from the plan and others have been reduced in size. Changes made to the plan show the importance of residents and anyone else who values the Lake District National Park making their voice heard as part of the consultations. Consultation on the new revised draft will be launched on 8 April for 8 weeks. More details will be in our members' magazine Conserving Lakeland. The revised Plan is already available to read here (pdf). This consultation stage is focused on whether the plan is legally compliant and ‘sound’, that is whether it is ‘positively prepared’, justified, effective and consistent with national policy. Comments at this stage should make clear how they relate to these aspects. Following the consultation, the plan and the comments received during the consultation, will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (expected July/August) and a Government-appointed inspector will carry out a public examination into the legal compliance and soundness of the plan (expected autumn). On this basis, we expect that the document would be adopted and come into force around May 2020. Therefore, the forthcoming consultation is the last real chance for people to get involved and influence the Local Plan’s content, although anyone who comments at this stage can request to speak at the public examination. Keep an eye on the Lake District National Park Authority’s Local Plan review page for details of how to take part in the consultation. 12th October 2018 We recently met with the Lake District National Park Authority‘s Local Plan Team and are keen to continue a dialogue with them as the Local Plan preparation process continues. We understand that it is likely that consultation on the next version of the Plan will take place in Spring 2019. The Lake District National Park Authority will soon be formally issuing a revised timetable for the Plan’s preparation. We also recently attended the launch of the Lake District National Park Authority’s ‘Smarter Travel: A Vision for Sustainable Visitor Travel in the Lake District National Park, 2018-2040’. This document will sit alongside the Local Plan. We agree that it is crucial to find ways of moving visitors around the Park more sustainably, but we do have concerns about some of the approaches being considered. Although no formal consultation on the document is planned, we will liaise with the Lake District National Park Authority to help ensure that the ambitions set out are taken forward in a way that supports the conservation and enhancement of the National Park. 28th June 2018 We have responded to the Lake District National Park Authority's Local Plan review You can find our comments here 27th June 2018 The consultation on the Lake District Local Plan Review closes on 29th June (this Friday). Please see below for information about how to comment. 12th June 2018 We have put together a page setting out our concerns about the Lake District National Park Local Plan Review. You can find the information here : https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/local-plan-review We have uploaded briefing documents for each of the areas of concern. If you would like to respond to the Local Plan Review, you are welcome to use the information we have published. The Local Plan Review closes on Friday 29th June 31st May 2018 We are currently working our way through the Lake District National Park’s Local Plan Review consultation documents. There is a very large volume of information to read and process. We will share more detailed information about our concerns with you by the end of next week (by 8th June). We have already picked out a number of aspects of the plan that we are concerned about including proposed green field site allocations, transport, car parking and above all, a lack of focus on the actual purposes of the National Park to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District. A 'Local Plan' is a set of policies used to inform decisions on planning applications and appeals, and a local planning authority should review its Local Plan at regular intervals to assess whether some or all of it may need updating. Local Plans are generally reviewed every five years and the Lake District National Park Authority is currently in the process of reviewing the Lake District National Park’s Local Plan and asking for public comment. Its public consultation runs from 8 May until 29 June 2018. More information about the consultation is available on the Lake District National Park’s website: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review
Glover Landscape Review We welcome the Government’s independent review of England’s National Parks and AONBs launched in October. Julian Glover who leads the review has published a letter (July 2019) which details the review panel’s interim findings. Expand Update 14th May 2020 Protected Landscapes (Glover) Review The current crisis is showing just how important landscape and nature are to our health and well-being. We understand that the Government will be considering the report prepared by an independent panel led by Julian Glover. We will be writing to the Government asking them to move forward on elements of the review that we support. Update 8th October 2019 The report was published last month, sooner than we had expected. The report is ambitious and agrees with a number of our recommendations, the key one being that a National Landscapes Service should be established to bring together our 44 designated landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The Review considered the current system of landscape protection to be fragmented, marginalised and misunderstood- not really a system at all. We certainly agree with the principle of this and think National Parks should have a stronger voice in Government but also stronger governance to make sure that there is consistency in how the statutory purposes are applied throughout the Parks. With regard to the statutory purposes of National Parks there is mention of reference being made within the purposes to improving nature and biodiversity, there is also mention of an updated Sandford Principle where greater weight must be given to the first purpose to conserve and enhance natural beauty. We had also recommended that National Parks be included in the National Curriculum and one of the proposals is for every child to spend a night under the stars in a national landscape. We welcome references to helping people from minorities and less well- off areas to access our landscapes. There is also a reference to increasing the amount of land accessible to the public and again, this is something we had recommended. We are pleased that the report recognises the Lake District is heavily congested at times with an over reliance upon cars. There is also a recognition that unlimited car use can spoil the special beauty. A new approach to co-ordinating public transport in the Lake District is a specific proposal within the report. However, there is not enough recognition that too many visitors can undermine the quality of the landscape. We believe that there needs to be more discussion about the measures that can be implemented to alleviate the impact on infrastructure of an ever increasing number of visitors to the Lake District. On funding the current system is considered unnecessarily complex. Other recommendations include reducing the administrative burden by reducing the numbers of people on National Park Boards. This should raise some money, but not enough if the ambitions of the report are to be fulfilled. The report considers that there should be an ambitious and philanthropic programme of funding including both a charitable and commercial approach. However, there is no clear framework for this and we have concerns about the conflicts that may be created from commercial funding and that charitable fundraising for landscape protection purposes may just take from the existing pool of finance available for such work. A link to the summary of the findings can be seen below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-landscapes-national-parks-and-aonbs-2018-review/landscapes-review-summary-of-findings