2009 - Natural England consultation to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks Expand Following our campaign, on 16 December 2009 Natural England launched the public consultation on proposals to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.
2005 – ‘Cumbria’s Forgotten Landscapes’ published, the campaign to extend the national parks begins Expand ‘Cumbria’s Forgotten Landscapes’ - our report of the National Park Boundary Review Project was published, campaigning for extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. The boundaries were finally extended in 2016!
2005 - Whinash Wind Farm Expand Friends of the Lake District successfully campaigned against the development of a new 27 turbine wind farm at Whinash on the eastern edge of the national park.
2001-07 - £140,000 support for Fix the Fells upland footpath repair Expand We support fledgling upland footpath repair project Fix the Fells, with over £140,000 in grants, enabling the project to claim another £280,000 in match funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We are a partner in the Fix the Fells project, which has now been repairing upland paths for 20 years. Today we still sit on the steering group for Fix the Fells, and support it though our Landscape Gifts, and with practical volunteer work at Fell Care Days.
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
1992 - Friends support Haverigg Wind Farm Expand Friends support Haverigg wind farm on the site of a disused airfield north of Millom, outside the national park.
1982 - Our grant restores Dorothy Wordsworth's garden at Dove Cottage Expand A Friends of the Lake District grant helps restore Dorothy Wordsworth's old garden at Dove Cottage, Grasmere.
1980 - The first Friends annual dry stone walling competition Expand We held our first dry stone walling competition, now held annually each May, to keep alive the traditional skills that maintain our special landscapes.
1980s - Campaigning against raising the water level at Wastwater and Ennerdale Expand We successfully campaigned against raising the water level at Wastwater and Ennerdale to provide water for the nuclear power station at Sellafield, which would have permanently damaged the landscape and nature of the lakes.
Temporary camp site rules relaxed We were very disappointed to learn in July that nationally set ‘permitted development rights’ for temporary campsites have been extended on a permanent basis from 28 to 60 days, including in protected landscapes. Expand Update 28th July 2023 Temporary camp site rules relaxed We were very disappointed to learn in July that nationally set ‘permitted development rights’ for temporary campsites have been extended on a permanent basis from 28 to 60 days, including in protected landscapes. This follows a Government consultation on the proposals earlier in the year, in which we and others, such as the Campaign for National Parks, cited a number of concerns about extending the rights. Whilst it appears operators will need to notify the local authority of their plans, it is very concerning that whereas the consultation sought views on a proposed maximum of 30 tent pitches per site to be subject to this new right, the Government has chosen to allow up to 50 pitches for tents or campervans along with any movable structure reasonably necessary to support such use, such as toilets. We recommended that protected landscapes and other designations be excluded from the proposals and highlighted that in some cases, even 30 pitches could be inappropriate, but these pleas have been ignored and the new right will apply across all National Parks, AONBs and other designations, with only a few exceptions. This extension of rights could have a significant impact on the landscape and is directly at odds with the recent decision by a Government-appointed Inspector to refuse permission for a seasonal permanent campsite in the Newlands valley on landscape grounds. Update 3 May 2023 Relaxing Planning Rules for Campsites and Renewable Energy We have responded to a recent Government consultation asking for views on proposals to extend the period that temporary campsites can operate without requiring planning permission to up to 60 days for campsites of up to 30 tents. The same consultation also sought views on relaxing rules relating to domestic and non-domestic solar energy installations. These are important issues for the landscape and for increasing the proportion of energy from renewable resources. We recommended that protected landscapes should be exempted from the relaxing of the rules relating to camp sites. We broadly supported measures to make it easier for solar to be installed, particularly on non-domestic properties and solar canopies, while seeking reassurance that careful consideration will still be given to impacts on landscape and heritage. Read our response (pdf) You can find out more here
Absolute Digital Print An environmentally and ethically aware printers that possess the highest environmental accreditation's within our industry (ISO 14001, FSC and PEFC). Expand An environmentally and ethically aware printers that possess the highest environmental accreditation's within our industry (ISO 14001, FSC and PEFC). “We met our new "Friends" when Absolute lent their services free of charge in support of the successful "Save Our Forests" campaign. Absolute have since developed that relationship and given support to the crucial work that the Friends of the Lake District undertake." www.absolutedigitalprint.com
Election of new trustees The AGM will be electing new Trustees. This year we have 3 nominees from a list of over a dozen candidates, and two existing Trustees standing for re-election. Expand Nominees for election Laura DoanA native southern Californian, I taught twentieth-century English literature at universities in Florida and upstate New York before moving to the University of Manchester in 2002, directing a research centre in gender and sexuality studies. We now live between Waberthwaite and Ravenglass, on the edge of a farm where my partner grew up. Last year we completed the Wainwrights (not in six days and certainly not running). When we’re not fell-walking and Wainwright-bagging, we’re in the garden. I spend rainy days working on a book that explores how we think about what’s “natural” and “unnatural” in the modern age. I want to serve as a trustee for Friends of the Lake District (FLD) because I care passionately about protecting and enhancing the natural landscape of this stunningly beautiful part of the world. FLD is currently involved in multiple campaigns, and I want to contribute to this endeavour over the coming years by representing, especially, the concerns of Copeland, where we live, but also the wider community. My years of serving in higher education have, I think, provided me with the transferable skills to contribute to the Friends in meaningful ways. Working with my fellow trustees over the past year has taught me a lot, and I look forward to continuing in this role to help achieve our aims. Robin ForrestI was born and grew up in the North-West of England and, having graduated with a degree in Russian & French, have lived and worked in London since 1993. My career has been spent in the finance industry, initially in banking with JPMorgan and for the past 15 years as a fund manager for Ashmore Group, a specialist investment firm focused exclusively on Emerging Markets. Most of my recent career, therefore, has been focused outside the UK and has involved extensive travel in new and exciting developing countries. My wife and I have owned a home in Cumbria for 20 years, initially in the Eden valley and more recently in the Ullswater Valley. We spend most school holidays there with our 3 teenage children (and selected pets!) and endless visitors. Aside plenty of fell-walking as my oldest son works through his Wainwright list, we also sail and kayak frequently and I am a keen road cyclist. My professional skills revolve around financial matters, analysis, problem-solving and team leadership; I hope combining these with a passion for the Lakes, and also a dual perspective of feeling both very close to but also distant from Cumbria can benefit FLD and our members. Antony VauxI have worked in charity management for thirty years and lived in Caldbeck in the northern Lake District for the last twenty. I am closely involved in local farming issues and am a Commoner at Caldbeck. I have published a book on the Caldbeck area and am deeply involved in local history. I hope that my knowledge of such issues and my challenging style will help to stimulate debate and development of thinking in Friends of the Lake District. I hope to contribute to trustees role in providing strategic leadership and in particular focusing our work more tightly around a limited set of aims relevant to the current challenges which we face in the Lake District. Most of all I am interested in the crisis faced by hill farmers having to adjust rapidly to new forms of government support and the need to balance food production with environmental concerns. Trustees for re-election David FeltonI first visited Lakeland at the age of 6 months in my parents’ baby carrier when I made my first ascent of Catbells. Since then my passion for the landscapes, heritage and people of Cumbria has built, leading to me moving to Cumbria in 2008. I am a small business owner running a publishing company from my home south of Keswick. As such I am sensitive to the tension between business interests and the landscape. That tension has felt out of kilter for too long, and I hope to offer some insight into how we can protect and enhance the landscapes of the county we love while also supporting high quality local jobs. My wider business experience is in publishing, marketing and growing revenue. I have been a member of Friends since 2016, a corporate supporter since 2017, and have planted trees, removed spruce and helped build walls on fell care days. As well as my work with Friends, I am a director of the charitable Threlkeld Coffee Shop, a committee member at the Lake District Folk Weekend and have been a Princes Trust business mentor for disadvantaged young people for a decade. Lucy HetheringtonMy Hetherington ancestors were Cumbrian reivers who raided across the border around Carlisle. Many generations later my family still has strong roots in the area; throughout my life I’ve spent most of my holidays in the Lakes. I grew up deeply attached to the landscape and with a love of fell-walking and open-water swimming. My family have long included members of Friends of the Lake District and I believe passionately in the work it does to conserve and enhance the landscape - an invaluable national asset. As an executive producer, now freelance, I have been responsible for many high-profile television documentaries and current affairs programmes. I have many years’ experience of interrogating the facts, unearthing evidence, and holding those in authority to account through detailed scrutiny and robust questioning. In commissioning roles at the BBC I was responsible for assessing and monitoring the work of independent producers and rigorously ensuring they delivered on quality and compliance. As part of the senior management at BBC Current Affairs I ran large teams, had responsibility for a big slate of programmes, managed numerous high-risk projects, helped set strategy and lead on change management. I previously worked as a TV film-maker, which gave me the opportunity to travel the world, and to meet an extraordinary range of people. My programmes have won a number of prestigious awards and nominations including BAFTAs and EMMYs. I live with my partner and daughter. They are currently competing with each other to be first to a full set of Wainwrights. Current Trustees More information about our current trustees>
Redevelopment of Brandlehow Cottage refused We were pleased to learn that on 4th May, the Lake District National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee refused plans for the redevelopment of Brandlehow Cottage on the shores of Derwentwater. Expand Update 5th May 2023 We were pleased to learn that on 4th May, the Lake District National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee refused plans for the redevelopment of Brandlehow Cottage on the shores of Derwentwater. They agreed with the officer’s recommendation that the proposal should be refused on grounds of landscape and heritage impacts as well as insufficient information to determine the impact of potential contamination from the former mine workings on Derwentwater itself, which is a Special Area of Conservation. This reflects the concerns raised by us and by around 300 other objectors to the proposal.Investigations into the heritage impacts found that not only is the cottage the only remaining roofed building connected to the Brandelhow mine it may be the only building left linked to one of the Elizabethan mineral mines in the Lake District. 19th December 2022 We have now submitted our response to this application. Read it here> November 2022 Proposals have been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority for the redevelopment of Brandlehow Cottage on the south western shores of Derwentwater, near Catbells (pictured). The plans would see the existing traditional property demolished and replaced with a very different and larger structure. The site is very close to a popular public footpath and many people have already objected to the plans, concerned about the loss of the historic property itself but also impacts on views and the character of the area, access, wildlife, the mining heritage and the implications for the popular ‘Teddy in the Window’ nearby. We will be objecting to this application. You can view the plans by searching for reference 7/2022/2263 on the Lake District National Park's planning webpage. We've provided a short guide on where to view current planning applications and how to comment in order to have your views heard. Read it here> It’s always best to respond in your own words, rather than following a template or signing a copied letter. You do not need to be a local resident to comment. If you are objecting to a proposal, it is important to explain why you think the proposal conflicts with the relevant local planning policies, as it is compliance or otherwise with these that will determine the Lake District National Park Authority’s decision. The policies most relevant to this case are policies 01, 02 (including the final sentence), 04, 05, 06, 07, 24. We also think there is a case for policy 26 also applying. You can find the Lake District local plan policies here> You may wish to comment on: Impact on landscape character The design of the proposals and how this relates to local character Impact on views, including views from the lake, and the visual amenity of people using the area recreationally Impact on Rights of Way and their users Impact on the experience of the area and the ‘sense of place’ Impact on the reasons for which the Lake District was designated a World Heritage Site (the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value – OUVs) Impact on the heritage of the area Impact on wildlife and the lake You do not need to comment on every aspect – focus on the aspect(s) most important to you. Submitting A Response Email Address: [email protected] Email Subject text: Response to planning application 7/2022/2263 Demolition and replacement of existing dilapidated cottage with a replacement house Email Body text: If you are objecting to this planning proposal, begin the body of your submission with: I/we object to the plans to demolish and replace Brandlehow Cottage’. Follow this with a summary of your objections written in your own words. We’ve been on a site visit to walk the area around Brandlehow Cottage and were delighted to share the walk with Kerry, Paddy and Harry of ‘Max Out in the Lake District’! Kerry recorded our visit so do follow the link to see the site and to listen to the conversation we had about this proposal. Watch below or via Facebook (links to external website)>
CEO - Michael Hill 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. 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 leadership roles he has held at the BBC include Deputy Controller of Radio 5live, and as 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).
