1993 - Mike's Wood, Staveley planted Expand We plant a new native woodland on fields near Staveley to celebrate the work of our lead officer Mike Houston. 30 years later the new Mike's Wood is well established. Read more
2016 – No pylons in the Lake District Expand Our major campaign to stop 24km of 50 metre tall pylons being built across the national park generated more than a thousand letters in protest and extensive national press coverage, resulting in National Grid resolving to put new electricity lines underground through the western section of the Lake District National Park instead. In the light of our fight against new pylon lines in the Lake District, in January 2024, in its latest policy on electricity infrastructure the government banned new overhead wires from going through protected landscapes.
Elterwater Quarry Adventure Attraction plans resubmitted Just before Christmas, revised proposals were submitted for a visitor attraction at Elterwater Quarry. We have reviewed the plans, we remain opposed to the scheme, and you can read our formal response here. Expand 31st January 2024 We have reviewed the new application, and submitted a response, which you can download in full here. YOU can help too, by contacting the Lake District National Park Authority... Email the Planning Officer Catherine Campbell at [email protected] Or write to Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL quoting the reference number 7/2023/5767 Responses submitted up until a decision is made will still be accepted. We do not expect a decision to be made until at least 6th March 2024. Ensure you state that your comments relate to application reference number 7/2023/5767 We've created a template that may help you make your own response. You can download it at the link below: Elterwater Quarry Response Template (Word Doc) Friends of the Lake District remains opposed to the revised scheme, and you can read our response to get the full details of our position. However it's worth noting one particular aspect of the submission written by our Planning Officer - about the inappropriateness of these kinds of attractions. Here's what she wrote... It is not Friends of the Lake District’s view that this proposal in and of itself would constitute ‘a theme park’. It is our view however that by allowing developments of this type, the Lake District is at risk of being incrementally turned into something akin to a theme park. That is to say that the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site itself will become but the theme and backdrop for a series of activities and attractions unrelated and unconnected to it or its special qualities and Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs). When participating in this type of activity, one is not conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife or cultural heritage. Nor is one enjoying or understanding the special qualities and OUVs. The enjoyment is focused on the activity itself in a way that it could be no matter the location, setting or theme. Zip World’s other sites by way of example include underground golf and underground trampolining. People will experience adrenaline rushes on a zip wire/high ropes course wherever it is located. Participants on a ropes and zip wires course are unlikely to pause to read interpretive panels and indeed they are encouraged to move on to avoid holding others up or resulting in too many people being on one platform or part of the course. They are unlikely to be paying significant attention to the intricacies of the quarry caverns or the connections between the quarry cavern and the cultural heritage and landscape of the area whilst they focus on placing their hands and feet in the right places, keep checks on whether they are clipped on properly and pluck up the courage to launch themselves off platforms against their instincts. This is in clear contrast to those activities that do display the attributes appropriate for National Parks. National Parks are for everyone, but this does not mean that National Parks are obliged to provide all types of activity for all preferences and tastes, regardless of appropriateness or impacts. It means that activities that meet and further the National Park purposes should be available and accessible to those who wish to do them. Activities such as fell walking/rambling, rock climbing, lake swimming, star gazing, wildlife watching and many more are dependent on and closely linked to, and involve immersion in and connection with, the special qualities and OUVs. The activity is therefore focused on interaction with the environment, rather than the focus being on an activity that merely takes place in an environment. The key difference then being that the environment-focused activities generate greater enjoyment and understanding of the special qualities and OUVs, and consequently an increased desire to protect these, furthering both the first and second purposes. Activities that are placed in, but unrelated to and devoid of any connection with the environment, do not achieve this. 23rd January 2024 We have issues a press release today citing our concerns about this planning application and we are now inviting people to join us in writing to the Lake District National Park Authority to raise their concerns. This is a National Park not a Theme Park! Landscape charity Friends of the Lake District today announced that it will continue to oppose plans for a major visitor attraction at Elterwater Quarry, despite the changes the developer has made to the proposal. Plans for the ‘cavern explorer’ rope course and zip wires were re-submitted immediately before Christmas, after the initial proposal was rejected by the planning committee. Quarry owners Burlington Slate Ltd are working with Zip World, who operate 23 zipwire courses across the UK, to develop the adventure attraction. There has been widespread opposition to the plan, including from ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites), who are concerned that the proposal will damage aspects of the Lake District which underpin its status as a World Heritage Site. They’ve previously said the development is “…of a type that would transform the quarry or part of it into a theme park and would trivialise the experience of an important aspect of the Lake District’s heritage”. Will you join us in standing up for Elterwater again? We would urge anyone who has an interest in the Elterwater / Langdale area to take look at the plans and make their own views known. We will be making a written response and you can too. Click here to find out how> 90,000 people signed a petition against the pre-application proposal, which also included a ‘cavern coaster’. The proposal was refused by the planning committee largely due to the inadequacy of the travel plan (which describes how visitors are intended to get to the attraction). Friends of the Lake District’s position is that there is no justification for the adventure attraction, and that the new version of the proposal will still result in significant extra traffic through the already highly congested village of Elterwater. The charity’s CEO Michael Hill said: “Langdale is already one of England’s most iconic valleys, offering adventurous natural experiences and home to thriving businesses. There’s no evidence that Langdale will be enhanced by a major new attraction. The revised travel plan is entirely unrealistic. How many people are going to park 6 miles away, then get a mixture of boats, buses, and bikes to Elterwater? Everyone will end up driving there, adding even more congestion to the narrow roads in this remote community, harming tranquillity, and increasing carbon emissions. This is the wrong attraction, at the wrong time, in the wrong place”. With another zipwire proposal also re-emerging at Honister slate mine, these applications raise further questions about what sort of visitor attractions are appropriate for the Lake District. Friends of the Lake District says many of its members feel that ‘theme park’ type plans are exploiting the area, rather than enhancing it or complementing its special qualities. It’s thought that the revised Elterwater application will be considered at planning committee in March at the earliest. Friends of the Lake District says there’s growing local anger at the proposal and they’re urging people to submit their own response as soon as possible, using a special web page the charity has created. They’re also planning an event in the area ahead of the committee meeting. 12 January 2023 Just before Christmas, revised proposals were submitted for a visitor attraction at Elterwater Quarry. We and many others objected to the original plans due to potential impacts on the character and tranquillity of the area, World Heritage attributes and traffic. The plans were refused by the Lake District National Park Authority’s planning committee, who were not satisfied by the transport arrangements for the site. We remain opposed in principle to a major tourist attraction being established in a small remote community, which is already under huge visitor pressure. On initial review of the revised Travel Plan, we remain unconvinced by the measures proposed to address traffic impacts and ensure access to the site by sustainable transport. We will be submitting a response by the deadline of 31st January. To view the application and respond, search for planning reference 7/2023/5767 here 6th September 2023 Elterwater Quarry Adventure Attraction Rejected Proposals to build an adventure attraction in a former quarry at Elterwater in the Langdale Valley have been rejected by planners today, on grounds of traffic impacts. Landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District campaigned against the proposal, and their Planning Officer Lorayne Wall spoke at the planning meeting, along with Lakes Parish Council. As the Lake District is a World Heritage Site, ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites, an advisory body to UNESCO) also voiced deep concerns about the proposal, including that it would transform part of the quarry into a theme park, and would likely disrupt the tranquil character of Langdale and trivialise its heritage. Over 90,000 people had signed an online petition against the development, which previously included a 'Cavern coaster’ ride, (subsequently removed from the planning application). Friends of the Lake District Planning Officer Lorayne Wall said: ‘We’re very pleased that this application has been turned down today – Langdale is simply the wrong place for a visitor attraction of this type. The narrow winding lanes around Elterwater just cannot cope with a large influx of cars, coaches and people, which will impact upon its character and tranquillity.’ 29th August 2023 Some of you have been in touch seeking an update on the proposals for a tourism attraction at Elterwater Quarry. In July, documents were made available indicating the strong views of ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) and advising of their concerns about the impact of the plans on the World Heritage Site and stating that the proposal should not be progressed. The response of ICOMOS is not definitive but has to be factored into the decision by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA). It is quite rare for ICOMOS to take the step of responding to a planning application and we had expected it to be given significant weight. However, we are disappointed to learn that the plans are being recommended for approval. We will continue to challenge this proposal and will speak at the planning committee meeting on September 6th. 27th February 2023 We have now submitted a written response to this planning application which you can read here: Elterwater Quarry Planning Response 27th February 2023 720235012.pdf Whilst we recognise the scaled-down nature of the proposals compared to the plans set out informally in 2022, we remain deeply concerned about several elements of this proposal. This includes the traffic, vehicle and visitor impacts on the tranquillity and rural character of the area, conflicts with net zero commitments set at national, Cumbrian and Lake District levels and the stated aims of the Lake District National Park Management Plan relating to sustainable travel. In particular, the need to significantly reduce use of the private car as a means of getting to, from and around the National Park. We also have concerns relating to several other aspects. We therefore object to the proposed development. You can view the plans for Elterwater Quarry by searching for reference 7/2023/5012 the Lake District National Park's planning webpage. You can submit your own comments to the Planning Authority by emailing [email protected], quoting reference 7/2023/5012 31st January 2023 Reaction to Elterwater Quarry Plans We recognise that plans for Elterwater Quarry have been scaled down, and no longer include an outdoor zip wire or ‘cavern coaster’ ride. The amount of car parking proposed on-site has also been reduced. However, we still have significant concerns, particularly about traffic and visitor numbers, but also other aspects such as biodiversity, future restoration of the site and a lack of information. Thank you to those of you that have been in touch with your thoughts and copies of your own responses to the proposal. These will help us to formulate the collective response from Friends of the Lake District, which we will be preparing over the coming week or so. Our response will be posted on our