Update 31st July 2019 We are pleased with one of the key suggestions of the Designated Landscapes Review. Julian Glover who leads the review has published a letter which sets out a guide to the review panel’s thoughts on what they have found. The main ask from Friends of the Lake District was that some form of central governing and co-ordinating body is set up to provide strong governance and consistency around the purposes of National Parks. The letter from Julian Glover to Michael Gove makes clear that we should not be happy with what we have at the moment and that the system of landscape protection is fragmented, sometimes marginalised and often misunderstood. In the light of this the panel is going to explore the potential of a National Landscape Service- effectively supporting our key request. The letter also emphasises that our designated landscapes should be at the forefront of nature recovery and take a lead in tackling climate change. In terms of funding at the very least the panel want to see existing budgets secured in real terms and sustained for a further five year period. The initial findings in the letter are generally challenging, that is heartening and we look forward to the full report.Read Julian Glover's July 2019 letter setting out the interim findings of the Landscapes Review. 18th December 2018 A summary of our response is detailed below together with a link to our full response. While we consider that our designated landscapes have been a great post war success story our landscapes must meet the challenges of today. We have made a significant number of recommendations to the review but our key points are that: There should be a strong central co-ordination body to provide strategic direction to national parks and to ensure consistency, accountability and a voice to champion designated landscapes at government level A greater emphasis should be placed upon conserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage to make sure that enhancement of the special qualities of our landscapes takes place The types of recreation promoted must be in line with the first purpose to conserve and enhance The review should consider opportunities for introducing designated landscapes into the national curriculum and providing opportunities for all children to visit a designated landscape Read our response in full here 25th October 2018 Friends of the Lake District welcomes the Government’s independent review of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) launched on 20th October. The review is led by Julian Glover supported by an experienced advisory group. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make your views known on the future of our National Parks and AONBs and how they are run. We will be submitting a response to the review but we would urge individual members to feed in their own comments directly. As part of the response process, there is an option for you to submit an image illustrating what is special to you about a National Park or AONB. We believe that this provides an exciting opportunity for us all to demonstrate what these landscapes mean to us. With a deadline for submissions on 18 December, the review will report next year, 70 years after the landmark National Parks Act 1949 that established National Parks in England and it will consider all aspects of England’s National Parks and AONB's. Background information about the review together with the consultation can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use/landscapes-review-call-for-evidence We will provide an update and some initial thoughts once we have considered the review in more detail.
National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure 10th December 2018: We have today submitted our response to the Consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure. Expand 10th December 2018 We have today submitted our response to the Consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure. Details of the consultation are below, followed by the main points of our response. To view or download our full response, use the link at the bottom of this item. Details of Consultation Update 6 – Consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure begins We have today published our consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure (NPS). All consultation documents are available from our Citizen Space website here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/draft-national-policy-statement/. The consultation will close on Thursday 31 January 2019 at midnight. We would like your views on whether the draft NPS provides an appropriate and effective framework for the Examining Authority (the Planning Inspectorate) and the Secretary of State to examine and make decisions on development consent order applications for nationally significant water resources infrastructure projects in England. We would also like your views on the Assessment of Sustainability and Habitats Regulations Assessments that accompany the NPS. The types of infrastructure that the NPS will specifically apply to are reservoirs, water transfer and desalination projects. The Planning Act 2008 will be amended shortly to this effect and the Citizen Space website will include an update when this occurs. You can respond to this consultation by submitting your responses via the online survey at Citizen Space, by emailing the team or by post. Friends of the Lake District Response to Consultation Section 1: The draft NPS 1 Do you think the draft NPS sets out a clear need for nationally significant water resources infrastructure? Please provide reasons to support your answer. Our Response: We remain disappointed that the NPS does not provide a clear linking mechanism which requires water companies to prove they have significantly reduced water usage and leakage before they seek major additional infrastructure. We would urge that the ability to do this is looked at again. We reiterate our comments made in a previous consultation: Need is not static, it changes all the time. The WRMP are the documents which assess any potential deficit in demand and propose solutions. They operate on a 25 year timescale but are revised every 5 years. It appears rather strange therefore that there seems to be no parallel review of the NPS proposed. We may therefore end up with a situation where the need in WRMP is up to date, but is being assessed against out of date need identification in the NPS. How is this going to be resolved? 2 Do you think the draft NPS makes clear for water undertakers, the Examining Authority and the Secretary of State, the relationship between water resources management planning and applying for nationally significant infrastructure project development consent? Please provide reasons to support your answer. Our Response: We welcome the statement in para 4.9.10 that “The Secretary of State should refuse development consent in these areas except in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest”. However, we feel that this presumption should be reflected by the designated landscapes being exempt from the NSIP process and that for these areas, such plans should be determined by local planning mechanisms as per current arrangements. 