New planning restrictions for holiday lets? The Government is asking for views on a proposed new restriction that would require people to get planning consent in order to use a property as a short-term holiday let. Expand The Government is asking for views on a proposed new restriction that would require people to get planning consent in order to use a property as a short-term holiday let. We will be examining the proposals and responding to this consultation before the deadline of 7th June. We support the proposal in principle, but careful consideration will need to be given to the detail of how the proposal is to be applied, to ensure it is appropriate for Cumbria and the Lake District. You can find out more about the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introduction-of-a-use-class-for-short-term-lets-and-associated-permitted-development-rights
Jan Darrall Land Manager and Policy Officer - 4 days a week Expand Specialist areas: My job includes everything to do with land management. I am responsible for the specialist policy areas of agriculture, common land, uplands, natural flood and catchment management. I also deal with applications for our Landscape Grant Scheme. The most exciting bit of my job is managing Friends of the Lake District’s land. My aim is to maximise what our land is achieving for the landscape, nature and people, and I am always thinking of new challenges we can take on and new things to achieve. Outside work I am usually found doing something outside with my twins and Tiggy the dog. That can be fell walking, swimming, or creating a new feature on our land in the north Lakes. Gin and tonic and chocolate cake are a bit of a tradition at weekends.
Stuart Clayton Head of Finance and Operations - 4 days a week Expand I joined Friends to take up the position of Head of Finance and Operations. My role is to manage the central resources needed to deliver our amazing services which include finance, fundraising and communications and administration. I have worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years predominantly working with people with disabilities and enjoyed every minute. Although I am not a Cumbrian my Dad had a passion for walking and climbing in the Lake District which he passed on to me at a very early age. I intend to enjoy my new life in Kendal by learning from all my colleagues, getting out on the fells and walking as many Wainwrights as I possibly can this year.
Yorkshire Dales seeks views on new housing sites and open spaces The Yorkshire Dales National Park authority has launched a consultation running until 12th May seeking views on sites they propose to allocate for future housing development and protect as open space. Expand The Yorkshire Dales National Park authority has launched a consultation running until 12th May seeking views on sites they propose to allocate for future housing development and protect as open space. This is part of the preparation of the Yorkshire Dales National Park local plan. It’s really important to raise any concerns at this stage as once sites are allocated, they effectively have ‘permission in principle’. Find out more about which sites are proposed and how to comment here. You may also find it useful to read our short introduction to local plan documents.
Where is Roanhead? Expand More mapping and further details of the proposal are available on the developer’s website at: https://roanhead.com
Chair - Dave Felton Professional background: David’s career has been as a serial entrepreneur in the creative sector. He is currently founder and director of ‘Inspired by Lakeland’, which publishes a range of titles inspired by the wild places of Britain. Expand Professional background: David’s career has been as a serial entrepreneur in the creative sector. He is currently founder and director of ‘Inspired by Lakeland’, which publishes a range of titles inspired by the wild places of Britain. His most recent titles include The Lake District Sticker Book (winner of a National Trust ethical business award), The Lake District in 101 Maps & Infographics (Lake District Book of the Year, 2020) and the best-selling Forty Farms. Local background: David moved to Cumbria in 2010 and lives near Keswick. He has been a lover of Lakeland landscapes since boyhood holidays to Wasdale and Eskdale in the 1980s and has been involved with various conservation projects, from dry-stone walling to tree planting. He is producer and co-presenter of Countrystride, the podcast dedicated to the landscapes, people and heritage of Cumbria and the Lake District. Interests: Walking (he is now on round three of the Wainwrights, and steadying his nerves to attempt Pillar Rock to complete the Birketts!); Landscape conservation; traditional music; local ales; and pizza making.
Co - Vice Chair - Lucy Hetherington Professional background: television producer & executive, commissioning and delivering numerous documentary and current affairs programmes, mainly for BBC and often international partners Expand Professional background: television producer & executive, commissioning and delivering numerous documentary and current affairs programmes, mainly for BBC and often international partners. Family roots in Cumbria; life-long connection to Crook and Staveley area. Interests include fell-walking, swimming, and exploring the artistic and cultural heritage of the Lake District.
Treasurer - Robin Forrest Professional background: Works as a fund manager focused on emerging markets; previously worked in banking Expand Professional background: Works as a fund manager focused on emerging markets; previously worked in banking. Local background: Robin and family split their time between London and Ullswater, having owned several properties in Cumbria over the past 20 years. Interests: I tend to focus on the outdoors with three active teenagers at home and an energetic dog: Fell-walking, getting on the water by kayak or dinghy sailing, and road cycling. Unfortunately they still have a long way to go to finish all the Wainwrights.
Trustee - Malcolm Boswell Professional background: Recently retired Director within Acas after a long career working in employment law, HR consultancy and dispute resolution. A wide experience of policy and product development working with external organisations and other Government Departments within the UK and overseas. Expand Professional background: recently retired Director within Acas after a long career working in employment law, HR consultancy and dispute resolution. A wide experience of policy and product development working with external organisations and other Government Departments within the UK and overseas. Local background: Having swapped a static caravan for bricks and mortar, we permanently moved to Ireby, one of the villages at the back of Skiddaw, last year after spending decades of visiting the Lakes at every opportunity. Interests: The Lake District and all it has to offer: community, the fells, the lakes and surrounding areas.
1977 - The first Friends Annual Hedgelaying Competition Expand We established our annual hedging competition, to encourage more people to take up these traditional skills that maintain our beautiful landscapes. Our hedging competition has run in early March every year since, except in 2021, due to the pandemic.