website as soon as it is available. You can view the plans by searching for reference 7/2023/5012 the Lake District National Park's planning webpage. You can comment by emailing [email protected], quoting reference 7/2023/5012 Update 23rd January 2023 We have now undertaken an initial review of the planning application. The proposals represent a significant scaling down compared to those presented informally last year and they no longer include an outdoor zip wire or ‘cavern coaster’ ride. The amount of car parking proposed on-site has also been dramatically reduced. The proposals now comprise: Continuation of some slate extraction/stone (re)working /processing Scaled down parking area (35 visitor and 4 staff spaces, plus 3 coach spaces), with some landscaping to the northern boundary of the parking area Bike storage area and e-bike charging points Use of the underground caverns (where the ‘cavern coaster’ was proposed) for an ‘on-foot’ ‘cavern explorer’ experience entirely within the caverns Use of the existing buildings, with some repairs and improvements, for activities such as slate working demonstrations, area for school/educational groups, small visitor centre etc. “Limited food and beverage” provision Small visitor centre Outdoor area dedicated to heritage interpretation, including outdoor natural history trail Retaining the existing PRoW route The proposal nevertheless still raises some important questions and concerns relating to: The vehicle and visitor numbers to the site and the resulting impacts on the already busy local roads and existing parking issues, as well as tranquillity and local character. The apparent lack of a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and any detail regarding lighting The indication in the application that the proposal will be exempt from the requirement to provide 10% biodiversity net gain. The previous planning consent on the site for the “Formation of visitor attraction in association with the operation of a slate quarry” (7/2008/5604) and whether or not this remains valid. The extent of the continuation of stone extraction at the site and how this and the current proposals relate to the earlier planning condition requiring them to restore the site once quarrying operations cease. What potential expansion might be planned for the future and whether this would require further planning permission – proposals cannot be refused on the basis of what ‘might’ be planned at a later date, and objections on this basis will carry very limited, if any, weight. However, consideration does need to be given to whether anything further could happen without additional planning consent and whether this can be controlled, for example, through a planning condition. A huge number of responses has already been submitted, however many of these make specific reference to objecting to theme park rides and / or zip wires, despite these no longer being part of the proposals. We would urge anyone who has an interest in the Elterwater / Langdale area to take look at the plans and make their views known. The deadline for responses that we have been advised of is 10th February. We will make our response available here as soon as it is available. You can view the plans by searching for reference 7/2023/5012 on the Lake District National Park's planning webpage. Update 12 January 2023 We are aware that the Elterwater quarry application has now been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority. We need to assess its impact on the landscape of the Elterwater area before we can make a public statement about it. You can view the plans by searching for reference 7/2023/5012 on the Lake District National Park's planning webpage. 21 July 2022 Elterwater Quarry Update Members and supporters continue to get in touch with us to let us know their views on the proposals for a Zip World development at Elterwater Quarry. Thank you again to everyone who has been in touch. Almost exclusively, views are focused on concerns about traffic impacts, impacts on local character, views, tranquillity and biodiversity and this is reflected by the fact that over 54,000 people have now signed ZipOff’s petition against the plans! What you can do A planning application has not yet been submitted to the National Park planning authority so we would ask that you refrain from contacting the National Park directly at this stage. You can still make your concerns heard and let Burlington Stone know that these plans are inappropriate at this location by taking any of the following actions: Sharing and replying to our Facebook and Twitter posts about the plans @FriendsofLakes https://twitter.com/FriendsofLakes https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheLakeDistrict Signing the petition Writing to Burlington Stone themselves to let them know your views - https://elterwaterquarry.co.uk/contact/ If you live locally, writing to Lakes Parish Council, your local Councillor and/or your local MP to let them know your views Letting us know your views if you have not done so already, as this will help to inform our response when a formal consultation takes place, email us: [email protected] Send us your images: We need images of Elterwater and the surrounding area so that can show people just what is at stake. Submit your images> You can help our specialist staff continue to challenge unsuitable developments like Elterwater Quarry by donating to our Planning for the Future Appeal. We don’t know when to expect an application, but we will use all comments received to help inform our response. A really important factor in determining this case will be that the planning consent for Elterwater Quarry’s current operations is subject to a condition that the site be restored once operations cease, therefore the restored site is the baseline against which the Zip World proposals must be assessed. Another will be whether the proposal has the potential to constitute major development, which is only permitted in National Parks in exceptional circumstances, and where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest. This includes consideration of whether it could have a significant adverse impact on the purposes for which the area has been designated. View the Lake District National Park's Elterwater Quarry page Note on Change.org:Friends of the Lake District has no connection at all to Change.org, which is a for-profit business and one of several that hosts online petitions. It is the hosting site used by the local group that started the Zip Off Langdale petition. Change.org operates by asking people who sign any petition to ‘chip in’, which in turns funds the service they provide. This includes helping to share the petition to increase its reach but the money does not, to our knowledge, go direct to helping the individual cause in any other way. There is no obligation to contribute to Change.org and we have not, at any point, suggested anybody should do so. Update 22 June 2022 We asked for your views on an ‘adventure tourism experience’ at Elterwater Quarry. This has been proposed by quarry operators Burlington Stone in partnership with Zip World.Many of you have since been in touch (thank you!), and without exception have expressed deep concern about the plans, which involve a zip wire, ropes courses, an ‘alpine coaster toboggan-style ride and extensive car-parking. Over 30,000 people have also signed an online petition against the proposal. The main concerns raised to us are the traffic and the inappropriateness of this type of attraction in such a rural location near a small village in the Langdale valley, in the heart of the Lake District. Impacts on local character, tranquillity views from surrounding fells, biodiversity and public rights of way have also been highlighted. This type of proposal further adds to concern that our National Park remains very much at risk of becoming a theme park. Find out more, including how you can have your say here. What you can do No application has yet been submitted, but you can make your views known by: • Sharing and replying to our Facebook and Twitter posts about the plans @FriendsofLakes https://twitter.com/FriendsofLakes https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheLakeDistrict • Signing the petition• Writing to Burlington Stone themselves to let them know your views - https://elterwaterquarry.co.uk/contact/• If you live locally, writing to Lakes Parish Council, your local Councillor and/or your local MP to let them know your views• Letting us know your views if you have not done so already, as this will help to inform our response when a formal consultation takes place, email us: [email protected]• Send us your images: We need images of Elterwater and the surrounding area so that can show people just what is at stake. Submit your images> You can help our specialist staff continue to challenge unsuitable developments like Elterwater Quarry by donating to our Planning for the Future Appeal. The main concerns among those against the plans are the traffic and the inappropriateness of a theme-park type attraction in such a rural location near a small village in the Langdale valley, in the heart of the Lake District.Elterwater is popular as a location to visit in its own right and as a starting point for walks, so the village itself and the narrow, winding local lanes already suffer the impacts of high levels of traffic and parking problems, including on the surrounding Common Land (Common Land is one of the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value for which the Lake District was designated a World Heritage Site). While removing the currently relatively low levels of quarry traffic from the roads, this proposal would see a huge rise in private cars and coaches passing through the village to access the site. Local businesses in the valley already have to bring in staff from distant towns, due to the lack of a more local workforce, so this would add further to the traffic generated by the development.Although the site itself is a brownfield site - a former quarry - there will be an impact on the landscape character and tranquillity of the area as a result of traffic increases and the nature and level of the activity. There will be an impact on views of the valley from surrounding fells (including open access land) and on the public right of way that currently runs through the quarry itself.While people have been walking on the path through the quarry for many years, slate is nevertheless a natural feature of the landscape and the quarrying of it a centuries-old industry that has shaped the landscape and its communities. Walking through a modern visitor attraction with rides, assault courses, car parks and throngs of people would be a totally different experience and not one that people are usually looking for when they visit Langdale or any part of the National Park. Nor is it an appropriate way of giving an understanding of the hard work and riving hands of Lakeland’s quarrymen or their contribution to and connection with the landscape and local vernacular.The scaling-back of quarrying operations in the Lake District is in line with the conditions made by ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) and UNESCO when the National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 2017. However, planning consents given for Elterwater quarry as recently as 2021 were subject to a restoration condition, meaning that the operator was expected to carry out a restoration scheme to enhance the local landscape and wildlife habitats once quarrying at the site had ceased. The restored site should be the baseline against which the proposal and its impacts are assessed.The site is also adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a County Wildlife Site and close to ancient woodland, so we are also concerned about impacts on biodiversity and the loss of opportunities to enhance it.We continue to ensure that the Lake District is protected from developments that would damage its fabric, its character and its integrity. That it is loved but not exploited. That we and those who follow us can continue to enjoy it and can better understand it. This must surely be possible without also sacrificing it to commercialism. After all, it’s the landscape, in all its glory that’s the real attraction, isn’t it? If you can, please help us continue to protect the Lake District from harmful developments. Donate to our Planning for the Future Appeal today. 30 March 2022 Plans are emerging for the significant redevelopment of Elterwater Quarry. Burlington Stone are proposing to develop an adventure tourism experience and interpretation facility at Elterwater Quarry. We are glad to have been identified by Burlington Stone Ltd. as a specific consultee in relation to these proposals as this will help us to ensure that the landscape and natural environment and the views of our members and supporters are taken into account as the project moves forward. We have already had an informal discussion on-site with Burlington and have highlighted some initial thoughts and potential areas of concern to them, including traffic generation and management, how biodiversity and rights of way might be incorporated and of course, how the proposal will fit within the landscape. We can expect a planning application in the coming months. Read more about what the proposal might involve on www.elterwaterquarry.co.uk – we would be interested to hear your thoughts, email: [email protected] Image credit: Burlington Stone.