3 Are the assessment criteria included in the draft NPS appropriate? Please tell us your views, including any further relevant criteria you can identify. Our Response: We welcome the inclusion of many of our comments in previous consultations, particularly those relating to landscape, access, tranquillity, etc. 5 Do you have any other comments on the draft NPS which are not covered by the previous questions? Our Response: We remain horrified that Table 2.1 in the Appraisal of Sustainability Report refers to the potential Borrowbeck Reservoir. It is bizarre that the WRMP are required to show all options considered even if they are financially, environmentally and socially unacceptable. This is the case with the current United Utilities WRMP in that it identifies a potential reservoir at Borrowbeck. This is in a nationally designated landscape and would be totally unacceptable in landscape and environmental terms, yet has to be put in the plan. This is frankly ridiculous given stakeholder and company feedback. It is even more disconcerting that it is referred to as a feasible option when para 4.9.10 states such schemes will not normally be approved in designated landscapes. They may be feasible in building terms but never in landscape or environmental terms. The WRMP guidance needs to be reconsidered to remove schemes that will never be environmentally and socially acceptable, and the terminology in the NPS refined to use appropriate and not feasible. Section 2: Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS) and Habitats Regulations Assessment 7 Do you agree with the conclusions of the Appraisal of Sustainability Report and the recommendations for enhancing positive effects associated with the implementation of the draft NPS? If not, what do you think should be the key recommendations and why? Our Response: We do not agree with the conclusions re landscape, namely that the implementation of the draft NPS is likely “to result in a positive effect in respect of conserving and enhancing our landscapes and townscapes”. We do not see how this conclusion can be reached where there are no details of any schemes available. It put a significant emphasis on potential enhancement of schemes but does not specify what this may be. Reservoirs it is acknowledged are likely to be on greenfield, not brownfield sites and as such will have a significant change in landscape character. Water transfer schemes may be underground but there will be a requirement for the area of ground above any pipes not to be planted with trees or have walls across them. So, quite apart from physical infrastructure impacts such as buildings, we consider that it is impossible to say that there will automatically be a positive landscape impact. At best the assessment must be unknown until detailed plans are available for schemes. 8 Do you agree with the proposed arrangements for monitoring the significant effects of the implementation of the draft NPS? If not, what measures do you propose? Our Response: There appear to be no proposals for monitoring landscape or cultural heritage. Tables 4 and 6.1 in the Appraisal of Sustainability include no indicators for either of these subject areas. On that basis, no we do not agree with the proposed arrangements for monitoring. A baseline needs to be established based on the most detailed landscape character assessments done, and if there are none, then a baseline LCA and associated monitoring framework should be established as part of the process. Read / download our full response at this link (pdf)
New road A66 consultation Highways England is currently carrying out a public consultation about making the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner a dual carriageway. The consultation closes on 11th July. Expand 11th July 2019 We have today submitted our full written response to the A66 Northern Trans Pennine Upgrade Consultation. We have summarised some of our key points below. Our full written response to the consultation can be viewed by clicking on the image below. Friends of the Lake District (FLD) is concerned that upgrading the A66 to a dual carriageway for its entire length from Penrith to Scotch Corner will make it more difficult to secure a sustainable future for Cumbria’s landscapes. In addition to potential landscape damage, research shows that the scheme will almost certainly cause ‘induced traffic’ (additional traffic generated by the road scheme itself)1 and increase traffic speeds. Friends of the Lake District recognises there are black spots where collisions occur on the A66 but we believe these can be addressed by local safety measures and junction realignment and reconfiguration rather than by dualling the whole length of the road. We are concerned that this possibility has not been considered, as it is not on the list of options looked at and discounted. The consultation document is very brief for a project of this size. It makes many assertions not supported by accompanying evidence. We therefore have a number of queries concerning some of the claims made in the document. These include: A statement of case for why this road upgrade is actually needed. Whether a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out looking at junction upgrades for safety reasons, but no dualling. A list of benefits and whether they will outweigh the environmental costs (including increased greenhouse gas emissions) How certain are Highways England that the proposed road scheme will not produce induced traffic; and How the scheme fits with a net zero carbon UK by 2050. As Friends of the Lake District is CPRE’s representative in Cumbria, our area of interest stretches to the boundary of the County, and we will not comment on the proposed upgrade outside of Cumbria. 30th April 2019 Highways England is carrying out a public consultation about making the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner a dual carriageway. The consultation closes on 11th July. These proposals involve widening some sections of the A66 which are currently single carriageway, and in other places such as Kirkby Thore, completely rerouting the road. The consultation can be found online at https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/cip/a66-northern-trans-pennine/ If you'd like to respond to the consultation, and would like a guide as to what to say, these are the key points we will be making: Friends of the Lake District does not consider that upgrading the A66 to a dual carriageway for its entire length from Penrith to Scotch Corner is in line with the actions needed to secure a sustainable future for Cumbria’s landscapes. There would be significant damaging impacts to the landscape and environment of Cumbria and the North Pennines. This damage includes harm to protected landscapes; loss of habitats, flora and fauna; increases in noise, light and air pollution and issues with flooding and run-off. In addition, more traffic using the road and increased traffic speeds will increase the emissions of greenhouse gases from traffic, contributing to the climate emergency which the UK Government has pledged to address by reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Studies carried out over many years have demonstrated that building new roads, widening roads or upgrading roads to dual carriageway induces additional road use by bringing more vehicles onto the road that wouldn’t have otherwise used it. Any respite from congestion provided by a new or widened road is temporary, before the cycle starts again. Provision of more road capacity does not deliver a stable situation: the more capacity is increased, the more capacity increases are ‘needed’. (https://www.cpre.org.uk/resources/transport/roads/item/4543-the-end-of-the-road-challenging-the-road-building-consensus) We consider that safety on the A66 could be significantly improved without making it dual carriageway by, for example, imposing lower speed limits on the most dangerous stretches of the road, including using average speed cameras to enforce the limits. Along with speed reduction, safety could be improved by the addition of features such as underpasses or bridges to replace farm crossings so that farm traffic no longer has to cross the road (in particular the provision of a bridge across the road at Kirkby Thore to enable HGV traffic from the British Gypsum Works to travel west on the A66). Acceleration and deceleration lanes, coupled with underpasses or bridges to remove the need for vehicles to turn right across the carriageway would also significantly reduce risk of accidents at those junctions most at risk. The stretch of road put forward for dualling from Appleby to Brough runs along the southern boundary of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Government's National Networks National Policy Statement says this about road building in protected landscapes: ‘There is a strong presumption against any significant road widening or the building of new roads and strategic rail freight interchanges in a National Park, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, unless it can be shown there are compelling reasons for the new or enhanced capacity and with any benefits outweighing the costs very significantly. Planning of the Strategic Road Network should encourage routes that avoid National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’