New proposal for car park at Ullock Moss This application had been due to go to the Planning Committee in early March 2023 but has now been withdrawn. The Applicant has, however, issued a withdrawal statement indicating that they plan to submit another application which you can read here Expand 27th February 2023 This application had been due to go to the Planning Committee next week but has now been withdrawn. The Applicant has, however, issued a withdrawal statement indicating that they plan to submit another application. Applicant Withdrawal Statement (pdf) 3rd January 2023 - Car park déjà vu! A new application has been made for plans for a car park at Ullock Moss, Portinscale. The proposal is almost identical to one refused by the Lake District National Park Authority a year ago and we have responded to the National Park Authority, letting them know that the reasons for the previous refusal still stand and our position remains unaltered. For example, local plan policy requires that all other relevant regulatory and enforcement measures be exhausted before new car parks will be allowed in such locations, however, this has not happened. You can read our response here> We urge everyone who challenged the plans last time to join us in resubmitting previous comments – comments should ideally be submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority by 20th January 2023, quoting application reference 7/2022/2279. (The best way to make your voice heard is to write to the relevant planning authority to let them know your views on a planning application. We've provided some additional advice on how to respond and comment on applications to make your voice heard>) Update 25 November 2022 New proposal for car park at Ullock Moss (near Catbells)You may remember that a controversial planning application for a significant new car park in woodland at Ullock Moss, near Portinscale, Keswick, was refused by the Lake District National Park Authority just under a year ago.An enforcement case followed, but a new, very similar application has now been submitted. We will be looking at this over the coming weeks and are likely to make a response. However, as there is limited change, it may be unnecessary for responses made previously to be re-written from scratch. We know many of you shared our concerns in relation to the previous proposal and sent in your own comments. If the minor changes do not alter your view, we would recommend re-sending your previous comments with a brief cover note to make this clear.View the new application by searching for reference 7/2022/2279 on here> Update 17 August 2022 Planning Enforcement at Ullock Moss Car ParkWe are pleased that enforcement action has been taken by the Lake District National Park Authority on works undertaken to create temporary car park at Ullock Moss near Portinscale, but the applicant has appealed against this.Many of you joined us in challenging plans for a permanent car park there, which were refused last year. Although temporary use of land for car parks is allowed for up to 28 days under national ‘permitted development’ rights, this is only when certain conditions and criteria are met. In this case works have been carried out to create the temporary car park that went beyond what is allowed. We will be supporting the LDNPA in upholding the enforcement case. 1 December 2021 We are very pleased that the Lake District National Park’s Planning Committee has refused plans today for the proposed 150-space car park at Ullock Moss, near Catbells, by 7 votes to 2. We spoke against the plans at the Committee meeting today, along with a representative from the local community. Members of the committee discussed a range of issues in coming to their decision - including the likelihood of attracting more cars, and impacts on landscape, the World Heritage Site and biodiversity. There was clear concern about whether the car park would really provide a solution and also about whether the criteria for allowing an exception to planning policy by allowing a new car park in open countryside were met. One member listed the various organisations that had objected, including Friends of the Lake District, and indicated that given there were so many with shared views, these organisations should be listened to. Another mentioned that in light of COP26 and the climate emergency it is time do something different in terms of finding solutions to parking and traffic issues. We thank all those who added their voice and support to our campaign to challenge the car park. We hope that this decision, along with two other decisions made in November to refuse proposals for new car parks, will provide the impetus to bring forward a range of positive, sustainable alternative and integrated travel options for National park visitors and residents alike. 3rd November 2021 A Development Control Committee meeting took place on Wednesday 3rd November where it was decided that the Ullock Moss Car Park application would be deferred to enable the Committee to carry out a site visit before coming to its decision. We welcomed the decision at the meeting by the Lake District National Park Authority to refuse two other proposals to extend the time period of two temporary car parks. Applications for new car parks at Waterfoot (next to Ullswater) and Lands Field (Coniston) were refused, due to concerns about impact on the landscape, conflicts with recently adopted planning policies, and the potential precedent for more similar proposals for car parks elsewhere in the national park. 29th October 2021 A Statement by Friends of the Lake District, with Campaign for National Parks, National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, West Cumbria Bus Users and West Cumbria Friends of the Earth. Friends of the Lake District and other leading environmental organisations are very concerned by the recommendation to approve the proposed 150-space car park at Ullock Moss near Catbells. This development would set a precedent that would have a major bearing on the wider future of the Lake District, what it will look like and what it will become – and other National Parks - and we urge the Lake District National Park Authority’s (LDNPA) Development Control Committee to reject this proposal. Whilst we very much recognise the need to address ongoing and growing issues relating to parking and vehicle numbers in the Portinscale and Catbells area, this proposal is not an appropriate solution. We agree with Campaign for National Parks and the National Trust that the plan raises fundamental policy conflicts in regard to development in the open countryside and the development of new car parks. Local planning policy calls for a ‘coordinated and strategic approach’ to decision making about transport. This proposal directly conflicts with this sentiment and is not part of an integrated plan that will enable sustainable travel. We also share the views of groups such as West Cumbria Bus Users and West Cumbria Friends of the Earth that it undermines the LDNPA’s own target to reduce, as a minimum, the % visitors arriving by car from 83% to 64% and to secure a modal shift towards more sustainable transport in the Park. Instead it will increase traffic to the area, harm the landscape and conflict with the Park’s own climate and ecological commitments. Lorayne Wall, Planning Officer, Friends of the Lake District said: “Allowing a new car park in this location threatens to set back plans for sustainable travel and a low-carbon Lake District before they even get started. We are simply asking that the Park adheres to its own plans and policies and implements them.” The Campaign for National Parks has raised concerns that allowing a permanent car park in this location will make it harder to persuade people to use alternatives to the car in future and will set a dangerous precedent. Ruth Bradshaw, Policy and Research Manager for Campaign for National Parks, said: "Campaign for National Parks remains strongly opposed to plans for a new car park in open countryside in an already very popular area. Allowing a new car park here will facilitate yet more car use and will do nothing to encourage more sustainable travel. It is in direct conflict with the National Park Authority's ambitions to reduce car use to help meet its net zero target. It also sets a dangerous precedent for other similar developments both elsewhere in the Lake District and in other National Parks. Given the urgency of the nature and climate emergencies, it is even more essential than ever that National Park Authority members consider the longer-term impacts of the decisions they make." Notwithstanding the wider implications, Friends of the Lake District also shares the concerns of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust about the immediate area. There would be significant harm to the area’s hydrology and to woodland that is of high ecological value and home to priority species protected under the NERC Act. The obligation for the applicant to demonstrate that their proposals would not adversely impact ancient woodland through increased pollution has not been met. With the decision on 3rd November coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), it is an opportunity for the LDNPA to demonstrate its conviction in tackling climate change in line with the recent comments of its own Chief Executive: *“Our knowledge and expertise mean we are uniquely placed to lead on addressing the climate crisis….National Parks [are] at the centre of reducing emissions…and delivering ecological resilience. *“If we can inspire even a small percentage of our visitors to think about some of their lifestyle choices while they are enjoying the benefits of being in our amazing landscape it will make a difference”. The LDNPA’s own targets and ambitions in reducing car travel, in tackling climate change and in ecological recovery are laudable, but this proposal clearly conflicts with these. We therefore urge the Park’s Development Control Committee to support this ambition and refuse this application. *Press Release: UK’s 15 National Parks Release Joint Statement on Climate Change in lead up to COP 26 - National Parks 22nd October 2021 Like many people, we fully recognise the ongoing and growing issues relating to parking and vehicle numbers in the Portinscale and Catbells area, and the need to address these. While a new car park might seem the obvious response to parking problems, the proposed 150-space car park for Cat Bells at Ullock Moss, south of Portinscale, near Keswick, is not an appropriate solution for a number of reasons. Our key concerns are: The Lake District National Park Authority’s (LDNPA) own clearly stated vision for sustainable transport in the national park hinges on reducing car-based visits and use of more sustainable modes of travel to, from and around the national park. A new car park in open countryside will undermine this plan. The LDNPA’s own very recently adopted planning policies require that new car parks are only permitted when they are a proven and integral part of a strategic plan for sustainable travel in the area and meet certain other criteria. This proposal is not part of a strategic plan and does not meet the other criteria. The proposal will necessitate and encourage cars to travel through Portinscale village, exacerbating rather than helping to resolve issues there. The success of the proposal is reliant on some measures being agreed and implemented by other parties and there is no guarantee of this. A new car park and shuttle bus terminus would not conserve and enhance the character and special qualities and attributes of the National Park and World Heritage Site, including tranquillity, as is required by planning policy and legislation. We set these out in our letter of objection to the plans and many of our members and supporters to did the same. You can read our response here: Ullock Moss response (pdf) 24th May 2021 It’s not too late to join the fight! New policies make it clear that Ullock Moss is not the place for a new car park and that alternative ways of exploring the National Park are what’s really needed. The proposed car park at Ullock Moss near Portinscale could: Undermine hopes of achieving plans for Sustainable Travel and a Low Carbon Lake District Set a dangerous precedent for other temporary car parks across the National Park You’ll find details of the application by searching for application reference number 7/2020/2291 at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/planning-application-search-tool Many thanks to those of you who have already written to the LDNPA about this case. If you have not written already but are able to do so, we have prepared a template to help you (see below). A huge number of responses have been made to this planning application, and many share our concerns about the proposal, including many local residents of Portinscale itself. Like us, they recognise the need for parking and traffic issues to be addressed in the Cat Bells area, but also see that this proposal is not an appropriate solution. Join us in letting the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) know that we will support them in standing by their local planning policies and their clearly-stated vision for sustainable travel in, to and from the National Park Help us ensure that this proposal is not allowed to set a precedent for temporary car parks to become permanent Write TO THE LDNPA to help the fight against this proposal. We've created a letter template to help you write your own response (with suggested text to guide you) and then email it to the Lake District National Park Authority. VIEW LETTER TEMPLATE(Template includes instructions on what to write and where to send) This case is not just about whether or not this particular proposal fits certain criteria or not. There is a lot more at stake, because this case could have significant bearing on the wider future of the Lake District, what it will look like and what it will become, as well as impacting directly on important views and habitats. It could undermine hopes of achieving plans for Sustainable Travel and a Low Carbon Lake District It could set a dangerous precedent for other temporary car parks allowed across the Park as emergency measures during 2020 to become permanent There are specific solutions for this area that are already set out by the LDNPA as part of a wider Smarter Travel plan for the whole of the National Park. This is the plan that should be implemented instead of developing new car parks. Comments on the proposal should be made to the Lake District National Park Authority by 25th June 2021. Responses submitted shortly after that will still be accepted up until the decision is made (currently expected to be 7th July 2021). We would be grateful if you would also consider copying us into your reply by copying our planning officer [email protected] into emailed submissions. Your comments will help to inform our own position on these issues. You'll find more background information in the planning section of our website, including details of our comment to date and a copy of a press release sent to highlight this issue. 4th February 2021 Like many people, we fully recognise the ongoing and growing issues relating to parking and vehicle numbers in the Portinscale and Catbells area, and the need to address these. While a new car park might seem the obvious response to parking problems, the proposed 150-space car park for Cat Bells at Ullock Moss, south of Portinscale, near Keswick, is not an appropriate solution for a number of reasons. Key reasons we have taken this approach are: The Lake District National Park Authority’s (LDNPA) own clearly stated vision for sustainable transport in the national park hinges on reducing car-based visits and use of more sustainable modes of travel to, from and around the national park. A new car park in open countryside will undermine this plan. The LDNPA’s own planning policies (current and proposed) require that new car parks are only permitted when they are a proven and integral part of a strategic plan for sustainable travel in the area and meet certain other criteria. This proposal is not part of a strategic plan and does not meet the other criteria. The proposal will necessitate and encourage cars to travel through Portinscale village, exacerbating rather than helping to resolve issues there. The proposal is reliant on some measures being agreed and implemented by other parties and there is no assurance of this. A new car park and shuttle bus terminus would not conserve and enhance the character and special qualities and attributes of the National Park and World Heritage Site, including tranquillity, as is required by planning policy and legislation. We have set these out in our letter of objection to the plans and urge our members and supporters to do the same. You can read it here: Ullock Moss response (pdf) Give your viewThe earliest date a decision will be made is 5th May. Although the official deadline for comments on the application was 5th March, responses will be accepted until a decision is made, so there is still time if you wish to respond. Please quote application reference number 7/2020/2291. More instructions for commenting on planning proposals are available here. 20th January 2021 Before Christmas a planning application was submitted to the Lake District National Park for a new car park at Ullock Moss, south of Portinscale, close to Catbells. The area had been used for temporary parking last summer. The applicants had carried out some pre-application consultation at the time and we made our concerns clear at the time which can be seen in our initial response.Members and supporters may wish to look at and comment on the application. Comments can be accepted up until the 5th March. The application can be viewed on the Park Authority website.Follow this link and enter planning reference number 7/2020/2291 in the search box to view the latest information for this proposal on the Park Authority website. 29th July 2020 We have today submitted a written response to the consultation Ullock Moss, Portinscale Car Park. We very much welcome the principle of managing the situation around access to Catbells and in principle may support the idea of park and ride type proposals. However, we think there are a number of issues around this particular location. Read our full response here> 29th June 2020 A pre application consultation is being carried out by Crosby Granger Architects for a proposed car park at Ullock Moss, Portinscale. We think the proposal raises concerns around the principle of a car park at this location, how this fits with planning policy and potential landscape impacts upon the site and its surroundings. We will be looking carefully at the proposal and responding accordingly. The link below provides information on the proposal and a link to survey monkey for your views. The consultation runs until 31 July. https://www.crosbygrangerarchitects.co.uk/ullockmoss/ Banner image by: Ian Brown
South Copeland Community Partnership (SCCP) Friends of the Lake District is now a member of the South Copeland Community Partnership (SCCP). Government policy on nuclear waste disposal states that local people have to make the decision as to whether or not they want a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in their area and to enable this, a community partnership is set up. Expand Friends of the Lake District is now a member of the South Copeland Community Partnership (SCCP). Government policy on nuclear waste disposal states that local people have to make the decision as to whether or not they want a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in their area and to enable this, a community partnership is set up. The South Copeland Community Partnership’s role is to ensure that the community has all of the relevant information that they need about the process in order to make a decision when the question is put to the people in the area. Friends of the Lake District applied to join when the SCCP put out a call for people with a background in environmental issues to take part in the process. We haven’t joined SCCP because Friends of the Lake District think that South Copeland is the right place to build a GDF, but because we are concerned about the landscape impact and environmental issues surrounding the locating of a GDF so close to the boundary of a nationally protected landscape. There are a lot of implications for the environment that would come with any major infrastructure project in this small, remote and geographically constrained area. This would include the impact of upgrading transport links through the national park or across the Duddon Estuary Special Area of Conservation, removal of spoil, impact of boreholes, construction and lighting on the Lake District and protected wildlife site and the impact of any final building and its operation on the environment. We think that there needs to be a voice advocating for the environment of the local area within the Community Partnership and we are offering our expertise in order that these important issues are not neglected during the process.