Claire Coburn Fundraising and Supporter Relations Manager Expand I am Fundraising and Supporter Relations Manager, responsible for all things fundraising, which enable my incredible colleagues to carry out the important work of protecting and enhancing Lake District and Cumbrian landscapes. I have over 28 years’ experience in fundraising, which began as a regeneration consultant back in my home city of Liverpool. I then managed the fundraising team within the Economic Regeneration Office at Wigan Council before moving into the charity sector, where I have worked for several national charities including Street League and OnSide Youth Zones. Having lived around the country, I am now happily settled in Cumbria where I have been a regular visitor since childhood and proud to be part of a team that is passionate about protecting this unique, important, and breathtaking landscape. Away from work, I can regularly be found hiking, swimming, paddleboarding and cycling. I’m a yoga nut and I’m trying to learn Welsh, but my greatest passions are my cat Albie, and labradors Sandi and Bruce!
Plans for Roanhead holiday lodge resort return A revised planning application has been submitted for the development of a holiday lodge park at Roanhead on the Furness coast. The number of lodges has been reduced but the proposal remains huge, and will still result in significant harm to this sensitive area. Expand For the latest information and updates on this development, visit our separate Campaign section> Update 8th February 2024 A revised planning application has been submitted for the development of a holiday lodge park at Roanhead on the Furness coast. The number of lodges has been reduced but the proposal remains huge, and will still result in significant harm to this sensitive area. Previous responses won’t count, so we need your help again to challenge the plans. A response template to help you can be found here Read our response (Feb 2024) here, and the Appendix here Update 27th Sept 2023We are aware that a further proposal on land adjacent the 450-lodge Roanhead development is afoot. It comprises 62 lodges, 40 touring caravan/motorhome/ camper pitches and visitor facilities.At this stage, it is a screening request, meaning the landowner/developer Queensland County Park Ltd. is just asking for Westmorland & Furness Council’s view on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required for such a proposal. We continue to work with other relevant organisations and the local community, including the Save Roanhead group, and will give further updates, once we have had chance to see the proposals and consider next steps – we will need to carefully consider the relationship between this and the larger proposal already under consideration. Keep up to date here Update 17th July 2023 Challenge to Roanhead plans continues – there’s still time to comment! We are pleased to hear that many people have submitted objections to plans for a 450-lodge holiday resort at Roanhead – a sensitive stretch of the Furness coastline. Together with the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the Woodland Trust and many local people, we have now submitted our strong objection to the scheme. Read Our Response here and a review of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment hereAlthough the official deadline has now passed, there is still chance to have your say, as we have had confirmation from the council that responses will still be accepted.Please do consider joining us in speaking up for this special area – even a brief email to the council [email protected] will help!Find out more: https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/roanhead-response-guidance 6th April 2023 Concern continues to grow around plans for a 450-lodge holiday park at Roanhead, a much-valued stretch of the Furness coastline. The developer has now released some feedback from their own consultation, which shows that less than 30% of respondents have a positive opinion of the proposals and that biodiversity impacts and landscape/visual impacts ranked highly amongst the concerns raised.Thank you to everyone who has submitted photographs of the area to help us demonstrate what’s at stake, which includes dramatic views, rare wildlife, sensitive habitats and a sense of wildness, space and tranquillity.Please do continue to let us know your thoughts on this proposal by emailing [email protected]We now know that a planning application can be expected during the week commencing 24th April. We will be making a written response, but we’d urge anyone with concerns about the plans to make their own response too. We’ll post guidance on doing so on our website. 17th February 2023 We reported last year on plans for a large holiday lodge park development, of 450 holiday lodges, close to the sensitive coastal dune habitats at Roanhead and Sandscale Haws, between Askam and Barrow in Furness. We now know that the developers are planning to submit a planning application by Easter 2023. See their plans here. The developers are currently collecting feedback via a short online survey which we would encourage you to complete. This will not negate the need to express your views to the council when the planning application is submitted as comments made now won’t be taken on board by the planners. However, completing the survey will serve to inform the proposals as the developer works towards a planning application, and the planning application may therefore be amended based on the feedback that you submit. Complete the survey at the link: https://roanhead.com/survey/ 12th February 2023 We reported last year on plans for a large lodge park development close to the sensitive coastal dune habitats at Roanhead and Sandscale Haws, between Askam and Barrow in Furness. We now know that the developers are planning to submit a planning application by Easter 2023. Along with other environmental organisations, we have substantial concerns about what this proposal might mean for the much-valued coastal landscape in this area. The following drop-in sessions are being held during February to enable people to find out more: Barrow in Furness: Wednesday 15th February 2023 – 12 to 3pm at The Forum Dalton: Wednesday 15th February 2023 – 5pm to 8pm at Dalton Council Chamber Askam: Thursday 16th February 2023 – 5pm to 8pm at Rankin Hall Image: Sandscale Haws, Duddon sands by Richard Murgatroyd
Redknot Campers Redknot Campers is a one stop shop for all your campervan needs. We aim to deliver campervan conversions and products that enable our customers to visit treasured destinations with as little impact on the planet as we can. Expand Redknot Campers is a one stop shop for all your campervan needs. In the market for an awesome campervan, that’s ready to roll? We sell those. Building your own dream camper and need a little helping hand with those hard to do jobs? We’ve got your back. Looking for the best campervan products to make your adventures that bit more comfortable and enjoyable? Our online store has a curated range of the best brands and products to customise your camper and take it to the next level. And at Redknot Campers we don't just aim to deliver Campervan conversions and products, we strive to ensure that our customers can visit treasured destinations with as little impact on the planet as they can. www.redknot.co.uk
Allithwaite and Cartmel Residents called to Neighbourhood Plan vote A local referendum on 29 February will decide whether a new Neighbourhood Plan for Allithwaite and Cartmel should be brought into force. We lobbied for policies in the plan to protect dark skies and restrict new-build properties in Cartmel to permanent homes only - a first for Cumbria. Expand A local referendum is to be held on 29th February 2024 to decide whether a new Neighbourhood Plan for Allithwaite and Cartmel should be brought into force as part of the statutory development plan for the area. Friends of the Lake District strongly supported and advised on the inclusion of policies in the plan to protect dark skies and restrict new-build properties in Cartmel to permanent homes only, so it is great news that these policies are in the final document. Friends of the Lake District welcomed the inclusion of policy to protect dark skies and made some recommendations in response to consultations as part of the plans’ preparation. As a result, we have ensured that the policy is robust and reflects the aims of the Dark Skies Cumbria project and our recently published Dark Skies Technical Advice Note. The plan also includes another policy we strongly supported requiring all new properties built in Cartmel to be subject to a principal residence policy, meaning they cannot be sold or used as second or holiday homes. Both these policies are ‘firsts’ for Cumbria – no existing local or neighbourhood plan has a dedicated policy on dark skies or a policy that implements a ‘principal residence’ restriction, so it’s a real step forward that we hope other parishes and planning authorities will follow. We’d urge any of our members and supporters that live in the parish to consider these policies when casting their vote on the plan. More detail on the referendum can be found here https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/planning-and-building/local-plan/neighbourhood-plans/allithwaite-and-cartmel-neighbourhood-plan/
Helen Howe Membership & Volunteering Lead – 3 days a week Expand My job includes everything to do with our fabulous volunteers and members. I’m the first point of call for all our membership and volunteering queries and I’m here to make sure all our supporters have a fulfilling time engaging with us. Away from work you will find me walking the fells with my dogs, Ollie & Luna and spending time with my family.
The Adventure Patch Company The Adventure Patch Company is a small, family-run British business that create hiking patches, pins and other gifts celebrating the UK hills and mountains, national parks, trails and outdoor challenges. Expand The Adventure Patch Company is a small, family-run British business that create hiking patches, pins and other gifts celebrating the UK hills and mountains, national parks, trails and outdoor challenges. Their ever-growing range of vintage-style patches includes the Lake District, Scotland, Wales, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Dartmoor and South Downs, which are available to buy online and from their local stockists in these areas. www.adventurepatch.co.uk
Troutbeck Housing Plans Rejected An appeal against the refusal of permission for 5 large houses at Troutbeck has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector, who found that the harm to the landscape and heritage significance could not be outweighed by the public benefits of the development. We worked closely with the community to challenge the proposals. Expand Update January 2024 Troutbeck Housing Plans Rejected We were pleased to learn just before Christmas that an appeal against the refusal of permission for 5 large houses at Troutbeck has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector, who found that the harm to the landscape and heritage significance could not be outweighed by the public benefits of the development. The site is identified as important for its special contribution to the landscape and settlement character of Troutbeck Conservation Area and we worked closely with the community to challenge the proposals. We have also worked closely with the community to challenge proposals impacting on another site identified as important for landscape and settlement character in the Troutbeck’ Conservation Area Management Plan. Four dwellings were proposed, again on a former orchard, close to two listed buildings, the Mortal Man hotel and Jawnie Wife House. This was later reduced to two dwellings, but the proposal nevertheless remained harmful to the character of Troutbeck and to the setting of the listed buildings. Troutbeck is highlighted as particularly special in terms of exhibiting many of the attributes for which the Lake District is designated a National Park and World Heritage Site. Although all the houses in these applications were proposed for local occupancy, it is vital that the meeting of housing needs is achieved in locations and ways that do not compromise the very characteristics that make the landscape, including the settlements that form part of it, so special. 2 February 2023 Housing at High Green Troutbeck Refused We are pleased to report that together with Lakes Parish Council and members of the local community, we have successfully challenged proposals for five large, luxury homes at High Green, at the northern end of Troutbeck. The proposals sought the development of an area identified in the Lake District National Park's own Conservation Area Management Plan for Troutbeck as important for its special contribution to landscape and settlement character. The site is also identified as a former orchard (priority habitat) and would have been accessed via Troutbeck’s historic lanes, requiring sections of these designated bridleways to be widened and tarmacked. This was the second time the proposals had been submitted, with the first being withdrawn. The revised plans altered the design of the new-build houses, to resemble 4 farmhouses with attached barns, along with another designed to look like a barn conversion, all clustered around a cul-de-sac. We successfully persuaded the committee to request a site visit and although the planning officer recommended approval, the majority of the planning committee agreed with our concerns. Following our speech and another by a local resident at planning committee on Wednesday 1 February, they refused the application by 6 votes to 4.