Ashstead Fell plantation – proposed felling and restocking We support new proposals to fell some of the coniferous woodland, but we fundamentally object to the proposals to replant with non-native coniferous species when native trees would be much better for wildlife and landscape. Expand 13th June 2019 Ashstead Fell lies adjacent to our High Borrowdale property and is notable that it can be seen from much of the surrounding land in South Lakeland due to the presence of coniferous plantations. Friends of the Lake District strongly opposed these in the 1980s. Proposals have now come forward to fell some of the coniferous woodland which we strongly support, but we fundamentally object to the proposals to replant with coniferous species. This area is now within the Lake District National Park and also forms part of the setting of the World Heritage Site. Forest design and the policy context have moved on, but the proposals will further the harm caused by the planting since the 1980s. Read our full response to these proposals, submitted 12th June 2019: fld ashstead comments, june 2019.pdf View the Felling Licence Application (FLA) restock map: FLA restock Map.pdf
Windermere Ferry Price increase We are dismayed that Cumbria County Council has increased fares for foot passengers and cyclists by 100% on the Windermere Ferry, while fares for cars and trailers or caravans have only increased by 12%. Expand We are dismayed that Cumbria County Council has increased the fares for foot passengers and cyclists by 100% on the Windermere Ferry, while the fares for cars and car plus trailer or caravan have only increased by 12%. In a time of increasing awareness of the perils of climate change and the pollution caused by vehicles, we think they should encouraging sustainable forms of transport such as walking and cycling not financially favouring cars.The new fares will make it more expensive for a group of three cyclists to use the ferry than it would to take their car across the lake with the bikes attached to the back. A family of five may as well take their car on the ferry rather than travel as pedestrians as the cost will be the same.This decision to significantly increase prices for cyclists and pedestrians is likely to mean more cars on the narrow, winding roads on the west shores of Windermere; an area really not capable of accommodating an increase in vehicular traffic. At a time when two of the local authorities in Cumbria have declared Climate Emergency, if Cumbria County Council was seriously committed to reducing climate change impacts, it would ensure that travelling by foot or bike on the Windermere Ferry was less expensive than by car. We urge the County Council to reconsider the price rises for pedestrians and cyclists in order to make these sustainable travel modes more attractive to visitors to the Lake District. Read our letter to Cumbria Council here Old prices: New prices:
Conservation Covenants Defra recently consulted upon proposals to establish conservation covenants. These would enable landowners and managers to enter into long term covenants to deliver a range of conservation and environmental benefits. Read our response to the consultation. Expand 21st March 2019 Defra recently consulted upon proposals to establish conservation covenants. These would enable landowners and managers to enter into long term covenants to deliver a range of conservation and environmental benefits. Overview 1. Leaving our environment in a better state than we found it for future generations to enjoy requires long-term investment and stability. Where land owners seek to secure positive environmental outcomes they have no adequate mechanism to secure those benefits over the long term. We need a new legal tool – conservation covenants. 2. A conservation covenant is a private, voluntary agreement between a landowner and a “responsible” body, such as a conservation charity, government body or a local authority. It delivers lasting conservation benefit for the public good. A covenant sets out obligations in respect of the land which will be legally binding not only on the landowner but on subsequent owners of the land. Consultation description We want to know what you think about our plans to introduce legislation for conservation covenants in England. Conservation covenants would allow landowners to set legally binding obligations on their land for themselves and subsequent owners. This will allow landowners to secure environmental benefits for the long term. In particular, we want to hear what you think about the: 1. demand and potential for conservation covenants to secure lasting conservation for the public good 2. safeguards 3. Law Commission proposals, with our proposed amendments View a copy of Friends of the Lake District's submission to this consultation, submitted 21st March 2019 More information about the consultation is available on the DEFRA website at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-management/conservation-covenants/
Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Expand Update 26th March 2019 The Government has recently consulted on the process for evaluating suitability of sites for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for high level radioactive waste. We responded to the consultation raising our concerns that intergenerational equity (the more suitable the geology is for very long term containment, the better the outcome for the safety of future generations) needs to be taken into account when choosing a GDF site because of the many thousands of years it will be necessary to keep the radionuclides contained. In our view this means that the geological safety of the disposal site is the highest priority. We also raised concerns that National Park Authorities are excluded from the decision-making process which means they cannot stop part or all of a national park being put forward for selection by a different local planning authority. We consider that this is a huge mistake in the site selection process and needs to be addressed urgently by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Read our response: Friends of the Lake District response to Radioactive Waste Management consultation on GDF Site Evaluation March 19 (pdf) 31st July 2018 Today the government published its Draft National Policy statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure which will be taken to Parliament later this year. Despite serious concerns raised by Friends of the Lake District, Lake District National Park Authority, Campaign for National Parks and many others the government has decided to not exclude protected landscapes from being considered for hosting a radioactive waste site. This has major implications for the Lake District and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as west Cumbria is seen as a potential host community, given previous attempts to site one here and the close proximity of the nuclear power station, Sellafield, and proposed nuclear power station, Moorside. We make two key points in our responses to the consultation earlier this year, (see below) and these concerns both still stand as the government has not taken them into account. April 2018 We have responded to a government draft National Policy Statement on how to select a site for a deep Geological Disposal Facility for high level nuclear waste in the UK. We have also responded to a separate consultation 'Working With Communities' to encourage communities to volunteer to host the facility. This has major implications for the Lake District and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as west