Decommissioning Work – United Utilities United Utilities has begun the process of decommissioning of water abstraction infrastructure at Crummock Water. Equivalent plans for Overwater and Chapel House Reservoir will follow. Expand 14th December 2022 United Utilities has begun the process of environmental assessments to inform the decommissioning of water abstraction infrastructure at Crummock Water. Equivalent plans for Overwater and Chapel House Reservoir will follow. The removal of this concrete infrastructure will return these water bodies to a more natural state, resulting in landscape enhancement. This is possible due to the new Thirlmere pipeline. Thirlmere will become the main source of water for West Cumbria, meaning that abstraction from these other waterbodies can stop.
Revisions to National Planning Policy Framework Consultation begun in December 2022 on updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and the Government’s proposed approach to preparing new National Development Management Policies Expand 23rd January 2023 Consultation begun in December 2022 on updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and the Government’s proposed approach to preparing new National Development Management Policies. The consultation runs until 2nd March 2023 and we will be working closely with CPRE and others to prepare a response. This is an important opportunity to help ensure that national policies better protect our landscapes. More details can be found here: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 24th May 2022 The process of revising the National Planning Policy Framework is ongoing. The revisions were previously expected to be part of a wider overhaul of the planning system through a dedicated Planning Bill, but The Queen's Speech in May 2022 set out that significantly scaled-back changes will now take place as part of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. You can find out more about this here> The Bill will result in changes to the National Planning Policy Framework as well as new regulations and we expect public consultations on the detail of these changes and more information as to what they might mea for our landscapes, environment and rural communities over the coming months. 31 March 2021 We recently responded to a consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and proposals for a new national design code. The proposed changes to the NPPF are relatively few in number, but nevertheless include some important revisions that we very much welcome. We were particularly pleased to see new text requiring development in the setting of protected landscapes to be sensitively located and designed and a new paragraph focusing onthe importance of trees. We also expressed our support for new text to reinforce the need for sustainable patterns of development, environmental enhancements, public access to nature and mitigating climate change as well as new text requiring development to provide a choice of transport options and active travel. We welcome greater recognition of the wildlife and climate change benefits of open space and a proposed requirement for new development to make as much use as possible of natural flood management techniques. We expressed concerns about some of the proposed changes, such as the failure to recognise environmental capacity when deriving local housing targets, the prematurity of some proposals given the outcomes of other related consultations are not yet known. We also suggested some additions to help further strengthen proposed new text and in some cases, to strengthen existing text. We also welcomed the proposed new national design code, which, it is intended, will guide local authorities in creating locally-specific design codes for their area. There is much to be welcomed in the proposed code, but we highlighted the need for it to be relevant to rural as well as urban areas and provided detail on how it could better take into account landscape and light pollution and the protection of dark skies. We also emphasised the level of resources that would be needed to secure genuine and meaningful public engagement in the process of preparing local design codes. You can see our full response here This consultation was part of the Government’s wider review of the planning system and further consultations are expected in due course.
Mast Plans for Barbon We are pleased to report that, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority shared our concerns and on 2nd December 2022 refused permission for this mast Expand 23rd January 2023 We are pleased to report that, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority shared our concerns and on 2nd December 2022 refused permission for the mast on the basis of “significant harm to the scenic beauty and intrinsic character of this highly sensitive, remote and undeveloped National Park landscape by reason of the size, design and prominent siting”. 27th October 2022 Members of the community got in touch to express their concerns about a proposed 25m lattice mast on Barbon Low Fell. Following a site visit, we share the views of Friends of the Dales, the Ramblers, the Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club and local residents that the proposal should be rejected. A key factor is the balance between the benefits of a new mast and the visual and landscape impacts. Local people have confirmed that properties in the area are already well provided for by B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) coverage, whilst on the other hand, the proposal will conflict with the Cumbria Landscape Character Guidance and Toolkit, which specifically refers to telecommunications masts being likely to cause harm in this open, wild, undeveloped landscape. You can read our full response here> Video: Our Planning Officer Lorayne reports on plans for a 25m communications mast near Barbon during a site-visit earlier this week.
Luge Track and Chair Lift Proposal in the Eden Valley We’re supporting concerned members of the local community to challenge a proposal for a luge track, chair lift and associated buildings on Blaze Fell near Armathwaite in the beautiful Eden Valley. Expand Update 31 January 2023: Armathwaite Luge track and chairlift proposal Over 20 documents forming part of the application for a luge track and chair lift near Armathwaite in the Eden Valley have been replaced with revised versions. The revised documents mainly seek to fill information gaps previously present in the planning application, such as in relation to biodiversity, drainage, flood risk and noise levels. The new information does not change our position on the proposals. Still proposed is parking for over 100 cars, a new access road stretching up the hillside and a large, heavily glazed operations building, as well as the luge track and chair lift structures. All on a prominent sandstone ridge in a rural area adjacent open access land and County Wildlife Site. The proposal is in direct conflict with Eden’s local plan policies about development in the open countryside. We would urge anyone who shares our concerns to let Eden District Council know that this new information does not alter the significant impact this proposal will have on the rural character of the landscape or on nearby communities. You can view the plans by searching using reference 21/0783 here https://plansearch.eden.gov.uk/fastweb/ You can express your views by emailing [email protected] Thursday 11th November 2021 'Protect Eden' has created an online petition 'Save Blaze Fell' asking people to sign up and say 'NO to the Luge Development on Blaze Fell'. Click the Change.org link below to view the petition: www.change.org/p/eden-district-council-save-blaze-fell-from-development (link opens in a new tab) Friday 15th October 2021 We have now submitted our response to this application Ref:21/0783 LUGE TRACK, CHAIRLIFT, OPERATIONS BUILDING, CAR-PARKING AND LANDSCAPING, LAND AT BLAZE FELL NORD VUE, ARMATHWAITE PENRITH CA4 9TN We'd like to thank all of you who have taken the time to submit your own comments about this planning application. Details on how to submit comment on this application are available below so please do consider contacting Eden District Council if you would like your voice heard. View / download our full response and our argument setting out why we feel that this application should be refused (pdf).blazefellluge210783Response.pdf Thursday 30th September 2021 Friends of the Lake District is supporting concerned members of the local community to challenge a proposal for a luge track, chair lift and associated buildings on Blaze Fell near Armathwaite in the beautiful Eden Valley. Blaze Fell is part of a sandstone ridge in open countryside and the site is immediately adjacent a County Wildlife Site and open access land. The proposal would have a significant impact on views and the character of the landscape in the area. We’re also concerned about the sustainability of the location – the developer anticipates that 80% of visitors will arrive at the attraction by car. We attended a packed public meeting on Wednesday 29th September, where many questions were asked of the applicants by local residents and Parish Councillors. Whilst we were pleased to hear that there are no plans to operate the site in the hours of darkness, reducing potential light pollution concerns, significant concerns remain about impacts on the local landscape, wildlife, traffic generation and the principle of this sort of development taking place in open countryside, contrary to Eden District Council’s planning policies. We will be submitting our response to the application during the coming weeks. If you’d like to view the application you can do so here by entering reference number 21/0783 and you can comment by emailing Eden District Council on [email protected] (being sure to state the reference number). Your response will carry most weight if you can explain whether you consider the proposal meets relevant local plan policies such as LS1 (‘Other rural areas’ section), EC4 (‘large scale tourism development’ section), ENV1, ENV2, ENV5 and DEV3. The local plan can be found here. If you do comment, we would really appreciate your letting us know that you have done so and what comments you made by emailing [email protected]
West Cumbria Coal Mine Two legal challenges have been lodged against the Michael Gove’s decision to approve the coal mine Expand Update 23rd January 2023 Two legal challenges have been lodged against the Michael Gove’s decision to approve the coal mine. Whitehaven coal mine: Two legal challenges lodged - BBC News Update 8th December 2022 Michael Gove announced on December 7th 2022 that he has backed the view of the independent Inspector that carried out an inquiry into the case and has approved the plans. We are dismayed at this decision. It’s a step backwards rather than progress towards reaching net zero; the reasons for our objection to the mine are set out below. We expect South Lakes Action on Climate Change and other organisations to launch a legal challenge against the decision which would be a step we would wholeheartedly support. FAQs about the proposed Coal Mine Q: The mine is for coking coal to make steel not for power stations generation, so it's OK isn't it?A: We understand that the coal is for coking plants. It still has a huge carbon cost. The total emissions from the mine (420 million tonnes of CO2) will exceed the whole of the UK’s carbon emissions in 2018. You can read more about this here https://www.green-alliance.org.uk/resources/The_case_against_new_coal_mines_in_the_UK.pdf Q: No one has invented a substitute for steel and it has to be made somewhere. The alternative to the Cumbrian mine is imported coking coal or exporting the steel making jobs.A: The steel industry is fast moving away from using coking coal. By the time the coal mine is up and running, Europe’s steel industry (where the 85% of the coal not used in the UK is supposed to go) will be quickly moving away from use of coking coal and towards hydrogen. Steel making using coking coal is old, dirty technology and the steel industry is quickly innovating to ensure they bring their carbon emissions down https://greenallianceblog.org.uk/2021/02/09/why-europe-doesnt-need-cumbrias-coking-coal/ Q: Imported coal will only ADD to carbon emissions as transport will have to be taken into consideration.A: If there were savings from reduced transportation of coal, these would not cancel out or neutralise the emissions from the mine operations. In the context of the UK’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and global efforts to keep carbon emissions in line with a scenario compatible with no more than a 1.5*C increase, absolute reductions of emissions are required, rather than balancing off one set of emissions against another. Q: Without this source of coal the future of British steel is threatened. However burning coking coal won't go away to salve our conscience, it will just move to China where environmental protection is less enforced than in Britain, won't it?A: British Steel will only be using 15% maximum of the extracted coal. Using the import/export emissions argument, the 85% of coal exported from the UK will also cause emissions. British Steel is also moving towards lower carbon models of manufacturing, so it’s unlikely that not opening Woodhouse Mine will cause British Steel to collapse. Q: West Cumbria is a deprived area, with high