1. Restore nature to full health We need a New Deal for Nature in protected landscapes. Protecting and restoring nature should be a top priority for national parks like the Lake District, and funding for the Lake District National Park authority should be doubled to achieve this. Expand We need a New Deal for Nature in protected landscapes. Protecting and restoring nature should be a top priority for national parks like the Lake District, and funding for the Lake District National Park authority should be doubled to achieve this. Due to a lack of resources, National Parks are unable to tackle the biodiversity crisis, with just 6% of their land in England and Wales managed effectively for nature. Some Parks, such as the Lake District, are even less biodiverse than the surrounding areas. Along with wildlife and habitats, our connection to nature and the tranquillity that people visit protected landscapes to experience is also being eroded. One example is light pollution, which research shows is increasing across Europe and the UK by around 10% every year as more lighting is installed and our built footprint expands.
2. Local homes for local people There should be a new compulsory planning requirement for ‘change of use’ consent for second homes and holiday lets, to control the loss of housing stock. All new housing in rural areas should be truly affordable, and suited to the needs of local people. Expand There should be a new compulsory planning requirement for ‘change of use’ consent for second homes and holiday lets, to control the loss of housing stock. All new housing in rural areas should be truly affordable, and suited to the needs of local people. Without controls on conversion of existing properties from main to second homes, there is no way of ensuring an adequate supply of homes for local people in visitor areas. The recently-introduced holiday let restriction doesn’t go far enough, as it’s only optional for councils to implement. Once a community reaches 20% second home ownership, its sustainability and its services start to decline. 73% of parishes in the Lake District exceed 20% second home ownership, seriously affecting their viability. Many villages no longer have shops, schools, pubs or bus services.
3. Offset the ‘invisible burden’ of tourism by charging visitors Introduce a socially fair charging mechanism for some forms of tourism to the Lake District, to address their hidden costs to the environment, communities and infrastructure, and to improve public transport. Expand Introduce a socially fair charging mechanism for some forms of tourism to the Lake District, to address their hidden costs to the environment, communities and infrastructure, and to improve public transport. Popular tourist destinations need a way of dealing with the impacts visitors have on the area. This is already happening in Manchester, Edinburgh, and further afield (eg Venice). Today, the costs of tourism are affecting local communities and the environment, and busy areas are becoming increasingly damaged and degraded. A charge for visiting vehicles, for example, could be introduced under current legislation, with the income raised used for transport-related projects such as improved bus services throughout the county, cycle paths and much-needed footpath repairs. With 19 million visitors to the Lake District every year, even a small charge could make a big difference.
4. Save Cumbria’s lakes End all sewage discharges into still waters, starting with Windermere, and restore funding to the Environment Agency so it can hold water companies to account. Expand End all sewage discharges into still waters, starting with Windermere, and restore funding to the Environment Agency so it can hold water companies to account. Even treated sewage causes problems for Cumbria’s water bodies, especially if it’s discharged into those which are still or slow-moving (it takes nine months for a drop of water to travel from one end of Windermere to the other). Although some farming practices also contribute, sewage remains the single most damaging source of pollution in Cumbria’s water.
5. Fight climate change with sunshine Make rooftop solar a standard requirement for new buildings, both commercial and residential. Offer incentives for solar on existing buildings, such as agricultural barns. Expand Make rooftop solar a standard requirement for new buildings, both commercial and residential. Offer incentives for solar on existing buildings, such as agricultural barns. To reduce carbon emissions and increase our energy security, we need to make the best possible use of our finite land. We are missing opportunities to generate huge amounts of cheap, low-carbon electricity on rooftops in every part of the country. With the right initiatives, the rooftops of industrial buildings, houses, businesses, farms and car parks across Cumbria could act like clean power stations, cutting carbon emissions, slashing energy bills, and protecting our countryside.
6. A fair deal for nature-friendly farmers Double the budget for nature-friendly farming, and re-introduce the requirement for farmers to comply with basic ecological standards (cross-compliance). Expand Double the budget for nature-friendly farming, and re-introduce the requirement for farmers to comply with basic ecological standards (cross-compliance). 75% of Cumbrian land is farmed, so there’s no way of addressing the nature crisis, climate change, or flood risks without working with farmers. The current £2.4 billion UK farming subsidy budget should be doubled to incentivise nature-friendly farming, and recognise the huge public value that the agricultural sector can provide for health and wellbeing, access and recreation, and cultural heritage.