Cumbria is seen as a potential host community, given previous attempts to site one here and the close proximity of the nuclear power station, Sellafield, and proposed nuclear power station, Moorside. We make two key points in our responses: We believe that Protected Landscapes, such as national parks, AONBs and World Heritage Sites, should be excluded from being considered as a potential site for storing this type of nuclear waste. We believe that the national importance of landscapes that receive the highest level of legal and policy protection possible should be respected and that they should be excluded from the process. We also feel that it is insufficient to simply leave the decision to proceed with local communities. The Lake District is a national park because it is recognised to be a ‘national asset’. If a community in or near the Lake District was to put itself forward as a host for a Geological Disposal Facility, the Government should undertake a test of public support on national basis so that everyone with an interest in the Lake District has the opportunity to input into the process. Previous studies have shown that the Lake District’s geology makes it wholly unsuitable for a Geological Disposal Facility. We are concerned that the emphasis from government is on finding willing host communities rather than first looking for sites with suitable geology for this type of activity. This facility must be sited 1km underground within 20 square kilometres of impermeable rock type such as clay or salt. This is the sort of geology needed to contain radioactive gases and particles for up to 100,000 years. The geology of the western Lake District is highly fractured and faulted and unfortunately, there is no guarantee that human engineered containment would last 100,000 years. Over such an extended timescale it is likely that water would permeate through the rock and into the Irish sea and other ground water bringing radioactive particles with it. It is unethical to leave future generations with a legacy of poorly contained radioactive waste. We therefore believe that no community should be allowed to volunteer as a host unless it can be first be confirmed that the geology of the area is suitable. Download / view our full responses here: Friends of the Lake District response to BEIS Implementing Geological Disposal NPS (pdf) Friends of the Lake District response to BEIS Working With Communities consultation final (pdf)
Biodiversity Net Gain Consultation Read our response to the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, which promises that any development taking place would provide an environmental net gain in order to try and address the loss of wildlife in England. Expand The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan published last year promised that any development taking place would provide an environmental net gain in order to try and address the loss of wildlife in England. To proceed towards this aim, the government recently consulted on applying biodiversity net gain to the planning process. The Government states in the consultation that: An effective net gain policy could enable us to build the houses, commercial premises and local infrastructure we need and at the same time improve our environment by more than compensating for biodiversity loss where it cannot be avoided or mitigated. In theory, this looks like it could be a really great policy, but in practise there are a number of issues that we have concerns about. Firstly, some habitats are just irreplaceable because of their complexity, the length of time taken to establish or due to changed climatic conditions. This group of habitats includes ancient woodland, limestone pavement, sand dunes and heathland. We are concerned that developers will be able to develop these sites using net gain as a convenient excuse to do so. Secondly, habitats sit within a specific place in the landscape because of the underlying conditions geology, soil, rainfall and aspect provide. Habitats need to be understood within their landscape context, where they are part of the landscape fabric which helps local ecosystems to function and species to move through it. Net gain appears to forget this fact, and the consultation talks about biodiversity “units” or “credits” as if it were possible to just move an area of habitat from one place to another with no ill effects. Thirdly, there is a grave concern that there won’t be adequate resources provided to local authorities and Natural England to oversee any scheme. With no oversight of the scheme, developers won’t be held to account, and species will be lost and habitats will be replaced with inferior, less biodiverse wildlife. Fourthly, we are very surprised that the Government is only supporting biodiversity net grain rather than environmental net gain such as enhancing tranquillity, reducing flood risk, carbon sequestration, and access improvements. We consider that this is a missed opportunity on the basis that enhancing biodiversity in many cases also works towards other net gains, such as tree planting increasing carbon sequestration, and reinstating water meadows helping with flood risk reduction. We, along with a number of other organisations (including CPRE) have provided detailed responses to this consultation. You can read ours here.
MOD Warcop Common Inquiry We are shocked and saddened for the precedent that this recommendation sets for the future of all of our common land. Expand 6th December 2018 At Cumbria County Council's Development Committee Meeting held on December 6th in Kendal, 11 members voted in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention to accept the Inspectors report and recommendation. The outcome of the Inquiry and this decision are hugely important. Not just because these commons represent 1% of our stock of common land in England - 3,200ha will now be deregistered - but because of the precedent that this sets for all of our common land. 3rd December 2018 Cumbria County Council is likely to agree to the Ministry of Defence’s application to deregister Hilton, Murton and Warcop Commons at its Development Committee Meeting on December 6th in Kendal, despite the MoD’s previous undertaking that they would never seek to do so. This undertaking was given at an inquiry in 2001 into the MoD’s request to compulsory purchase all the common rights on Warcop, Hilton and Murton Commons. This move was to allow them more flexibility in their training and to intensify their use of the land. The Inspector appointed to conduct a recent inquiry held by Cumbria County Council into the MOD’s applications to deregister these Commons has recommended in favour of the MOD. Jan Darrall, Policy Officer, “We are shocked and saddened for the precedent that this recommendation sets and for the future of all of our common land. We are deeply concerned about the outlook for Warcop, Hilton and Murton commons as there will now be very few restraints on the MOD there. “The inquiry was complex but the consequences of deregistration are simple enough and illustrate why we have fought so hard to oppose this application. Access: The three commons of Warcop, Hilton and Murton amount to 3% of Cumbria’s common land. A decision to deregister these commons puts their cultural heritage at risk and gives the MOD discretion to deny local use. We believe that our rich common land should remain for all to enjoy. Protection: The land will lose protection against encroachment and development since works on common land require the consent of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in addition to any planning permission. Heritage: It will bring to an end hundreds of years of tradition of upland communing. The farming community, which used to have vital grazing rights over this land, will now be denied any opportunity in future to graze their stock there.” The application will be presented to the Development Control and Regulation Committee on Thursday 6th December for consideration, but opponents expect the Committee to adopt the Inspector’s recommendation to remove common land status from the historic commons of Warcop, Hilton and Murton (a small area of Murton Common called ‘Area Victor’ will be excluded from the Committee’s decision on 6th December and will retain its common land status). Cumbria County Council as Commons Registration appointed Alan Evans from Kings Chambers, Leeds to conduct the Inquiry. The MoD, led by QC David Elvin had a six strong team. The lead opponents were the Open Spaces Society who appointed QC George Laurence. Other objectors included ourselves, Foundation for Common Land, Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, Hilton Commoners Association and Murton Parish Council. 