unemployment and low wage jobs. This mine would help reverse that.A: The Local Government Association estimates that there will be nearly 900 jobs created in West Cumbria thanks to the development of green and low carbon technologies such as offshore wind and low carbon energy generation. We need to take a step for the future now rather than putting it off again and leaving the mess for future generations to deal with. Coal used to be one of our backbone industries, when we had fewer alternatives. The world is different now, we know more about how these industries damage the environment, so we need to look for better, cleaner ways of making things. Local Government Association statistics on green jobs in their report “Local green jobs - accelerating a sustainable economic recovery”: https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/view/lga-research/estimated-total-number-of-direct-jobs-in-low-carbon-and-renewable-energy-sector Q: The mine would be in Whitehaven, not the Lake District. So why are you objecting?A: Friends of the Lake District covers the whole of Cumbria, and exists to protect the landscape of Cumbria and the Lake District, for the future, for everyone. Q: You're a landscape charity, why are you objecting to this?A: As a charity that campaigns to look after Cumbria and the Lake District, we are very aware of the impact that climate change is having on our landscape and environment. The emissions that this mine will cause will originate from our backyard so to speak. We need to be calling out the danger of climate change to future generations, we need to give them the chance to appreciate the environment of Cumbria and the Lake District. Any process that will increase world carbon emissions this much needs to be opposed. It’s time to force progress on new industrial processes rather than looking back at the old damaging ways of doing things. Update 4th November 2022 Friends of the Lake District along with 24 other environmental charities including CPRE The countryside charity and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, has written to Michael Gove urging him to stop the UK’s first deep coal mine in over 30 years, in Whitehaven, Cumbria. Why we're objecting to the mine: Read a Summary of the main points below, or you can read the full expert proofs of evidence published by South Landland Action on Climate Change's expert witnesses here. Update 3rd November 2022 A decision is now expected December 8th 2022 Update 20th October 2022 A decision is now expected in November 2022 Update 4th October 2021 The Inquiry into the West Cumbria Coal Mine closed in the early hours of Saturday 2nd October 2021. The Inspector has now issued his report to the Secretary of State Michael Gove and his decision is expected by July 2022 Update 6th September 2021 South Lakes Action on Climate Change Publishes its Expert Proofs of Evidence On 31 August, South Lakeland Action on Climate Change (SLACC) published formal challenges to of some of the key points raised in favour of the proposed mine. The documents are quite long and technical, so we've summarised the main points below or you can read the full “Rebuttals” written by SLACC’s expert witnesses at the link: https://slacc.org.uk/the-truth-about-the-coal-mine/We would encourage anybody with an interest in this proposal to get involved. Please do complete Friends of the Earth's survey to let them know your views and do drop in via YouTube to see the inquiry in progress.Summary of South Lakeland Action on Climate Change 'Rebuttals' - Why we're objecting to the mine: The quality of the coking coal (evidence from Professor Stuart Haszeldine) The coal has a much higher sulphur content than is acceptable for use in EU and UK steelworks. This means that around 87% of the coal will be exported outside of the UK and EU which tears up the “reducing the need to ship coal” argument. Any of the coal that is used within the UK and EU will likely need to be mixed with Australian low sulphur coal before it reaches acceptable sulphur levels, meaning that we will be importing coking coal from Australia rather than the US. Again tearing up the shipping agument relating to the climate impact of shipping coal in from abroad. Development of EU steelmaking without needing to use coking coal (evidence from Professor Lars J Nillson) The applicant’s proof of evidence appears to clearly assume that EU and UK legislated climate targets will not be met – this is clearly unacceptable The applicant’s evidence rests on a forecast which assumes the steel sector in the UK and Europe will not follow a two-degree warming pathway which is incompatible with legislated EU and UK emissions The applicant discounts much of the work going on in Europe to develop non-coking coal methods of creating steel and therefore grossly overestimates the amount of coking coal that will be necessary after 2030 Steel production in the EU has been declining since 2007, but the applicant’s proof of evidence posits an annual growth of 0.5% in EU steelmaking. This is a highly unlikely figure Carbon Capture and Storage is expensive and not very efficient. It adds about 30% cost to steel production using coal. As this is the case, EU steel-making is more likely to look to invest in modern lower carbon technology such as hydrogen based production. The “perfect substitution” argument (evidence from Professor Paul Ekins) the perfect substitution argument is contrary to the way in which modern markets operate: the Woodhouse mine will not “displace US mines with higher emissions” and therefore lead to a reduction in global GHG emissions. The US mines will simply sell their product elsewhere if the WCM mine opens, such that the total global level of GHG emissions will be increased, not reduced, by the opening of the mine. If, as a result of this mine being granted permissions, the UK is required to import low-sulphur coal from Australia to blend with their new domestic product, then Mr Truman’s case appears to be that the UK is effectively switching from the import of US coal to the import of Australian coal. (The analysis for Europe is the same). Even if there was already some existing import of Australian coal, the lower quality (as against US HVA coal) of the WCM coal would presumably require a higher amount of Australian coal. At best for WCM, this means there is no justification at all for making any claim that there will be net transport GHG savings. Inhibiting the transfer to low-carbon steel technology (evidence from Professor Paul Ekins) Steel makers are already looking to make the transition to lower-carbon methods of production in order to ensure that their business will remain viable within legislated climate targets, because they are aware that prices on carbon emissions are very likely to rise significantly over the coming decades, and because they see an emerging market for “green steel” and the opportunity to establish market share globally selling it. The availability of cheap coking coal, given the broadly comparable capital investments being considered might well influence steel makers away from the H-DRI technologies that are currently being demonstrated in the EU. The jobs argument (evidence from Rebekah Diski, Senior Researcher at the New Economics Foundation) Mr Kirkbride asserts that the project will create “up to” 532 permanent staff positions. However the applicant provided no clear methodology for how these employment numbers were ascertained and there is no independent verification of these figures, merely an assertion in the WCM documentation. Any apprenticeships offered are in the context of a development necessarily limited to 2049 for a technology rendered redundant because of climate change legislation. It is therefore difficult to see how such apprenticeships offer any meaningful long-term benefit to local young people, leaving them stranded in terms of future employment prospects. It’s the equivalent of offering apprenticeships in asbestos-based building techniques. Rather than committing to offering a high level of local jobs, this target is not actually set, but is something to “aim at” on the basis of what is commercially convenient. There will be no penalties if WCM fails to reach this target. Local skills shortages mean that WCM would need to employ a significant number of non-local staff and likely look beyond the UK for appropriately skilled mine workers. Only 3% of the respondents to WCM’s local labour survey would be realistically capable of working at the mine. One of the key obstacles to meeting Cumbria’s climate targets is appropriate investment in green skills (e.g. heat pump installers, insulation retrofitters, builders with low carbon construction skills etc). Clearly, the development of skills in the local area in respect of a project with a lifetime shorter than the average career (if the mine is operational 2024-49) which could otherwise be focussed on alternative low-carbon jobs will only intensify the local green skills shortage and also leave those employed by the mine without relevant skills for a net zero carbon economy. Update 29th April 2021: Whitehaven Coal Mine, final chance to have your say. The application for a coal mine at Whitehaven will be decided at a Public Inquiry in September this year. There is a final opportunity for members of the public to send in a representation to the Planning Inspector by May 6th next week. You can also ask to speak at the Inquiry. Read on for details of our concerns about the project and for how to send your comments to the inspector. You can send your comments to the Planning Inspector or register to speak even if you didn’t respond to the original planning application. Friends of the Lake District has written to the Planning Inspector reiterating our objections to the plans for the coal mine near Whitehaven. Our concerns about the mine can be summarised as follows: It is not in the public interest as it prioritises a small number of investors and employees above the international climate crisis and environmental damage; It contradicts local, national and international climate change commitments; It increases the risk that local, national and international greenhouse gas emissions targets will not be met; It will exacerbate local, national and international climate change impacts (including impacts upon the Lake District National Park and the English Lake District World Heritage Site and their settings); It will severely compromise Cumbria’s chances of securing a sustainable economic future and fulfilling its potential as a leader in the green revolution, It will lock West Cumbria into a short-term boom-and-bust cycle over a period of 25 years at the most, saddling communities with outdated high-carbon industrial infrastructure and skillsets and limited prospects to participate in the green revolution and a net zero carbon economy. It is not in the interests of the common good for development of this mine to go ahead. It is unsustainable in the true meaning of the word in that it will leave the world a worse place for future generations. Friends of the Lake District firmly believes that the environment and therefore the wider public interest is not served by this development. You can read our letter to the Planning Inspector here Friends of the Earth have put together a helpful information sheet on how to go about sending a representation to the Inspector and also how to register to speak at the Planning Inquiry. You can find the information sheet here, it contains some more information about the proposed development along with links to the original planning documents, Lord Deben’s letter on behalf of the Climate Change Committee and the email address/postal address to send your comments to. Update 16th March 2021: Coal Mine to go to public inquiry The Government has finally stepped in to review the decision to open a new coal mine in Cumbria. On Friday, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick informed Cumbria County Council that he will ‘call in’ the proposed planning application for the mine – the approval of which would have significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions. This is exactly what we’ve been campaigning for, and is a huge step towards the coal mine being scrapped for good. A Public Inquiry will now be held by an independent Planning Inspector to assess the evidence around climate change, something which has been hard for Cumbria County Council to do objectively due to pressure from local politicians and interest groups. Public pressure has paid off once again. In his letter to the Council, Robert Jenrick stated that he was intervening, in part, because of controversy surrounding the mine. Together with other local and national organisations, we spoke up and our collective voice could not be ignored. Read the government's letter about calling in the coal mine decision here Update 10th February 2021 Friends of the Lake District welcomes Cumbria County Council’s decision to rethink the Whitehaven coal mine Commenting on Cumbria County Council’s decision to reconsider their earlier decision to approve the Whitehaven coal mine, Douglas Chalmers said: “The increase in carbon emissions from this mine alone would amount to more emissions than the Climate Change Committee has projected for all open UK coal mines up to 2050. A new mine jeopardises the UK’s goals of phasing out coal by 2035, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as undermining the UK’s COP26 Climate