Honister Zipewire Plans Resurface A controversial planning consent for a zip wire attraction at Honister Slate Mine in 2018 was never implemented but now, revised proposals have been submitted. Expand 12 January 2023 A controversial planning consent for a zip wire attraction at Honister Slate Mine in 2018 was never implemented but now, revised proposals have been submitted. We are currently reviewing the revised plans and will respond in detail shortly. To view the application and make comments, search for planning reference 7/2023/2286 here>
Glover Landscape Review On the 29th November, the Government very quietly published their response and analysis to the Glover Landscapes Review consultation carried out last year. The implementation plan is extremely disappointing and not the transformational reform we hoped for, and that Julian Glover first proposed in 2019. Expand Update 8th December 2023 Glover Landscapes Review On the 29th November, the Government very quietly published their response and analysis to the Glover Landscapes Review consultation they carried out last year. The consultation followed the publication of the Glover Landscape Review in 2019, which comprehensively reviewed our National Parks and AONBs and provided the opportunity to create a new chapter for our protected landscapes. The consultation last year posed questions about changes to the legislative framework of Protected Landscapes, their role in environmental land management schemes and the planning system, and the potential for greater enforcement powers to manage visitor pressures. Read our full response from 8th April 2022 here. An analysis of the 15,112 responses has now been published along with the Government’s action plan for implementing the Landscape Review. We have waited a long time to see action; it’s been six years since the landscapes review was first announced by Government and four years since the review was published. However, the implementation plan is extremely disappointing and not the transformational reform we hoped for, and that Julian Glover first proposed in 2019. There are some positives. The recognition of the importance of management plans and strengthening the guidance to support consistency is also very welcome. As is the creation of a Protected Landscapes Partnership. The Government acknowledge that protected landscapes are essential to the nation’s health and wellbeing and that they will play a significant role in nature recovery. The announcement of a new national park for England and £15m of funding for protected landscapes will go some way to recovering nature. However, given the significant real terms cuts since 2010, protected landscapes will continue to struggle to deliver their purposes and benefits to people and nature. The disappointment is that there is no dedicated legislation to bring about change. The statutory purposes will not be strengthened and will not be reviewed to include nature recovery and climate change. Other omissions are how a sustainable transport pilot will be implemented in the Lake District and how to enable a ‘night under the stars’ in a protected landscape for every child, both of which were clear recommendations in the Glover Review. There is no mention of the Sandford Principle, which Friends of the Lake District had stressed needed to reviewed and guidance provided as to when and how it should be applied. Our recent National Park Societies’ Conference, with the theme of Sandford in the 21st Century, illustrated how important this would be to ensure our protected landscapes can deliver for nature and landscape into the future. Friends of the Lake District have also been campaigning for farmers to be paid for the full range of public benefits they provide – including food security, cultural heritage, biodiversity, access, health and wellbeing, and climate resilience. However, the new environmental land management schemes (ELMS) are failing to reward farmers for the cultural heritage they maintain and its benefits to people. We are also frustrated that there will be no legislative changes to address the issue of recreational driving on unclassified, unsealed roads, despite the majority of National Park Authorities, National Landscape (AONB) Teams, Local Authorities, environmental NGOs and residents of protected landscapes responding that legislation is required. We understand that Defra has instead set up a working group between National Parks and the recreational driving community to develop a criteria for unsuitable routes. We hope to be able to feed into this process, to ensure all user groups’ views are represented. The Glover Landscapes Review as published in 2019 was exciting and ambitious. However, with no dedicated legislation or review of the statutory purposes, this has been a lost opportunity to bring about significant changes that would have put protected landscapes at the centre of climate change solutions, nature recovery and the health and wellbeing of the nation. The Government’s analysis of the consultation responses and action plan is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-implementing-the-review/outcome/implementing-the-landscapes-review-summary-of-responses Update 12th April 2022 In January, the Government published a series of proposals in response to an independent review of England’s National Parks and AONBs, led by Julian Glover. On April 8th we submitted a full written response to these proposals. Read/download our full written response here> Our submitted response in summary: We applaud the Government’s proposals that our protected landscapes should be available to all and that nobody should feel excluded. While this needs balancing with managing visitor pressure, we are extremely supportive of ensuring our protected landscapes are inclusive and we would urge Government to emphasise this within its ‘levelling up’ agenda. To truly ‘level up’, people need access to cheap, reliable public transport. Among Government proposals is a sustainable transport pilot in Cumbria to develop new sustainable ways to access the Lake District National Park. This has the potential to transform public transport in the area and provides a huge opportunity to improve transport for Cumbrian communities and visitors alike, enabling those without a private car to access the wider landscape for recreation and providing access to employment opportunities for those living in local communities. It could also help to meet local climate change targets and ensure the impacts of tourism do not damage the landscape it relies upon. We have called for this sustainable transport pilot to be actioned as soon as possible to deliver the ‘levelling up’ agenda and help Cumbria recover from the economic effects of the Covid pandemic. It is now urging the Government to commit financial support and provide guidance to deliver a truly outstanding sustainable transport network in the Lake District. Alongside first-rate public transport, the charity believes that the people who work in the Lake District should be able to afford to live there. The issue of affordable housing and second homes is particularly acute in protected landscapes and the charity is disappointed that Government proposals have not provided any real solutions to the issue. Landscape sensitivity and a desire to live in the National Park means that simply building more is even less appropriate than it is elsewhere and wants to see the Government develop a unique approach for our protected landscapes. In further support of our remit to ‘secure a landscape that is accessible and enjoyed by all’ we would like to see every child in Cumbria given the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of spending time in its National Parks and AONBs. In our original response to the Glover Review, we recommended introducing designated landscapes into the national curriculum and providing opportunities for all children to visit a designated landscape. Whilst we welcomed a subsequent Government proposal to support capacity building in schools to help young people engage with nature, we would like to see the Government go further and take forward a proposal in the Glover Review to introduce ‘a night under the stars’ in a protected landscape for every child. The response from Government and associated consultation is long overdue. It is therefore essential that the Government is ambitious. We need to see some immediate action to bring lasting change and remove the barriers that prevent people enjoying and benefitting from the special landscapes of Cumbria. Policy paper: Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): government responsewww.gov.uk/government/publications/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response Update 30 March 2022 One week left to respond to the Government’s consultation on the Landscapes Review The Government is seeking the public’s views on its response to the Glover Landscapes Review, published on 15th January. Friends of the Lake District is producing a detailed response for the consultation and we encourage others that live in, work in or visit protected landscapes to do the same. The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 9 April 2022. There are several questions focusing on specific aspects of the Government’s response: The proposed changes to the statutory purposes for protected landscapes The development of the new environmental land management scheme The management of visitor pressure and potential enforcement powers The use of unsealed roads by recreational vehicles The role of AONB teams in planning Proposed changes to the boards of protected landscapes The role of public bodies and strengthening their statutory duties There is also a final section asking if respondents have any further comments about other aspects of the Government’s proposals. We will publish our own a detailed response here soon, but in the meantime you may like to refer to our summary response at the link below to help inform your own response. This highlights the aspects that we believe are most important for the protected landscapes in Cumbria and also provides a link to the consultation for you to submit your own personal response. Summary response highlighting aspects we believe are most important for the protected landscapes in Cumbria> Update 21 January 2022 We have had some time now to digest the Government’s response to the Landscapes Review. We will provide a more in-depth response to the consultation soon, but our initial thoughts are that whilst there is some good news, there is little detail and some key recommendations from the Glover Review are missing. The Government agreed with the Glover review that we need stronger Governance and national leadership with more collaboration between our protected landscapes. However, Government does not propose establishing a new body, instead they will ensure existing partners work together more effectively through a new national landscapes partnership. Whilst the details of this have not been outlined, there is concern that a new landscapes partnership would not have the capacity, resources or independence to fully deliver the strong leadership that is required. We are particularly disappointed that there has not been a commitment to the multi-year funding agreements suggested by the Glover Review. The Government recognises that the core grant will not be sufficient for the work that needs to be done. They therefore propose a new funding model with more diverse sources of funding, such as private finance for nature-based solutions and a role for the new landscapes partnership to harness commercial and sponsorship opportunities. This does not provide protected landscapes with the certainty they need to plan ahead. There is also concern that private investors could influence management decisions or that they use their investment to offset their environmental impact elsewhere. We welcome the proposals to strengthen the statutory purposes and align the purposes of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is no specific wording proposed, but the Government recommends that the first purpose should include driving nature recovery as a core function of protected landscapes. They propose that it encompasses a wider range of societal benefits from nature, and there is specific reference to biodiversity and natural capital. Friends of the Lake District is disappointed that the Government has not recognised the importance of landscape and landscape character. It is the landscape that provides us with all the benefits that the Government want our protected landscapes to deliver. Landscape is the dynamic backdrop to our lives. It is the relationship between nature and culture, and encompasses biodiversity, geodiversity, cultural and natural heritage, along with all the health and wellbeing benefits of being immersed in the landscape. Its recognition will ensure the landscape continues to provide us with these benefits. Improving access to protected landscapes and addressing the current inequality in those accessing the landscape is seen as a priority. Whilst this needs balancing with managing visitor pressure, we are extremely supportive of ensuring our protected landscapes are accessible to all. With no commitment to funding, however, it will be challenging for protected landscapes to deliver the long-term engagement activities required to increase the diversity of people using the landscape. There is also no mention of the Glover Review’s recommendation to introduce a night under the stars for every child in a protected landscape. The Government has recognised the additional pressures seen in protected landscapes since the Glover review as a result of the pandemic and there are proposals for greater enforcement, making a greater range of enforcement powers available to National Park Authorities to help manage visitor pressures. it also wants to develop new sustainable ways to access the Lake District National Park that may transform public transport in the area and become a blueprint for other landscapes. Friends of the Lake District would be very keen to support this. Friends of the Lake District will continue to scrutinise the Government’s suggestions and will work with our partners to develop our response to the consultation. The consultation is open until the 9 April 2022 and we would urge everyone to provide their views. Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): government response - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Update 15th January 2022 Government’s response to the Glover Landscape Review and associated consultation Friends of the Lake District welcome the much anticipated response from the Government to the Glover Landscape Review and the opportunity to respond to their consultation. We will provide an in-depth response once we have considered the Government’s proposals in more detail. The Government’s independent review of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), led by Julian Glover, was published in October 2019. It was an ambitious report that largely agreed with many of our recommendations and we are pleased to see the Government supporting some of these. However, we will need to scrutinise the detail of the proposals to ensure they are ambitious enough to deliver the action that is urgently required. One of our key recommendations to the Glover Review was to establish a strong central co-ordination body to provide strategic direction to protected landscapes. Any proposals should provide a stronger system of governance and ensure consistency, accountability and a voice to champion designated landscapes at government level. Another key ambition of Friends of the Lake District is to better involve and educate children and young people about national parks. We were very supportive of the Glover Review’s recommendation to allow every child to experience a night under the stars in a protected landscape and we are very keen to explore ideas for better engaging young people. Friends of the Lake District welcome proposals to extend and designate new protected landscapes. Central to this should be plans to address the complex and lengthy designation process as suggested by the Glover Review. We will continue to advocate for a southern boundary extension to the Lake District National Park and understand there will be opportunity for this to be considered in the future. The response from Government and associated consultation is long overdue. It is therefore essential that the Government are ambitious and maintain momentum to deliver lasting improvements that will secure the future of our protected landscapes. This will require protected landscapes to be sufficiently funded to allow them to deliver their purposes and benefits to the nation. Read the Government's full response to the Glover Landscapes Review here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/landscapes-review-national-parks-and-aonbs-government-response 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.