18th October 2018: Inquiry to reconvene on 30th October 2018 The Warcop Inquiry reconvenes on 30th October for four days. This is to discuss the second issue, namely are the Warcop commons still waste of the lord of the manor? The MOD are arguing that they are not. We, together with partners the Open Spaces Society, the Foundation for Common Land, and the Hilton Commoners are arguing they are no different in character to most of our upland commons and remain waste of the lord of the manor. Proof follows: Further evidence of the Friends of the Lake District in relation to the issue of Waste of Lord of the Manor (pdf) 8th October 2018: Online Petition 'Prevent the MOD removing Cumbria fells from the Commons Register'. Despite an undertaking by the Secretary of State, made after a public enquiry in 2001, that the fells would remain on the Commons Register in perpetuity. The MOD are attempting the biggest LAND GRAB of common land since the 1800's. The Fells in question, Murton Fell CL76, Hilton Fell CL27 and Burton and Warcop Fell CL122 form part of the Warcop MOD training area. In 2003 the MOD purchased the grazing rights from the commoners. Part of the agreement reached was that the fells would remain on the Commons Register. Now they have cancelled that part of the agreement. Our argument is that it is not legally possible to cancel part of a multiparty agreement, without the other parties consenting, which they do not. Sign this petition> Warcop Common update 25 Sept 2018In 2001 an inquiry was held into the desire of the Ministry of Defence (M0D) to compulsory purchase all the common rights on Warcop, Hilton and Murton Commons to enable them to have more flexibility in their training and intensify use. The MoD also gave an undertaking that they would never seek to deregister the land as common land. That is exactly what they are now trying to do and something we, and other partners strongly oppose.Cumbria County Council as Commons Registration Authority held a Public Inquiry to consider the applications in early September. They appointed Alan Evans from Kings Chambers, Leeds to conduct the Inquiry. The MoD, led by QC David Elvin had a six strong team. The lead opponents were the Open Spaces Society who appointed QC George Laurence. Other objectors included ourselves, Foundation for Common Land, Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, Hilton Commoners Association and Murton Parish Council. You can read our skeleton argument below: We are strongly opposed to this huge area being lost as common land.This is a very complex and legal issue. The Inspector can only hear arguments that are relevant to the legislation under which CCC have to determine the applications. So although many of us feel the MoD are going back on their previous undertakings and this is causing a lack of trust, etc, he cannot take account of these arguments. He was however very generous in that he was willing to listen to all evidence, even if he could only take account of some of it!The Inquiry focused on two key issues. Firstly the legal ‘power’ issue. Does the legislation give the MoD the power to make this application given the nature of the vesting deed which was to extinguish rights (not purchase the soil). The MoD are saying that because all the commons rights were extinguished by a Vesting deed on 31st March 2003 the land then ceased to be common land and they want it to be removed from the Register. The Open Spaces Society, ourselves and others argue that the Vesting Deed only related to the extinguishment of the rights and nothing else, certainly nothing pertaining to the land and therefore the applications should fail.However, if the MoD win their argument, another issue comes into play and that is whether the land remains waste of the Lord of the Manor. For land to be deregistered it must both have no rights of common and no longer be waste of the manor (unoccupied, open and uncultivated).The Inquiry will reconvene on the 30th October to consider the Waste of the Manor Issue. We are now working hard with partners to gather our evidence together on this issue.The Inspector will make his recommendations to Cumbria County Council, who need to make a decision before 14th December 2018 when the four year "transitional period" for updating the registers ends.The Inquiry has had significant press coverage in both national papers and on the television. Update 23 August 2018Cumbria County Council has announced a two day public inquiry into the applications by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deregister Hilton, Murton and Warcop Commons, near Appleby in Westmorland. These commons represent 3% of the stock of common land in England. 15 years ago the MoD applied to extinguish the common rights over the land to give them more control and flexibility. At that time, they stated categorically that they would not apply to deregister the land as common land. This is now precisely what they have done, with little or no evidence as to why. The applications are strongly opposed by ourselves, the Open Spaces Society (OSS), the Foundation for Common Land, the Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, and the local residents. The inquiry will take place on 12 – 13 September and will be Barrister led. It will only focus on the legal issues surrounding the applications. This is very complex and the OSS has engaged their own Barrister to present their case which we support. There are issues of principle at stake here, namely the fact that the applications are completely at odds with Government policy on common land, that the MoD expressly undertook not to deregister the commons, and also that we believe the applications do not meet the legislative requirements. Read more MOD proposal to deregister Warcop, Hilton, Murton and Burton commons Cumbria Commons face biggest threat since Enclosure movement
Agriculture Bill Parliamentary Briefing We welcome the Agriculture Bill which will make payments for the delivery of public goods, and cease area support payments simply for owning land. Expand 28th November 2018 Full text of our briefing and comments is available at this link:Friends of the Lake District briefing and comments Headlines Friends of the Lake District welcomes the Agriculture Bill which will make payments for the delivery of public goods, and cease area support payments simply for owning land. However, we wish to see landscape specifically listed as a public benefit and also the Bill make it a duty rather than a power to make payments for public goods (thereby ensuring it happens and not just may happen if desired). We have concerns that the Bill as drafted is not sufficiently robust to secure the desired benefits for our landscape, natural and cultural heritage (including common land), our rural and upland communities and those who live and work within them. We also welcome payments for cultural and natural heritage, providing public access and enabling young farmers, and the clarity on the length of the transition period (until 2027) giving farmers and land managers more confidence to make plans to adjust and adapt. However, it is still unclear what the overall budget will be and if there will be enough money to deliver healthy landscapes and communities. S11 of the Bill covers rural development and there are references in the policy statement to the value of traditional farming in upland areas, but it is not clear how these areas will be supported.