Change Conference Presidency and international credibility. We do not need the mine, 85% of the coal to be produced is for export. “The County Council has the chance to show real leadership in the fight against climate change by recognising Cumbria’s potential to be at the heart of a Green Industrial Revolution. Mining jobs have a fixed timespan. Instead, there is the potential to create jobs that will be sustainable into the future by maximising Cumbria’s significant renewable energy resources and innovating sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing processes. Then we could all look forward to the future Cumbria deserves rather than regretting a missed opportunity.” FAQs about the proposed Coal Mine Q: The mine is for coking coal to make steel not for power stations generation, so it's OK isn't it?A: We understand that the coal is for coking plants. It still has a huge carbon cost. The total emissions from the mine (420 million tonnes of CO2) will exceed the whole of the UK’s carbon emissions in 2018. You can read more about this here https://www.green-alliance.org.uk/resources/The_case_against_new_coal_mines_in_the_UK.pdf Q: No one has invented a substitute for steel and it has to be made somewhere. The alternative to the Cumbrian mine is imported coking coal or exporting the steel making jobs.A: The steel industry is fast moving away from using coking coal. By the time the coal mine is up and running, Europe’s steel industry (where the 85% of the coal not used in the UK is supposed to go) will be quickly moving away from use of coking coal and towards hydrogen. Steel making using coking coal is old, dirty technology and the steel industry is quickly innovating to ensure they bring their carbon emissions down https://greenallianceblog.org.uk/2021/02/09/why-europe-doesnt-need-cumbrias-coking-coal/ Q: Imported coal will only ADD to carbon emissions as transport will have to be taken into consideration.A: If there were savings from reduced transportation of coal, these would not cancel out or neutralise the emissions from the mine operations. In the context of the UK’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and global efforts to keep carbon emissions in line with a scenario compatible with no more than a 1.5*C increase, absolute reductions of emissions are required, rather than balancing off one set of emissions against another. Q: Without this source of coal the future of British steel is threatened. However burning coking coal won't go away to salve our conscience, it will just move to China where environmental protection is less enforced than in Britain, won't it?A: British Steel will only be using 15% maximum of the extracted coal. Using the import/export emissions argument, the 85% of coal exported from the UK will also cause emissions. British Steel is also moving towards lower carbon models of manufacturing, so it’s unlikely that not opening Woodhouse Mine will cause British Steel to collapse. Q: West Cumbria is a deprived area, with high unemployment and low wage jobs. This mine would help reverse that.A: The Local Government Association estimates that there will be nearly 900 jobs created in West Cumbria thanks to the development of green and low carbon technologies such as offshore wind and low carbon energy generation. We need to take a step for the future now rather than putting it off again and leaving the mess for future generations to deal with. Coal used to be one of our backbone industries, when we had fewer alternatives. The world is different now, we know more about how these industries damage the environment, so we need to look for better, cleaner ways of making things. Local Government Association statistics on green jobs in their report “Local green jobs - accelerating a sustainable economic recovery”: https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/view/lga-research/estimated-total-number-of-direct-jobs-in-low-carbon-and-renewable-energy-sector Q: The mine would be in Whitehaven, not the Lake District. So why are you objecting?A: Friends of the Lake District covers the whole of Cumbria, and exists to protect the landscape of Cumbria and the Lake District, for the future, for everyone. Q: You're a landscape charity, why are you objecting to this?A: As a charity that campaigns to look after Cumbria and the Lake District, we are very aware of the impact that climate change is having on our landscape and environment. The emissions that this mine will cause will originate from our backyard so to speak. We need to be calling out the danger of climate change to future generations, we need to give them the chance to appreciate the environment of Cumbria and the Lake District. Any process that will increase world carbon emissions this much needs to be opposed. It’s time to force progress on new industrial processes rather than looking back at the old damaging ways of doing things. Update 4th February 2021 Friends of the Lake District signs letter to the Prime Minister protesting the new Cumbria coal mine decision We have joined with 79 other concerned groups and written to the Prime Minister questioning why Robert Jenrick decided not to put the proposed Whitehaven Mine in west Cumbria through a Planning Inquiry process. Read more: Friends of the Lake District signs letter to the Prime Minister protesting the new Cumbria coal mine decision Read the full letter to the Prime Minister about the Cumbria Coal Mine here. 11th January 2021 We were very disappointed to hear on Friday that the Government has decided not to call in Cumbria County Council's decision to allow a new coal mine to be built near Whitehaven. We agree with Friends of the Earth and the World Wide Fund for Nature and others that this is the wrong decision in the face of climate emergency. Read more: Jenrick criticised over decision not to block new Cumbria coal mine 16th October 2020 We, along with several other organisations including the World Wide Fund for Nature, have written to the Secretary of State requesting that he ‘call in’, or reconsider, Cumbria County Council's decision to approve a new coal mine near Whitehaven. An Article 31 holding direction has now been placed on this application, to allow the Secretary of State time to consider whether call in is warranted. This means that Cumbria County Council cannot issue a decision notice until the Secretary of State has decided whether he will call in the application. Our concerns about this proposal relate primarily to climate change, which will affect many aspects of our lives and the environment both within and outside protected landscapes. We recognise that many support the scheme on the basis that it will provide jobs for the area. While this is of course important, we share the view of many others that in the context of climate emergency (as has been declared by the County Council), the economy should be supported in ways that will also help us to avoid or mitigate the issues of climate change, and not in ways that will further exacerbate them or that will make it more difficult to address them. Read more on the BBC website: Whitehaven coal mine approved for third time
Second Homes: Government Call for Evidence on Impact of Holiday Lets on Communities The Government is asking for information to support the option of requiring a registration system for holiday lets. It follows plans set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to allow local authorities to increase Council Tax on second homes by 100%. Expand Update 25 August 2022 Government Call for Evidence on Impact of Holiday Lets on Communities The Government is asking for information to support the option of requiring a registration system for holiday lets. It follows plans set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to allow local authorities to increase Council Tax on second homes by 100%. These are both measures Friends of the Lake District and others have called for as part of the suite of tools needed. While holiday lets and second homes have a role to play in the economy and communities of the Lake District, it has long been recognised that when high proportions of dwellings in a community have been lost to these other uses, there are implications. This includes putting pressure on authorities to develop greenfield sites for additional housing that may not necessarily be needed if local people could still access (physically and financially) a home among the existing stock. We will be making a response before the deadline of 21st September. Although the government is particularly interested in hearing from organisations and relevant businesses, the consultation is open to everyone. Find out more here: Developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England: call for evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 25 May 2022 The Queen's Speech last week introduced the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. Wider changes through a dedicated Planning Bill had been expected, but plans, including several concerning and damaging proposals that we and others challenged during earlier consultations, have been scrapped. Much of the detail will come later in the form of regulations and changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, on which there will be public consultation. However, some specific details of the Bill were particularly interesting. This included provision for council tax charges to be increased by up to 100% on dwellings occupied only periodically, such as second (or third, or fourth) homes. 100% of council tax can already be charged on second homes. However, allowing an increase of up to 100% will enable councils to charge double the rate of council tax on second homes. This is already legislated for and in use in Wales (although they are increasing this to 300% from April 2023 along with introducing other measures) and could deter some second home ownership while also providing an additional revenue stream that councils can use to support communities. This isn’t about banning second homes or pitting ourselves against second home-owners. We recognise that these, along with holiday lets, have a role to play in the economy and communities of the Lake District. Indeed, some of the prominent cultural figures of the Lake District themselves owned second homes here and some of the properties that are now prime examples of the cultural characteristics for which the National Park is designated a World Heritage Site were built as holiday homes. However, when high proportions of the dwellings in a community have been lost to these other uses, there are negative implications, from school closures to putting pressure on authorities to develop greenfield sites for additional housing that would not necessarily be needed if local people could still access (physically and financially) a home amongst the existing stock. We therefore welcome this move; it is a positive step forward, and one that we and many others asked for, but it isn’t enough. This is a complex issue and it will take more than additional charges to put our communities on the right footing. A suite of tools is required. The Countryside Charity CPRE shares our concerns – their research earlier this year highlighted that South Lakeland saw a 1,231% increase in short term letting listings between 2016 and 2020, as do local MPs such as Tim Farron. The Lake District National Park Partnership is delivering on its Partnership Plan action to lobby the Government for changes to address these issues and recently wrote to Cumbria County Council seeking their support. The Campaign for National Parks and parish councils are also behind us. The Campaign for National Parks submitted a response to proposals for further strengthening of measures in Wales recently while Allithwaite and Cartmel Parish Council are seeking to introduce a primary residence policy in their Neighbourhood Plan. In addition to extra council tax charges, we would like to see: a mechanism to control the conversion of first to second (or third, fourth etc) homes in the Lake District through the planning system, namely changes to the Use Classes Order to differentiate between categories of dwelling and a requirement for planning permission to be sought to move between the categories (this will more than likely need to be accompanied by policy, guidance and relevant monitoring to provide criteria and evidence with which to inform a refusal or approval of such permission) the closing of business-rate relief loop-holes for holiday lets; a compulsory licensing scheme for holiday lets ring-fencing of additional council tax monies for projects that support communities, such as to bring other empty homes back into use We at Friends of the Lake District need to continue lobbying and campaigning for these further changes - including through the Lake District National Park Partnership, working with other like-minded organisations and parties such as CPRE and local MPs and through our own responses to relevant consultations on changes to national and national planning policy and guidance and on relevant legislation. These measures could then work alongside others, such as local occupancy clauses on new homes and projects to bring other types of empty home back into use to help ensure that a significant percentage of dwellings remain in use for their intended purpose, as homes, helping local people and communities to thrive, while protecting our landscapes and wider environment from unnecessary development.