Whinlatter Zip Wires Proposal Friends of the Lake District submitted a brief response on 9th November 2023 stating that based on a revised application by the applicant which removed two very long, intrusive new zip wires, it no longer objected to this application on landscape grounds. Expand 20th November 2023 A revised application by the applicant on 1st November 2023 removes two very long, intrusive new zip wires above the tree line that had been proposed in the original application submitted on 24th March 2023. What is now proposed is a ropes course element that is contained within the trees and close to the existing ropes courses and visitor centre. Following correspondence with members of the community, Friends of the Lake District submitted a brief response on 9th November 2023 stating that based on these changes, it no longer objected to this application on landscape grounds and that it recognises the removal of the two long zip wires meant a lesser impact on new traffic generation. The new zipwires, which would have been significant separate attractions, detailed in the initial application were also a primary concern of residents, the Highways Authority, The British Horse Society and others too. Friends of the Lake District response 9th November 2023 (pdf) You can view the applicant's revised application submitted 1st November 2023 via the LDNPA Planning Portal by searching by reference number 7/2023/2195 Reporting in the Keswick Reminder this week has cited details from the applicant's original application and Friends of the Lake District's original response submitted on 25th April 2023. This information is out of date, and is superseded by the revised application submitted by the applicant on 1st November 2023 and Friends of the Lake District’s revised response submitted on 9th November 2023.
A66 Upgrade Consultation The landscape damage, loss of wildlife, severance of hedgerows and destruction of farmland that this road proposal will cause is of huge concern to us as a landscape charity. Expand Update 8th November 2023 The Secretary of State for Transport has extended the Development Consent Order decision for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project. The deadline for a decision to be made has been extended to 7 March 2024. Read more: A66 delay delivers a reprieve for the landscape and Cumbria's Net Zero Ambitions Update 6th September 2022 Friends of the Lake District is a membership organisation supported by 12000 members and supporters and is the representative for The Countryside Charity (CPRE) in Cumbria. It is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural beauty of Cumbria's landscapes for the benefit of our local communities, visitors, wildlife and Cumbria’s unique habitats. The landscape damage, loss of wildlife, severance of hedgerows and destruction of farmland that this road proposal will cause is of huge concern to us as a landscape charity and in particular, the section of road which will drive through the landscape north and east of Kirkby Thore and at Warcop where the road infractructure extends into the North Pennines AONB. The development of the road and the extra mileage around Kirby Thore and Warcop will increase the length of the road considerably resulting in a considerable loss of mature hedgerows and trees. This would have a major impact on habitats supporting wildlife such as bats, badgers and rare and threatened bird species as well as tranquillity and views into and out of the AONB. We are aware of the road’s poor record on safety, the traffic issues endured by many using the route and the importance and urgency of its improvement for the benefit of local people, visitors and the local economy. We believe however that these issues could be mitigated through junction improvements, changes to alignment and lower speed limits. Throughout the route evaluation process, we have made numerous requests to National Highways to look at upgrading junctions and building underpasses or bridges for farm and local traffic that needs to cross the main road to increase safety on the A66, rather than wholesale dualling it. We do not consider that the proposal has adequately assessed all the options - a legal requirement of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations - and we remain unclear as to why safety upgrades without dualling were not considered as part of the evaluation. Friends of the Lake District works with partners locally and nationally to research climate change impacts on the Cumbrian landscape and look for practical solutions to issues such as flood risk, erosion, carbon sequestration and changing agricultural methods. As a landscape charity, we have witnessed first-hand the impacts of flooding and severe weather events on Cumbria including impacts on our own land holdings. We raised money via an appeal providing the financial support to restore access to the landscape by helping to fund replacement bridges and the restoration of paths across the county as well as hands-on help with the clear up at Glenridding and Patterdale by Friends of the Lake District staff and volunteers following Storm Desmond. Figures from National Highways themselves demonstrate that the road will increase carbon emissions over the 60 year appraisal period by 3,308,479 extra tonnes of carbon (the fourth biggest emitting scheme in the Government’s roads programme). Upgrading this road will go a long way towards busting the UK’s carbon budget making it harder to meet the Government’s legally mandated carbon budgets, including reducing emissions by 78% by 2035 (sixth carbon budget), and 68% by 2030 (Paris Agreement). In summary: Our main areas of concern National Highways own evaluation of the project in their Environmental Statement indicates it is very poor value for money. The Benefit-Cost ratio is below 1, so for every £1 spent, there will only be 92p of “benefit” and this is before high inflation is taken into account. This is a questionable project to be brought forward and paid for by the public purse during a cost of living crisis, high interest rates and a recession when it does not even break even. The Department for Transport’s own evaluation cost-benefit ratio methodology shows that all the damage that the road will do to the landscape, wildlife, heritage and the negative impact it will have on people’s lives will not even bring an overall benefit. The Government’s own Planning Policy rules for major road upgrades states that damage to AONBs should only ever take place where the “benefits significantly outweigh the costs” No alternatives to improve safety have been explored; the plan from the Department for Transport has always been to dual the road. As detailed previously, the road could be made significantly safer through junction improvements, under/overpasses for farm and local traffic, speed limits and other measures that don’t involve driving a dual carriageway through open countryside The bridges, embankments, service roads and other infrastructure will cause damage to the landscape and setting of the North Pennines AONB There will be a considerable loss of tranquillity right along the road corridor due to increased traffic and faster vehicles There will be significant visual intrusion of major road infrastructure into open countryside. The development of the road and the extra milage around Kirby Thore and Warcop will cause a considerable loss of mature hedgerows, trees and other habitats. These habitats support wildlife such as bats, badgers and rare and threatened bird species. The upgraded road will induce extra traffic meaning that more and longer journeys will be taken, increasing carbon emissions and vehicle numbers. The principle of construction of a major road upgrade during a time of climate crisis when carbon reduction should be the primary consideration of government makes no sense at all. Carbon emissions from both construction and from increased traffic numbers and speeds will all add to the total of carbon emitted taking us further from net zero rather than bringing us towards the target. Update 24 August 2022 Friends of the Lake District registers with the Planning Inspectorate for the A66 Examination. Our initial representation to the A66 Upgrade Consultation is here – and will be followed later in the Examination process with more detailed written representations. 18 August 2022 The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project application has been accepted for Examination (like a public inquiry) by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). If you want to get involved and comment on the application or to give evidence at the Examination, you must register on the PINS website to do so. You must indicate why you want to be involved and can outline your concerns, in up to 500 words, in a text box on the registration page, here: A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project: register on PINS website The Environmental Statement is also available on the PINS website. Our main areas of concern are: National Highways evaluation of the project in their Environmental Statement indicates it is very poor value for money. The Benefit-Cost ratio is below 1, so for every £1 spent, there will only be 92p of “benefit” and this is before high inflation is taken into account. This is a questionable project to be brought forward and paid for by the public purse during a cost of living crisis, high interest rates and a recession when it does not even break even The Department for Transport’s own evaluation cost-benefit ratio methodology shows that all the damage that the road will do to the landscape, wildlife, heritage and the negative impact it will have on people’s lives will not even bring an overall benefit. No alternatives to improve safety have been explored; the plan from the Department for Transport has always been to dual the road. As detailed below, the road could be made significantly safer through junction improvements, under/overpasses for farm and local traffic, speed limits and other measures that don’t involve driving a dual carriageway through open countryside The bridges, embankments, service roads and other infrastructure will cause damage to the landscape and setting of the North Pennines AONB There will be a considerable loss of tranquillity in places due to increased traffic and faster vehicles There will be significant visual intrusion of major road infrastructure into open countryside The development of the road and the extra milage around Kirby Thore and Warcop will cause a considerable loss of mature hedgerows, trees and other habitats. These habitats support wildlife such as bats, badgers and rare and threatened bird species. The upgraded road will induce extra traffic meaning that more and longer journeys will be taken, increasing carbon emissions The principle of construction of a major road upgrade during a time of climate crisis when carbon reduction should be the primary consideration of government makes no sense at all. Carbon emissions from both construction and from increased traffic numbers and speeds will all add to the total of carbon emitted taking us further from net zero rather than bringing us towards the target. 1st February 2022 We have today submitted comment to the project director A66 Highways detailing what we consider to be the inadequacies of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Upgrade Consultation. The full document can be viewed at the link. Our concluding comments detailed in this letter follow. Friends of the Lake District Inadequacies of A66 Consultation letter to National Highways (pdf) Conclusions: a. National Highways should not proceed with a DCO planning application until they have consulted properly and are clear which option is being progressed, and consult on those proposals. b. National Highways should have put forward an option to improve the safety of the A66 through junction upgrades, underpasses and bridges and use of average speed cameras without making the road a dual carriageway. We want to know why this option was not considered. c. 