NWCC Cumbria Pylons project dropped by National Grid Expand 22 November 2018: NWCC Pylons project dropped by National GridFriends of the Lake District is pleased to see that the threat of 400kV powerlines and associated pylons through and around the Lake District National Park has at least for the moment been halted as National Grid pulls back from the North West Coast Connections project. The proposal to connect a proposed nuclear power station at Moorside on the west Cumbrian Coast was always going to prove very technically difficult and expensive for National Grid because the power cables would need to pass through or around the Lake District National Park as well as potentially causing damaging the Arnside and Silverdale and Solway Coast AONBs. We worked closely with National Grid to persuade them to protect the Lake District from damage by pylons. Whilst we were successful in encouraging National Grid to underground cables within the Lake District, they still proposed to erect 50-60m tall pylons just metres outside the National Park boundary. It is therefore a relief that the project has at least for the time being been dropped. We understand that Moorside is still on the Government’s list of proposed nuclear power plant sites, so we will obviously keep a close eye on plans for the site and 400kV grid connections. We do hope that if it comes forward again that common sense prevails and that powerlines will be kept outside of the nationally and internationally protected landscape of the Lake District. Friends of the Lake District would like to thank everyone who supported our campaigns in 2014 and 2016 including those who donated and those who took the time to write letters to National Grid. We will be keeping you informed of any further developments. 17th May 2017 National Grid NWCC Plans On Hold Yesterday we were contacted by National Grid who let us know that they are putting their work on NWCC on hold due to uncertainty over the future of the Moorside nuclear power station project. NuGEN are undertaking a "strategic review" of their project, and looking for a new funder as Toshiba are pulling their backing due to financial problems. This means that there is no current need case at the moment for a grid link. National Grid have stated: "In line with NuGen’s review, we are pausing work on our connection. This will ensure we can align our plans both for the application for consent and the development of the infrastructure itself.” You can read more about this pause here in the News and Star, and see Grid's official statement here. As yet, we don't know what this will mean for the project and its impact on the Lake District National Park, but we will obviously be keeping a close watch on what happens next. 23rd February 2017 Ofgem Consultation on the Need for North West Coast Connections Friends of the Lake District commented on a consultation from Ofgem the energy regulator which asked: "In this consultation we have set out our initial views on National Grid’s North West Coast Connections project which would connect a proposed new nuclear power station in Cumbria to the main transmission network in Great Britain. This document covers three broad assessment areas: Whether we think there is a technical need for the project. How NGET has narrowed down the option it has taken forward to its planning consultation. Whether the project, or sections of it, are suitable for competitive tender. This consultation is aimed at parties interested in our views on the first project we have assessed under both of these frameworks, including potential bidders, incumbent network operators, interested consumer groups, as well as other relevant stakeholders." Click here to see a copy of our response 6th January 2017 Friends of the Lake District made its response to the NWCC consultation. You can read it here. Click to see document Thank you to everyone who has contacted National Grid with your concerns. As of 2pm there have been more than 2270 letters written to National Grid via the website and we know of plenty more people who have written separately. Hopefully we can stop National Grid spoiling the Duddon Estuary and the Furness peninsula pictured above.
Whinlatter Forest Plan consultation Friends of the Lake District welcome the opportunity to comment on this third Whinlatter Forest Plan. We are particularly appreciative of a meeting held with Forestry Commission on 8th November. Expand 12th November 2018 Friends of the Lake District welcome the opportunity to comment on this third Whinlatter Forest Plan. We are particularly appreciative of a meeting held with Forestry Commission on 8th November which helped clarify certain matters. This is a huge area of upland forest with many landscape challenges. Reviewing the comments we have made to the previous plans shows that there has been considerable progress in resolving some of the issues of earlier plans. These include :- Changes to coupe shape to reduce landscape impacts, eg the reduction in skylining around Widow Hause, changing patterns on the slopes of Grisedale Pike and changes at Darling How and Hobcarton. Commitment to restore the PAWS sites with native broadleaves. Inclusion of more native woodland. There are a number of generic issues on which we have commented, plus specific comments on individual sections of the plan. See Whinlatter FDP response nov 18 (pdf) for our detailed response. Have your say The Forestry Commission is consulting on their plans for Whinlatter Forest. All their forests have woodland plans and when these are revised they are open for public consultation. This is the third plan for Whinlatter and can be viewed at: https://englandconsult.forestry.gov.uk/forest-districts/whinlatter2018 Friends of the Lake District is currently considering the plan. Our response is likely to focus on the following issues: The shape of proposed forest compartments, could they be improved to fit better in the landscape? The species mix – opportunities for more broadleaved cover to enhance the landscape? Impacts of proposals on current areas of open fell Proposals for felling and restocking Future aspirations re further visitor infrastructure and development Whether enough consideration is given to landscape character Recognition of positive impacts already achieved or planned, eg compartment shapes There is no direct reference to the gondola proposals in the plan. However, their future aspirations do refer to future developments at the site, including a new osprey viewpoint above Thornthwaite, and exploring “innovative transport solutions”. We would urge anyone who is concerned about the potential proposals to respond to the plan. Once we have written our response, we will put it on our website here. Forest Enterprise (England) is part of the Forestry Commission and manages the public forest estate in Cumbria. It is in the process of revising the Whinlatter Forest Plan which outlines how it intends to manage the woodland into the future and the plan, which is currently at a draft stage, is available for public consultation. They welcome public comments on the plan. View the plan by following the link below: https://englandconsult.forestry.gov.uk/forest-districts/whinlatter2018 Comments can be made using the online form/questionnaire in the above link. The consultation will be open from Tuesday 11th September for 28 days.