Water Quality We are very aware of the public disquiet around water quality in Windermere and other lakes in Cumbria and on the Cumbrian coast and share the concerns of members and supporters who have contacted us about it. Expand Friends of the Lake District is very aware of the public disquiet around water quality in Windermere and other waterbodies in Cumbria and on the Cumbrian coast and share the concerns of our members and supporters who have contacted us about it. Many people have asked us what we are going to do about it, and in answer, we will continue to support campaigns against discharges into Windermere and we will continue to raise the issue of water pollution with United Utilities and the Environment Agency in meetings and consultation responses. There are people who would like us to campaign directly on this issue. In response to this, we would say that there are other individuals and organisations who have more experience on the subject of water quality and water pollution than Friends of the Lake District and who can put more expertise and capacity into campaigning for clean water. This does not mean that we don’t care about water pollution, but rather, it is a more efficient and effective use of our resources to support those who are already successfully campaigning on these issues. In our recent Conserving Lakeland members' magazine we ran a piece by Matt Staniek, who has brought the issue of pollution in Windermere to millions of people through appearances on Countryfile, TV news and social media. We are looking to the new Love Windermere Partnership as a means of tackling some of the upstream pollution issues such as septic tank discharges and agricultural runoff. We are hopeful that some of the measures put in place will improve the quality of the water. The Love Windermere Partnership has come about because of pressure exerted by members of the public raising concerns about water quality in the lake, so it is positive to see that public pressure is having results. The Big Windermere Survey of water quality is a citizen science project being run by the Freshwater Biological Association with water samples being analysed by Lancaster University. The data that come out of this will, over the long term, show whether the quality of Windermere’s water is improving or not. We will be watching and challenging where necessary.
Climate Change, COP27 and a review of 2022 It seems a long time since we were at COP26 in Glasgow, but after a winter of damaging storms and summer of record-breaking heat here in Cumbria and extreme weather events around the world, the need to do something about climate change is ever more pressing. Expand Kate Willshaw, Friends of the Lake District Policy Officer writes The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 gets underway this week and the world is focused once again on climate change. 2022 fits in the pattern of one of the warmest years on record since the last Ice Age despite this being a La Niña year which would usually see temperatures being cooler than usual: Eight warmest years record witness upsurge climage change impacts. It seems a long time since Friends of the Lake District was at COP26 in Glasgow last year (pictured), but after a winter of damaging storms and summer of record-breaking heat here in Cumbria and extreme weather events around the UK and world, the need to do something about climate change looks ever more pressing and we continue to work with others on trying to reduce emissions and increase landscape resilience. Storm Arwen in late November last year caused huge damage to our electrical infrastructure, and many people in the county were left without power for days. Thousands of trees were lost in the storm, dramatically altering much-loved landscapes across Cumbria. Image left: A tree down in Storm Arwen, photo, James Bentley. An Ambleside resident writes movingly of the impact on the community, sadly highlighting the loss of life that these events can cause here: Reflections on Storm Arwen. In July 2022 a heatwave exacerbated the already poor water quality in Windermere, expanding the blue green algal blooms across the lake. Heat records were smashed by more than 2 degrees Celsius at 6 of Cumbria’s official Met Office weather stations and by 3.6*C at Levens Hall. The magnitude of the change in records cannot be overstated, normally temperature records are only broken by tenths of a degree. Max temperatures Tuesday 19th July 2022 (in degrees C) Pre-July 2022 Record temperatures(degrees C) CUMBRIA Carlisle 34.5 32.4 Keswick 34.3 30.8 Shap 32.8 30.1 Levens Hall 34.8 31.2 Isle of Walney 33.9 30.8 Weather records are falling on a yearly basis, demonstrating that climate change is happening here and now in Cumbria. The landscape, environment and communities are all feeling the effects, and many people are left wondering what will be next fearing storms, floods and suffering in the heat. Friends of the Lake District is working closely with Zero Carbon Cumbria, the Lake District National Park Partnership, the Local Nature Partnership and others to look for landscape and nature-based solutions to adapt to and mitigate climate change and also how to reduce climate emissions from transport and domestic and business buildings through increasing take up of solar panels and changes to the way visitors and residents travel across the county. We will also continue to campaign against high-carbon emitting developments such as the Whitehaven Coal Mine and the A66 upgrade. We hope to see positive outcomes from COP27, because unless the major polluters step up and start taking action, things for people and nature here in Cumbria, the UK and across the world will continue to become more difficult because of extreme weather events. Meanwhile we will continue to do what we can to help protect the landscape of Cumbria and the Lake District from the worst ravages of climate change.
Community input needed to Design Code for the Lake District Both local people and visitors are being urged to contribute to the production of new design guidance for the Lake District National Park. Expand Local people and visitors alike are being urged to contribute to the production of new design guidance for the Lake District National Park. The Lake District National Park Authority has been allocated £120,000 to develop local design standards as a pilot for the National Model Design Code system. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Design Code Pathfinder Programme is aimed at empowering communities to have more influence on how development looks, including aspects such as specifying local building materials or informing the layout of streets, and to help ensure that developments enhance their surroundings and conserve local character. The result of the process will be design code document that is adopted as a supplementary planning document and will therefore carry weight in planning decisions. The design codes created through this pilot scheme will be used as examples that communities across the Country can use to guide the creation of their own. Friends of the Lake District has been invited to form part of the steering group that will guide the development of the design code. The steering group will guide the approach to consultation, the code content and the application of the code. However, the success of this process is also reliant on communities getting involved and we strongly urge our members and supporters to take up the opportunities to contribute to the new design code. Already, an app has been released that allows people to select locations/buildings that they feel represent good or bad design examples in the Lake District and add notes to explain why. The PlaceCheck app can be accessed here and you can find out more about how the app will contribute to the process here: Put a pin on the Lake District map to help shape new design code: Lake District National Park In addition, an online consultation hub will launch on 7th November and the Lake District National Park Authority will host a stand at Keswick Market on 10th November to encourage people to use the Place Check app and the consultation hub, and to explain a bit more about the design code process and what having a design code will mean for the National Park. If people have any questions or want to send any photos/examples of good or bad design to Lake District National Park Authority, there is a dedicated email address too: [email protected] A draft design code is expected before Christmas 2022 and, subject to meeting this target, it will be then subject to a formal public consultation during February and March. It is hoped that the final design code will be adopted by the National Park in June 2023, and from then will be taken into account in planning decisions. You can find out more here: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/planningpolicies/design-code Carlisle City Council has also been allocated £120,000 to create a design code for the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village area.
Copeland Local Plan Working closely with the National Trust, we have been successful in securing changes to Copeland’s emerging local plan that will see the area proposed as an extension to the St Bee’s Heritage Coast protected by planning policy. Changes to better protect dark skies have also been included. Copeland Borough Council has now submitted it’s Local Plan to the Government. The Local Plan will now be subject to a Public Examination by a Planning Inspector Expand 21st October 2022 Copeland Borough Council has now submitted it’s Local Plan to the Government. The Local Plan will now be subject to a Public Examination by a Planning Inspector. 19th May 2022 Working closely with the National Trust, we have been successful in securing changes to Copeland’s emerging local plan that will see the area proposed as an extension to the St Bee’s Heritage Coast protected by planning policy. Changes to better protect dark skies have also been included. The preparation of the Copeland Local Plan is in its final stages and we understand that the next step will be for the Council to submit the Plan to the Government for Examination. Copeland Borough Council is currently consulting on the final draft of their new Local Plan. The Plan will set new planning policies and identify areas for new development in the area of Copeland that lies outside the Lake District National Park. We have responded to earlier consultations during the preparation of the new plan and have been pleased to see some of our suggested changes taken into account, including in relation to dark skies and the St Bees and Whitehaven heritage coast extension. We will be reviewing the final draft document in more detail and responding to the consultation by the deadline of Monday 21st February 2022. To find out more and have your say, please see https://www.copeland.gov.uk/content/local-plan-2021-2038-publication-draft-consultation
Penrith Neighbourhood Plan: Protecting Penrith Beacon We have written to Penrith Town Council confirming that we would not support a Neighbourhood Plan that did not protect green spaces, particularly the Beacon, and that did not reflect the views of the local community. Expand 20th October 2022 Following public consultation, changes were made to the Neighbourhood Plan, including changes we supported to ensure the plan properly protected the Beacon, which is a key landscape feature of the area. Penrith Town Council then submitted their plan for examination. An independent examiner has ruled that the policies relating to green spaces and leisure facilities, including the Beacon, should be removed from the Neighbourhood Plan. Although the examiner found that subject to this removal, the Plan could proceed to referendum, Penrith Town Council do not want this and are concerned that the Plan would not reflect residents wishes if it did not include policies to protect green spaces. We are unclear as yet whether Eden District Council’s Planning Policy department endorses the examiner’s view. The Town Council asked for comments to help them judge what support there would be for a Plan that says nothing about protecting open green spaces and leisure areas within the town. We wrote to the Town Council to confirm that we would not support a Neighbourhood Plan that did not protect green spaces, particularly the Beacon, and that did not reflect the views of the local community. We await further updates. A consultation is currently underway seeking comments on a draft policy to give planning protection to an area of Penrith Beacon, an important landscape feature and landmark immediately north east of Penrith, as part of Penrith Neighbourhood Plan. In an unusual step, the policy has been put forward by the Examiner assessing the Plan after he confirmed that the area was too large to be given protection as a Local Green Space but that it nevertheless warranted special protection because of its value for the local community, the landscape, wildlife and recreation. Policies were proposed by Penrith Town Council and landowners Lowther Estate Trust but the Examiner did not fully agree with either approach. We very much support the inclusion of a policy to protect the Beacon and have been working closely with local campaign group, Keep Penrith Special, to help secure this. We will be responding to this final consultation on the Penrith Neighbourhood Plan with our comments on the detailed wording of the policy. To find out more and have your say please see https://www.eden.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-planning/penrith-neighbourhood-planning-area/ . The deadline for comments is Friday 4th February 2022. Image by Claire Dowling.
