3. Offset the ‘invisible burden’ of tourism by charging visitors

Introduce a socially fair charging mechanism for some forms of tourism to the Lake District, to address their hidden costs to the environment, communities and infrastructure, and to improve public transport.

Popular tourist destinations need a way of dealing with the impacts visitors have on the area. This is already happening in Manchester, Edinburgh, and further afield (eg Venice). Today, the costs of tourism are affecting local communities and the environment, and busy areas are becoming increasingly damaged and degraded.  

A charge for visiting vehicles, for example, could be introduced under current legislation, with the income raised used for transport-related projects such as improved bus services throughout the county, cycle paths and much-needed footpath repairs. With 19 million visitors to the Lake District every year, even a small charge could make a big difference.