Commons 30th April 2020: A roundup of our policy work featuring commons. Including Birkbeck, Kendal, Crosby Ravensworth, Armboth Fells and the Common Cause Project. Expand 30th April 2020 Birkbeck Common scrub proposals The applicant has replied to our objection to the 20y proposed fence period claiming it would be costly to have to apply again in ten years and that Lowther as landowners have expressed an interest in managing and removing the fence at the end of the agreement. We have replied to say that as another agri environment agreement will have to be done anyway, and as the principles will have been established, completing another s38 consent will not be costly or onerous and will also allow a review of progress to be made. We need a firmer commitment re fence removal and have asked for that via the Internal Agreement of the CS scheme and also that the Planning Inspectorate condition it. Kendal The Kendal River Corridor Commons Group have met again to discuss more details of possible deregistrations and exchange land re the commons in Kendal. SLDC are going to prepare a s16 application (deregistration and exchange) to resolve their issues at New Road perhaps early summer. Given the lack of local elections in May this has given the political stability and confidence to undertake a public consultation, as SLDC had previously promised, regarding New Road. We anticipate that they will omit any reference to car parking as an option. There is still have work to do in respect of the design and financing of the proposed exchange land at Beezon, Aynam Road and Natland Road. SLDC look as if they will revisit the byelaws in respect of New Road. This relook will probably include considering how they can allow cyclists to use parts of the land. EA are going to prepare a s38 application for all their flood works re New Road and Gooseholme Commons, possibly late May and early June and allow us to have an early sighting of the application. The EA are still expecting UU to gift land in N Kendal which will now be registered as common land following our suggestion. It now appears that the land will be vested in SLDC and not the EA but with Cumbria Wildlife Trust managing the land. Given that this land and Beezon fields are the main areas for wildlife enhancement and tree planting by the EA as compensation for the trees felled and other works they propose to undertake, the question of landscape character comes into play. A visualisation and planting plans, along with details of ponds etc, is expected from them. Their Stock Beck pumping station is still planned to go underground, this is the common land the OSS have asked to be added to the register and for which the Scheme applies but which is currently not common. However they will try and keep all above surface structures off the common. Crosby Ravensworth We have been consulted on a significant woodland planting proposal as part of a Countryside Stewardship scheme for Crosby Ravensworth common. This would see 20% of the common planted with wood pasture or scrub so would result in significant landscape change. Part of the proposed areas to be planted are between the two m6 carriageways. A site visit was held in March and we raised a number of issues. Some of the areas of planting were fine. Others we felt did not respect the landscape character enough, eg parts of Gaythorne Plain and east of the M6 and we have asked for them to be reviewed. We held a subsequent telecom – NE are not happy with the M6 reductions even though more has been added to the west. There are also issues around a number of very intrusive conifer blocks – they are outwith the scheme but FC would require them to be replanted on the same footprint which would replace incongruous conifer blocks with incongruous broadleaved blocks. We are awaiting further feedback from FC on this issue. Armboth fells Fix the Fells have consulted us on issues of path erosion on the top of the Armboth fells and Thirlmere commons. Although not a PROW there is a well used path that follows the old redundant metal fence along the top of the ridge. It goes through very wet and boggy ground which is now very eroded. This is giving issues of loss of carbon and sediment run off. The usual footpath fixes are not possible here due to conditions or inappropriateness so the proposal is to use slate flags. This would need a s38 common land consent. This is a balance between introducing a hard path and man made features into this relatively wild landscape v preventing further environmental harm. We are meeting in march to discuss further. Common cause project The Common Cause project application for stage 2 was submitted in Oct last year and it was confirmed in March that they had received their funding which is fantastic news.
Water Resources West : Initial Resource Position Expand Water Resources West is developing a long-term plan for water resources in the north-west of England, the Midlands and the cross-border catchments with Wales. Water Resources West (WRW) is a new partnership of UU, Severn Trent Water, South Staffs Water, and Welsh Water looking to provide strategic oversight and co-ordination of water resources matters across the river catchments of the North West of England, Midlands and the cross-border river systems with Wales. This will ensure the sustainability of water resources in these catchments. It will also support activity aimed at enabling water resource resilience across England and Wales, including promoting the development of a long-term strategic plan for water transfers as required by Govn. They have published a preliminary view of the region’s water needs and their ambitions. They estimate that by 2050 an additional 166 million litres per day will be needed for public water supplies, an additional 41 million litres per day needed for other abstractors. There are significant uncertainties in these forecasts but the ambition is to make water resources better in the future extends to wellbeing, environmental improvement, economic growth, resilience and water demand management. The document explores the challenges to address, and methods for producing a plan that meets these needs. They set out their initial resource position, the strategic context and proposed methodology. They have asked for feedback on the document. A focus of the work is increased resilience to severe drought and companies are increasingly being asked to look at water trading as a solution to this. No deficits are predicted for the UU region, but across the whole area, the largest increases by sector are predicted for agriculture. We submitted comments answering 6 questions posed. We highlighted the lack of reference to cultural heritage in the document and our concern that national water transfers may have negative impacts for the landscape in future. We reiterated that we would object to any more water being taken from Cumbria to service a national network unless all demand measures possible had been put into place and more sustainable options. We pointed to increasing tensions between reservoirs needing to be full of water to supply customers, but community groups wanting them to be drawn down to provide head room for water storage in times of high rainfall.
Woodland proposals, Coniston Fells We have been consulted on a significant tree planting scheme on the Coniston, Dunnerdale and Seathwaite Commons as part of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Expand We have been consulted on a significant tree planting scheme on the Coniston, Dunnerdale and Seathwaite Commons as part of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme. At first sight these involved a huge amount of fencing to enable wood pasture creation and scrub planting. However after a site visit with Natural England and more understanding of fence locations, discussions about removal, etc, we are able to support the proposals. The scheme will only cover the proposed woodland areas and so will have minimal impacts on the cultural heritage of communal grazing and hefted flocks. The density of scrub planting is fairly low, and due to the terrain, most of the fences will be largely hidden. Most of the issues with schemes such as these are to do with the fencing, rather than the planting and the key is often to get the planting done properly, ie in clumps, avoiding the crags and sight lines of features such as crags and waterfalls, higher points, and ensuring the fencing contractor is sensitive to the landscape and does not just use as many straight lines as possible. As ever with fence proposals, we have suggested a 10 year permission to coincide with the Scheme length, and have asked for firm written agreements about who will take responsibility for the maintenance, guards and final fence removal, also that some money is being put aside to pay for eventual fence removal. This will be a condition of any agreement we may give. A month after the above, screening proposals came in for 2.4km of new fencing to enable 500ha of wood pasture creation on Blake Rigg and around Greenburn as part of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme for Tilberthwaite Farm. Alas the majority of fencing proposed is permanent and there has been little assessment of impacts on landscape and WHS Outstanding Universal Value. Whilst welcoming the wood pasture, we have raised concerns about a number of other issues.