Further Information We are not alone in our concerns. We are supporting concerns raised by 78 environmental, animal welfare and heritage organisations including RSPB, Rivers Trust and CPRE the Countryside Charity who Friends of the Lake District represents in Cumbria. Expand Return to Campaign homepage> We are not alone in our concerns. We are supporting concerns raised by 78 environmental, animal welfare and heritage organisations including RSPB, Rivers Trust and CPRE the Countryside Charity who Friends of the Lake District represents in Cumbria. Green Alliance Blog: How can the Government claim its still green if it rolls back environmental protection? Retained EU Law Revocation and Reform Bill National Trust: Our response to recent Government proposals Attack on Nature is a Mistake Times article by William Hague Wildlife Trusts: UK Government’s deregulation agenda is dangerous: for the good of future generations, we must retain existing laws and enhance nature protection instead A list of the policies in the 2019 Conservative Manifesto which are at odds with those proposed by the current government Economic prosperity: is it actually in our Nature?On Monday 17 October 2022, GreenAllianceUK hosted a joint online event with Natural England, to explore why nature recovery and economic recovery are not mutually exclusive goals. Take Action and tell the Government to stand up for the landscape and environment and to stop its #AttackOnNature
Government Review of the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) Friends of the Lake District firmly believes that our farmers can produce healthy food, a healthy landscape and contribute to sustainable communities. But they must be supported by realistic payment schemes that are workable on the ground and reward producing public benefits. Expand 29th September 2022 The future of the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) has been much in the news this week. This is a suite of three sub schemes which will replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and current system of payments to farmers and land managers. Defra together with a whole host of organisations and individuals has been working on designing the ELMS scheme for the last five years. Instead of paying farmers for simply owning or tenanting land, it will pay for benefits that are provided for the public, such as wildlife habitats, sequestering carbon, access, water and soil health, and so on and would represent the biggest shake up of agricultural policy for 40 years. However, rumours abounded earlier in the week that Defra was reviewing the scheme and that it may go back on its commitments to the environment. The NFU said the ELMS scheme was not fit for purpose and should be halted until improvements were made. Their President stated: "We have always been calling for a better policy, one that does deliver for food production and for the environment." Many environmental organisations responded angrily to the suggestion that the scheme could be delayed or scaled back. The Government has responded and stated that it does not intend to go back on its commitment to the environment. “As set out in the Growth Plan, we will be looking at the frameworks for regulation, innovation and investment that impact farmers and land managers, to make sure that our policies are best placed to both boost food production and protect the environment. This includes looking at how best to deliver the Environmental Land Management schemes to see where and how improvements can be made, and we will continue to work closely with the sector to ensure these are designed and delivered in their best interests. We’re not scrapping the schemes. In light of the pressures farmers are facing as a result of the current global economic situation, including spikes in input costs, it’s only right that we look at how best to deliver the schemes to see where and how improvements can be made. Boosting food production and strengthening resilience and sustainability come alongside, not instead of, protecting and enhancing our natural environment, and later this year we will set out more details of plans on how we will increase food security while strengthening the resilience and role of farmers as stewards of the British countryside”. These are fine words by the Government. However, there has already been a reversal of the fracking moratorium and environmental organisations are concerned about a lack of commitment to the environment and climate change. We unfortunately have a nature crisis, a climate crisis and in our uplands a farmer crisis (less farmers, increasing age, loss of skills and labour). The ELMS scheme has been in development for some years, with Defra using some new techniques to inform this, such as tests and trials on farms, and advisory groups where proposals have been shared with farmers and others and their feedback sought. This is all positive. But, these are incredibly unsettling times for farmers and land managers. The Basic Payment Scheme is being fazed out in 2027 and there is still no clear information on exactly what will be funded, what the payment levels will be, and what the requirements of schemes will be. Input costs are rising at an alarming rate and quick decisions are having to be made in a vacuum. This means it remains impossible for farmers to plan ahead and decide their future plans. These are also difficult times for nature and our climate and we need action sooner rather than later. Any further delay in scheme development will only compound all these problems and in turn delay farmers taking action that will help nature and landscape recovery as well as their farm business. Friends of the Lake District firmly believes that our farmers can produce healthy food, a healthy landscape and contribute to sustainable communities. But, they must be supported by realistic payments, schemes that are deliverable on the ground and reward them for producing public benefits, a good advisory services and more information about schemes must be released as a matter of urgency.
#Attack on Nature Our economy, food security and physical and mental health and wellbeing depend on a thriving natural environment. Please add your voice to calls for the government to continue to stand up for the landscape and environment. Expand Image above: Poisonous blue green algae in Windermere. One of the problems likely to become more common if environmental protections are watered down. Introduction – call for action Like us, you may be extremely concerned about Government's attack on the climate, environment and landscape, and that environmental legal protections under EU legislation may not be replaced in UK law. We are particularly concerned that the Government thinks that National Parks and protected landscapes could be suitable for consideration as “Investment Zones” where current planning and environmental laws and regulations would be suspended. Pitting economic growth against nature and the landscape is a false choice. Our economy, food security and physical and mental health and wellbeing depend on a thriving and well supported natural environment. We need clear plans from Government to reverse the critical decline in nature, not an attack on the vital rules that protect our environment. This is why Friends of the Lake District is fully supporting the #AttackOnNature campaign along with many other local and national environmental groups. You can read more about these concerns here. Please add your voice to calls for the government to continue to stand up for the landscape and environment. There is some background information below and then we set out action you can take to get this message to the politicians. Background information Friends of the Lake District, along with many other environmental organisations is increasingly alarmed by the Government’s lack of concern for the climate, environment and landscape. Indeed, there appears to be a worrying ignorance about these issues and their importance for supporting the economy of Cumbria and the Lake District, people’s health and wellbeing, and for the protection of our habitats, wildlife and world renowned landscapes. The Government was elected in 2019 on a Manifesto commitment to bring forward “the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth”, but is right now proposing to weaken planning rules, drop protections for our most valuable wildlife sites by scrapping and not replacing EU legislation brought into English law, water down incentives for farmers and land managers to commit to sustainable agriculture and restart fracking. The government’s recent moves toward environmental deregulation will hasten the decline of our natural world. We are particularly concerned that Cumbria’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) will be damaged in the rush for deregulated Investment Zones where planning and other environmental legislation will be suspended at the expense of both residents and the environment. There are at least two of these Investment Zones being considered in Cumbria (at Barrow and the west Cumbria coast - which includes the Lake District National Park) and we urge our local political leaders in both Cumbria County Council and the two Shadow Authorities (due to come into effect in 2023) to think carefully about what that would mean for the ability to protect of Cumbria’s landscape. Cumbria has the highest percentage of land covered by environmental protections in England (64%) and is therefore more at risk from scrapping of protections for our wildlife, landscape and heritage than any other county. Take Action Please contact your MP to ask them to do whatever they can to persuade ministers to retain existing environmental protections and keep our landscape and wildlife safe. This is a nationwide threat, so it’s worth contacting your MP even if you don’t live in Cumbria or the Lake District. Do mention your concern about National Parks as these protected landscapes are for everyone. You can also contact Ministers such as Liz Truss (the Prime Minister), Ranil Jayawardena (Defra – the Dept for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs) and Simon Clarke (Dept for Levelling Up) You can contact your MP and Ministers by email or letter - find their contact details on https://www.theyworkforyou.com -or on Twitter - find your MP’s Twitter account here https://www.politics-social.com/list/followers It’s worth contacting your local councillor or the Leader of your local council to raise concerns as the decision to go ahead with Investment Zones has to be agreed by local authorities as well as Government. In Cumbria, the Leader of the new Westmorland and Furness council is Jonathan Brook ([email protected]) and the Leader of the new Cumberland Council is Mark Fryer ([email protected]) Sign Up for These Campaigns You can also sign up to a number of campaigns being run by others including our national bodies CPRE – the countryside charity and the Campaign for National Parks. Campaign for National Parks Wildlife Trusts – Defend Nature RSPB – Stop the Attack on Nature CPRE - Rethink Fracking Pass the message onTalk to your friends and family about how much is at risk if the Government doesn’t continue to protect the environment in our laws. Further information Green Alliance Blog: How can the Government claim its still green if it rolls back environmental protection? Retained EU Law Revocation and Reform Bill National Trust: Our response to recent Government proposals Attack on Nature is a Mistake Times article by William Hague Wildlife Trusts: UK Government’s deregulation agenda is dangerous: for the good of future generations, we must retain existing laws and enhance nature protection instead A list of the policies in the 2019 Conservative Manifesto which are at odds with those proposed by the current government