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, people and wildlife. Implementation of this scheme would lead to significant damaging impacts on the natural capital of Cumbria and the North Pennines. This damage would include harm to protected landscapes, loss of and damage to habitats, severing of wildlife corridors, loss of flora and fauna, increases in noise, light and air pollution; local community severance and issues with flooding and run-off. d. The extra traffic from the eight schemes would increase carbon emissions by up to 3 million tonnes over the lifetime of the scheme (Table 7-2 in the GHG Emissions Assessment Appendix) e. The emissions resulting from the construction of the scheme would cause up to 1.4 million extra tonnes of carbon (Table 7-1 in the GHG Emissions Assessment Appendix) f. In total the scheme would lead to an increase of up to 4.4 million extra tonnes of carbon from extra traffic and the construction process. This is completely unacceptable in a climate emergency, and takes us further away from reaching our 68% cut by 2030 required under the Paris Agreement.g. It is unacceptable that consultees and the public were asked to assess this scheme without being provided with photomontages. A fly through over an inaccurately rendered cartoon depiction of the landscape at 50m height does not provide the information needed as it does not represent how people see the landscape. h. We have serious concerns about the sections from Temple Sowerby to Appleby (particularly at Kirkby Thore) and Appleby to Brough where the road goes into the North Pennines AONB. Please take these representations as coming from Friends of the Lake District, CPRE Cumbria Branch. 10th November 2021 Friends of the Lake District responded to the National Highways consultation on the upgrade of the A66. We raised concerns over the impact of the road on the landscape around Kirkby Thore, and in the setting of the North Pennines AONB, around loss of and damage to wildlife, and we also raised concerns about the huge amount of carbon emissions that the road will incur both in construction and use. You can read our response here. 15th October 2021 The A66 Upgrade East of Penrith damages the North Pennines AONB, harms wildlife and flouts the Government’s carbon budget National Highways (formerly Highways England) are consulting on building a new dual carriageway road along the boundary of the North Pennines AONB through some of the county’s most beautiful landscapes. Friends of the Lake District is concerned that the proposals to make the road “safer” are actually an excuse to make the entire road a dual carriageway, encouraging the use of this unique landscape as a rat-run for HGVs to cross the country. The landscape damage, loss of wildlife, severance of hedgerows and destruction of farmland that this road proposal will cause is of huge concern to us as a landscape charity covering the whole county of Cumbria. We have particular issues with the section of the road which will drive through the landscape north and east of Kirkby Thore. This increases the length of the road significantly, impacting on wildlife habitats, tranquillity and views into and out of the AONB. Of great concern are figures from the National Highways themselves which demonstrate that the road will increase carbon emissions over the 60 year appraisal period by 3,308,479 extra tonnes of carbon (the fourth biggest emitting scheme in the Government’s roads programme). This is just the total for the additional traffic caused by the scheme, and does not include the carbon emissions caused by the construction of the road (materials, land loss, trees felled etc). Upgrading this road will go a long way towards busting the UK’s carbon budget making it harder to meet the Government’s legally mandated carbon budgets, including reducing emissions by 78% by 2035 (sixth carbon budget), and 68% by 2030 (Paris Agreement). Throughout the route evaluation process, Friends of the Lake District has been asking for National Highways to look at upgrading junctions and building underpasses for farm traffic to increase safety on the A66, rather than wholesale dualling it. We are aware of the road’s poor record on safety, but know that these issues could be addressed through junction improvements, changes to alignment and lower speed limits. However, National Highways have not even looked at this option in their appraisal of the route, solely fixating on dualling the whole road. On this basis we do not consider that the proposal has actually adequately assessed all the options which is a legal requirement of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and we will be pushing for more information on why safety upgrades without dualling were never considered. You can see and respond to the proposals here https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/a66-northern-trans-pennine/ Consultation closes on 4th November 2021.
Thirlmere West Road closure On 10 November Cumberland Council granted approval of a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order on the Thirlmere West Road, which was temporarily closed in 2021 following damage by storm Arwen. We continue to work to put pressure on United Utilities and Cumberland Council to reopen the road to walkers and cyclists as soon as possible. Expand Update 16 November 2023 Proposed permanent restrictions on Thirlmere west roadOn Friday 10th November Cumberland Council granted approval of a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on the Thirlmere West Road. The road has been temporarily closed since 2021 following damage caused by storm Arwen at Rough Crag. United Utilities is responsible for ensuring Rough Crag is safe, but in the two years since the road has been closed a solution to the perceived safety risk has not yet been found. The temporary Traffic Regulation Order cannot be extended any further and therefore Cumberland Council has made the decision to approve a permanent closure.As a landscape charity, access to the landscape by foot or on bicycle or horse is one of our priorities. At the beginning of August Friends of the Lake District therefore responded to an informal consultation on proposals to implement permanent traffic restrictions stating that we would object to any permanent restrictions that prevent access for cyclists, walkers and horse riders wanting to enjoy this significant part of the lakeshore. We repeated this view in the formal consultation process in September. We wrote a legal letter to Cumberland Council informing it of the legal implications of closing the road and highlighting that the law does not allow a TRO to be enforced on horse riders. We also helped to publicise the public rally protesting against the continued closure of the road to walkers and cyclists at Thirlmere on 5th November to all our members and supporters. We do not believe there has been sufficient consideration of a solution to secure the area during the last nearly 2 years. Throughout the process we have been concerned that implementing a permanent TRO would severely hinder the discussions and reduce the impetus to find a solution.Despite the decision from Cumberland Council, we understand that it is committed to reopening the road once works have been carried out to make it safe. It has issued United Utilities with a section 151 notice which forces United Utilities to carry out the works within 28 days. We are very concerned that now the TRO has been approved, there will be less urgency for United Utilities to carry out the necessary work. Indeed, following the approval of the permanent TRO, United Utilities has appealed the Section 151 notice due to the time constraints and requiring Natural England’s approval for any works. We will continue to work with other organisations, such as the Open Spaces Society, to put pressure on United Utilities and Cumberland Council to reopen the road to walkers and cyclists as soon as possible. We are in regular talks with all concerned parties, including United Utilities, to try to help bring the matter to a positive conclusion. 7 September 2023 At the beginning of August Friends of the Lake District responded to an informal consultation on proposals to implement permanent traffic restrictions on the U7003 road along the western shore of Thirlmere. The road was temporarily closed in 2021 following damage caused by storm Arwen at Rough Crag. However a solution to the safety risk has not yet been found and Cumberland Council are now carrying out a statutory consultation on the proposals for permanent restrictions. Friends of the Lake District will be objecting to any permanent restrictions that prevent access for cyclists, walkers and horse riders wanting to enjoy a significant part of the lakeshore. We also believe the route should be capable of being opened to all road traffic, in the event that the A591 on the other shore becomes blocked again by flooding or landslide. We do not believe there has been sufficient consideration of a solution to secure the area during the last nearly 2 years. Whilst we understand that discussions are still ongoing with United Utilities (the landowner) to establish a solution, a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will severely hinder these discussions and reduce the impetus to find a solution. The official notice is available on the council website alongside notices for other proposed traffic restrictions in Keswick. https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/streets-roads-and-pavements/road-maintenance-closures-and-improvements/proposed-traffic-regulation-orders-tros If you wish to comment on the proposals, you should write to Traffic Management Officer at Cumberland Highways or email [email protected] quoting reference KTRO/23/PNG not later than 22 September 2023. Please note any responses received during the informal consultation process will not be taken forward as part of the statutory consultation process.
Loughrigg Meadow Ambleside Housing proposals This proposal was approved by the Lake District National Park Authority’s planning committee on 1st November. The site was allocated for development in the local plan, but we are disappointed that the proposal was approved without amendments to reduce density or to make it more in line with their policies on affordable housing. Expand Update 7th November 2023 We are disappointed that this proposal was approved by the Lake District National Park Authority’s planning committee on 1st November. This site is allocated for development in the local plan, but we are particularly disappointed that the authority allowed the proposal to go ahead without amendments to reduce the density and make it more closely in line with their strong policies on affordable housing. The reasoning given for this was that despite being allocated in the previous local plan too, no viable proposal has been put forward that would fully meet the policy requiring the first 5 houses on a site to be local occupancy and any beyond that to be affordable. 24th November, 2022 We have responded to proposals for 40 new properties to be built on land off Loughrigg Meadow in Ambleside.Although the site is allocated for development in the Lake District Local Plan, meaning that the principle of housing development here has already been approved, the plans far exceed the c.28 dwellings expected and contain far fewer affordable homes than are required by local planning policy. We are concerned that the high density of the development has resulted in an urban and car-dominated layout that will not reflect the character of Ambleside and that it will impact negatively on views and the adjacent public right of way and Scheduled Monument.Local people have also raised concerns. You can read our response here. See also the Lake District National Park Authority's policy requirements for the site.
Telecoms Mast Applications - is the tide of masts turning? The Government’s drive to speed the roll out of 5G has led to a steady stream of mast applications in the Lake District in recent years. While our communities need good connectivity, the Lake District deserves better than the ill-thought through proposals that have dominated applications submitted for masts so far. Expand Update 31st October 2023 Tide of masts turning??? You may not be surprised to learn, given our recent coverage of the topic, that in the Lake District, there has been an average of more than one telecommunications mast proposal per month this year! We are pleased to report though that it does seem that the message is being heard that whilst our communities need good connectivity, the Lake District deserves better than the ill-thought through proposals that have dominated the applications submitted for masts so far. In fact, none of the last 12 mast proposals we have challenged have been approved on their first iteration. You may also be aware that due to the low level of regard many of the applications have had for landscape character and factors such as appropriate access and impacts on tranquillity, we have felt it necessary to respond to almost all the mast proposals submitted. In most cases we have had to point out multiple shortfalls in the applications, whether that be inaccurate, conflicting or false information, limited consideration of alternative sites or a narrow-in-scope (or completely absent) landscape and visual impact assessment. It is important to point out that in most cases too, members of the community closest to the mast in question have also objected to the mast proposals, along with other organisations, including the National Trust, Parish Councils and Commoners Associations. Often the community has said they are happy with the existing level of connectivity and/or that they feel the harm the mast could do, whether visually, to local character or due to frequent fuel deliveries for example, is not outweighed by the benefits of often limited additional connectivity. The masts are generally proposed in very remote areas, where there are few residents or businesses to benefit. This is because the Government’s roll out of the scheme to ensure almost 100% coverage has already reached most areas and so only the most remote are left. This in turn means that the locations proposed are hardest to access and in particularly sensitive areas tend to be largely free from modern, man-made structures. It also often means that the public benefits are limited to those passing through the area. The area to benefit from coverage as a result of the mast proposed at Caldbeck common recently only had one building in it – a walkers’ hostel. As we have highlighted previously, mast proposals are often planned to be powered by diesel generators (again, because their remote locations would make mains connections tricky) and the impacts of this, including noise and fuel deliveries tend to be ignored or lacking detail in applications. Watch video of a diesel powered telecoms mast at Hartsop. The LDNPA has taken heed of our concerns and our efforts (along with that of others) to challenge inappropriate mast proposals are generating results. Of the 11 most recent mast proposals we have responded to in the Lake District and a twelfth that was in the Cumbria part of the Yorkshire Dales: Four were withdrawn. Two remain live, although we have been made aware of revised plans for one of these in a different, less prominent location. One has been refused and replaced with a shorter monopole design that has now been approved. Five have been refused, one of these is now subject to a revised application in a different, more carefully considered location, another is at appeal, and a third was appealed but the appeal was turned down on landscape grounds – this is really important as it provides case law to show that mast proposals will not simply be waved through because they are part of a Government scheme and that landscape harms will be given significant weight against purported benefits. Another was withdrawn just as we were about to submit our response. We fully expect to see further mast proposals as revised applications come in for those proposals that have been withdrawn or refused, but we really hope that because of strong challenge from the LDNPA, communities, ourselves and other organisations, the tide is beginning to turn. Rather than the ‘copy and paste’ responses we have become used to, we hope that the next round of proposals will be more carefully thought through, with more detailed consideration of alternatives and impacts, including those relating to access and power supply. It remains the case that technological advances that are already taking place may reduce or avoid the need for masts in the near future and we’d still urge for rural areas, and protected landscapes in particular to be prioritised in making use of these in order to minimise landscape harm whilst ensuring rural homes, businesses and visitors have the connectivity they need. But in the meantime, we’re pleased to have played a part in the progress made so far in ensuring the Lake District’s landscapes are properly taken into account when telecommunications masts are planned. Update 28th July 2023 Yet More Masts! With no fewer than 5 mast proposals appearing on our list of applications to look at in July, we continue to be concerned by the influx of proposals for new telecommunications masts. Whilst connectivity in rural areas is important, many of the applications we have seen lack information about the benefits of a mast being located in a particular place, about how the proposed site has been selected and how landscape and other impacts have been taken into account. For example, many are to be powered by diesel generators and/or are proposed in areas that are currently almost entirely free of modern man-made structures. There also appears to be a disregard for any consideration of the alternatives provided by advancing technology, such as satellites, and whether that might leave dozens of obsolete masts in the not-too-distant future. Recent proposals include a 15m mast at Martindale (7/2023/3095), a 30m mast at Patterdale (7/2023/3090) and a 35m mast at Ennerdale (7/2023/4056). You can view the details of each application by searching using the corresponding reference number here. A proposal for a 20m mast at Bampton (7/2023/3086) has been withdrawn (August 2023). A proposal for a 25m mast on Birker Fell (7/2023/4053) has been refused (August 2023). Update 5th April 2023 Buttermere Mast refusedWe are pleased to report that the proposed mast at Buttermere, which met with significant objection for local people, visitors to the area, the National Trust and us at Friends of the Lake District, was refused this week on grounds of landscape and visual impact. This is in addition to the refusal of a mast at Rusland last week. Whilst we recognise the need for improved connectivity, this must be achieved in ways that also conserve and enhance the National Park’s special landscapes. More masts! As expected, yet more proposals for new telecommunications mast have been submitted. The latest is a 50m mast proposed close to Wythburn Church, Thirlmere. You can find out more about this application by searching for 7/2023/2016 here. A proposal for a mast in the Rusland was recently turned down on landscape grounds and we await decisions on masts proposed at Langdale and Haweswater. 21st February 2023 There has been a steady stream of mast applications in the Lake District and elsewhere in Cumbria, including in the Yorkshire Dales, in recent years, however, the Government’s drive to speed the roll out of 5G and eliminate ‘not spots’ or partial ‘not spots’ – rural areas with limited or no mobile coverage – means that many more mast proposals are expected. Indeed, there are currently at least three planning applications for new 25m and 30m masts in the Lake District National Park. These are at Haweswater (7/2022/3167), Langdale (7/2022/5804) and Buttermere (7/2022/2312). You can view the details of each application by searching using the corresponding reference number here WPHAPPCRITERIA (lakedistrict.gov.uk) We have received a number of emails from concerned members and local residents about the siting of these and will be responding to these applications over the coming weeks. 3rd February 2023 Read our responses to: Haweswater mast proposal (pdf): 7/2022/3167 Installation of a 30m communications mast, EAS and SRN antennas, ground-based apparatus and ancillary development, Land at Lad Crags, Haweswater Reservoir CA10 2RP the Haweswater mast proposal (7/2022/2312) Great Langdale mast proposal (pdf): 7/2022/5804 Installation of 30m communications mast, antennas, ground-based apparatus and ancillary development, Land near Great Langdale Campsite, Side Gates Road, Great Langdale, LA22 9JU 31st January 2023 Read our response to the Buttermere mast proposal (pdf): 7/2022/2312 Installation of 25m communications mast, antennas, ground-based apparatus and ancillary development, Gatesgarth Farm, Buttermere, Cockermouth, CA13 9XA 24th January 2023 We recognise that it is essential for rural communities to secure levels of digital connectivity such as fast broadband and good mobile ‘phone signals to support both work and leisure. Such technology not only helps to ensure that our rural communities remain vital and viable into the future but also supports the emergency services, including Mountain Rescue, to operate effectively wherever they are needed. However, these needs must be balanced with conserving and enhancing the landscape and heritage assets for their own sake and for the essential provisions they provide, including the health and well-being benefits we derive from the peace, tranquillity and beauty of our surroundings. This is especially important in our protected landscapes and their settings. We want to see that whenever possible, existing masts are shared by mobile ‘phone operators rather than putting up new masts, that a range of sites are thoroughly assessed when considering new sites to ensure the most appropriate and least harmful site is selected, and that infrastructure is removed when no longer needed. We also want to see all the impacts of new masts properly addressed, such as how access and power supplies to remote mast sites is provided. Satellite technology to provide coverage is also moving on apace, so this too needs to be considered as an alternative to the prospect of multiple new masts in our National Parks.
Michael Hill Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Expand Michael is a passionate conservationist with a lifelong love of the Lake District and Cumbrian landscapes. With his strong track record of dynamic leadership in the non-profit sector, he has shown the vision and determination necessary to build an exciting future for the charity. Previous roles held include Deputy Controller of Radio 5live at the BBC. As a Network Manager he successfully launched new services and led strategic reviews of national radio stations. He also has extensive journalistic and production experience, including as a Senior Broadcast Journalist and Duty Editor at BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat programme.Michael has been exploring the Lake District regularly since first falling in love with it as a child, saying: “I first climbed Coniston Old Man at the age of nine. I remember being transfixed by the landscape, and how it combines vast geological scale with timeless human activity. It is a huge honour to be asked to lead Friends of the Lake District, and build on the incredible work the team has done in defence of this amazing place.” Michael devotes his spare time to outdoor pursuits including fellwalking and horticulture. His ambitions for life in the Lakes include establishing a smallholding, developing his interest in ecology and building an electric cargo bike to get around on (with his dog Gem).
Amanda McCleery Policy & Overhead Wires Officer - 3 days a week Expand As Policy & Overhead Wires Officer, I lead on the organisation’s policy work on agriculture, water, common land and town/village greens. I also liaise with Electricity North West, National Parks & AONBs over their allowance (from Ofgem) to underground power lines. Away from work, I love wild swimming, fell walking and cycling. I work part time – 3 days a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Booking and Enquiries Expand Bookings for this event have now closed. If you have any enquiries about the event then please do feel free to drop the team a line at [email protected]
Holiday lets and marina plans approved for former water testing laboratory A re-submitted proposal to redevelop Pearsall House, on Windermere, as a hotel and holiday lets, has been approved, subject to further information being received from United Utilities. This is very disappointing, as we argued that the building should, in accordance with planning policy, be used for local housing as a priority. Expand Update 5th October 2023 Pearsall House Update Alongside local residents, we spoke at the Lake District National Park Association’s planning committee on 4th October against a re-submitted proposal to redevelop Pearsall House, the former Freshwater Biological Association HQ on the western shore of Windermere. Disappointingly, our challenge that the new proposal still amounted to holiday lets, not a hotel as claimed, and that therefore the building should, in accordance with planning policy, be used for local housing as a priority, was not taken on board. The proposal will now be approved subject to further information being received from United Utilities. Update 22nd February 2023 We are pleased to report that following substantial objection from Friends of the Lake District, along with a range of local residents, visitors to the area and other concerned organisations, this application has now been withdrawn.It is unlikely we’ll be informed as to the specific reasons for the withdrawal, and depending on the reasons, it is possible the proposal may return in a slightly altered form. For now though, it is great news that this proposal, which was in conflict with several local plan policies and would have been a significant development for the quieter western shore of Windermere, will not go ahead. 1st December 2022 Following inspection of the plans and discussions and a site visit with concerned local residents, we have now submitted our response to the proposal to convert and develop Pearsall House, the former Freshwater Biological Association HQ on the quieter western shore of Windermere, for holiday letting, along with a substantial marina. Many thanks to those of you who got in touch to share your concerns. We sought to incorporate all these in our response. We are heartened to note that many others, including local residents, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Windermere Lake Cruises and the Royal Windermere Yacht Club and the National Trust have all also submitted objections. Read our response> 28th October 2022 Plans have been submitted for the redevelopment of the former Freshwater Biological Association water testing lab close to the Windermere Car Ferry dock, Claife Viewing Station and Near Sawrey. The proposal involves 14 new ‘leisure residential’ units (or holiday apartments) along with a small outdoor pool, a new single dwelling and a new two-jetty marina. We are still reviewing the plans but do have some initial thoughts and concerns. For example, there is potential for negative impacts on the character of the quieter western shore of Windermere and although this is a brownfield site, holiday accommodation may not be the most appropriate re-use. It will also be important to consider the proposal in the context of increasing concerns about the water quality of Windermere and the factors contributing to this issue. You can view the proposals by searching using planning reference 7/2022/5624 on this webpage We would very much welcome your views on the proposal: [email protected] The FBA has already vacated the site and are now based at Lakeside, Newby Bridge.
Megan Mattinson Administration & Finance Officer - 3 days a week Expand My role is interesting and diverse as it allows me to work with all staff within our organisation as well as providing regular contact with members, volunteers and other supporters externally. No two days are the same which I love. I am lucky that I have a hands on role, which enables me to get involved with a lot of our event planning as well as ensuring the smooth running of the day to day central functions. When not at work, I can be found enjoying the beautiful scenery the lakes has to offer with loved ones and my four legged sidekick Hendrick.
Barn conversion proposals threaten National Parks We recently joined other organisations in signing a letter to Michael Gove demonstrating the strength of opposition to proposals for a relaxation of planning rules, including allowing the unplanned conversion of rural buildings. Expand We recently joined other organisations in signing a letter to Michael Gove demonstrating the strength of opposition to proposals for a relaxation of planning rules, including allowing the unplanned conversion of rural buildings.We also worked closely with the Campaign for National Parks to submit a detailed response to a complex national consultation on this topic. The new rules could mean that barns and other buildings could be converted to housing and other uses without planning permission. This in turn means that landscape and other environmental impacts would go unchecked but also that there would be no mechanism through which to require new properties to be for local occupancy, affordable or subject to particular conditions. The proposals currently exclude World Heritage Sites, which would, almost by accident it would seem, protect much of the Lake District whilst leaving other National Parks, AONBs and other rural areas vulnerable. Read the letter here>
Day 1 Agenda: 18th October 2023 Expand 2pm Refreshments on arrival 2.15pm - 4pm Running in parallel CNP and NPS Meeting(Chairs, CEOs, staff, trustees, all welcome) Youth Voice Welcome(Young people and bursary participants) News from around the parks Getting to know each other Collective campaigning workshop Sharing interests and ideas 4pm Break 4.30pm NPS and Youth Voice panel and workshop How can we help all children and young people have an adventure in a National Park? How can CNP and NPSs encourage youth leadership in our movement? 5.30pm Reflections from Janette Ward (outgoing CNP Chair) and Ruth Garrett (CNP Ambassador) 5.45pm Close (informal discussions in the bar, all to make own dinner arrangements)
Day 2 Agenda Main Full Day: 19th October 2023 Expand 9am Welcome and Sandford theme overview 9.45am Sandford – from Principle to PracticeReal-world examples of planning and policy decisions, debated by the whole group 10.45am Break 11.15am Morning Workshops, choose from: Lake and river restoration – tools to turn the tide Farming and nature – agriculture in a post-Basic Payments world Visitor revenue capture – how could levies and charges work? 12.15pm Lunch 1.15pm Sandford – from Principle to Politics, Chaired by Caz Graham (BBC Farming Today)A panel of politicians and policy experts including Tim Farron MP and Tiffany Hunt (LDNPA Chair) 2.15pm Break 2.45pm Afternoon workshops, choose from: Landscape-scale nature recovery – what works, when you’re thinking big? Preparing for political change – a toolkit for political advocacy Parks for all – engagement, diversity, inclusion, right to roam 3.45pm Sandford – from Principle to ProtestA panel of inspiring campaigners, chaired by Dave Felton, with Kate Ashbrook, Amy-Jane Beer, Matt Staniek and Lee Schofield 4.45pm Conclusions and close at 5pmAperitif, Evening Dinner, and Quiz
Day 3 Agenda: 20th October 2023 Expand 9am Morning field trips to the Lake District National Park (Choose from two options): Thirlmere reservoir Fell Foot (National Trust) Packed lunch included 1.30pm Return to venue conference end
2019 - Westmorland Dales project begins Expand We receive Heritage Lottery funding and the go-ahead for 'Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes' project. The project covers an area of over 200 sq km, forming part of the newly extended Yorkshire Dales National Park. The total value of the scheme is estimated at £3.45m, with £2.27m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and £1.18m match funding in cash and volunteer time. 21 projects will now be delivered over four years by a partnership of organisations to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales.
2018 - Dark Skies Cumbria project launched Expand Our three year Dark Skies project aiming to secure 'Dark Sky Status' for the Lake District National Park begins.
2018 - Climate change landscape stabilisation research at High Borrowdale Expand In extreme weather in winter, landslides continue to occur on the steep sides of the valley of our land at High Borrowdale and so, with the University of Cumbria, we are beginning work to experiment with different geotextiles to stabilise the soil. Read more
2017 - Thirlmere saved from zip wire development Expand Our members and the public wrote over 3,000 letters to the planning authority in opposition to a proposal to put an attraction of eight zip wires across Thirlmere reservoir. We were delighted that this threat was seen off the application withdrawn.
2016: The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks are extended Expand Friends of the Lake District was set up in 1934 to campaign to create a national park to protect the Lake District. Almost two decades of tireless campaigning later, the Lake District National Park was created by government in 1951, and the Yorkshire Dales followed in 1953. In 2016, our long campaign to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks to cover areas originally left out of the parks in 1951 came to fruition. The areas, to the north and west of the Yorkshire Dales and the east of the Lake District, covering the Howgill and Orton fells, and areas around Kirkby Lonsdale and Sizergh finally became part of the national parks on 1 August 2016, extending the parks by 188 square miles, meaning the parks now cover 1750 square miles of protected landscapes. We continue to work in the new extension areas to enhance the environment, improve life for communities living there and increase opportunities for the public to access the landscape. Our new Westmorland Dales Hidden Landscapes project will form our work in the Asby and Orton area. To see detailed maps of the Lake District National Park extension areas visit the Government's website here and the Yorkshire Dales National Park extension areas here. Read more about the Yorkshire Dales National Park extension areas on their website here.
2016 - Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks Extended Expand We celebrated the extension to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national park boundaries on August 1 2016. Our campaigning work was instrumental in seeing the park extensions agreed and in promoting the importance of national park status for our most treasured landscapes. Read more
2016 – Flood appeal raises over £62,000 Our Lake District Landscape Restoration Fund appeal following the devastation caused by Storm Desmond in December 2015 raises over £62,000. Expand Our Lake District Landscape Restoration Fund appeal following the devastation caused by Storm Desmond in December 2015 raises over £62,000. The money is spent on repairing flood damage to the landscape. We provided funding and support for seven footpath and footbridge repair projects, including a replacement bridge over the River Rothay at the Badger Bar at Rydal, (pictured above) a replacement bridge at Hoggs Earth, near Watendlath, a replacement bridge at Birks Mill, Sedbergh, and repairs to damaged footpath at White Moss Common, between Rydal and Grasmere. Read more
2016 – 5,200 native trees planted at High Borrowdale Expand Now within the extended Lake District National Park. High Borrowdale suffered numerous landslides during the storms of December 2015. Planted with hardy native tree varieties like alder, ask, oak, rowan, holly, hawthorn and willow to enhance habitats and landscape as well as help stabilise erosion.
2014/15 - Gillside Wood planted Expand Friends of the Lake District plants 6,000 native trees, creating a brand new woodland at Gillside near Grasmere.
2014 - Leaders Landscape Training begins Expand Friends of the Lake District hold five ‘Leaders Landscape Training’ sessions working with 47 outdoor practitioners. The aim of the training helps practitioners deepen their understanding of the variety and importance of Cumbria’s upland ecology and to have a clearer understanding of some of the issues and pressures of outdoor users on our landscape, wildlife, habitats and communities.
2014 - the Helm woodland planting completed Expand Friends of the Lake District plant 1,500 trees at the Helm, at Oxenholme near Kendal, to create a new woodland area for local residents and wildlife.
2013 - Zip Wire Development, Honister Expand Friends of the Lake District successfully challenges a planning application to have a zip wire development at Honister.
2013 - new upland hay meadow planted Expand At a time when England has lost 97% of its hay meadows, Friends of the Lake District plant a new hay meadow at High Borrowdale, introducing a wave of beautiful colour into the landscape in summer, and creating an important habitat for many plant and insect species.
2012 - National park extensions campaign intensifies Expand Our long-running campaign to see the 'forgotten landscapes' between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks protected, by including them in the extended national parks, intensifies.