National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty We ask new councillors to stand up for the special qualities of our National Parks and AONBs and their settings when making planning and other decisions. Protected landscapes are under increasing pressure from climate change, visitor demands and ever-more development. We must conserve and enhance the landscape so that future generations can continue to enjoy all the societal benefits that we do. Expand This is a time of great change for our protected landscapes, it is imperative that we conserve and enhance their landscapes so that future generations can continue to enjoy all the societal benefits that they provide. We ask that you Work with the LDNPA and AONBs to develop educational campaigns that provide people with the information they need to enjoy the landscape responsibly. Advocate for landscape character and monitoring change to ensure landscape character is enhanced. Champion the quiet enjoyment of the landscape by supporting activities that do not damage the tranquillity that makes this landscape so special. Campaign for inclusive landscapes that are available to all regardless of background.
Planning We need more ambitious plans and bolder decision-making to protect our landscapes and cultural heritage. We need to end the business-as-usual approaches to housing, transport, energy and economic development that are failing Cumbria’s communities and our environment. New plans should address our climate and ecological emergencies, and clarify how they will meet the agreed Cumbrian target of net zero by 2037. Expand The preparation of local plans for the new authorities provides an opportunity to be far more ambitious for Cumbria in protecting our landscapes and cultural heritage, as well as in treating the climate and ecological crises as the emergencies they are. It’s also an opportunity for Cumbria’s local plans to be more connected and mutually complementary in order to deliver the best for Cumbria and fulfull its potential, particularly in relation to transport. We ask you to call for plans and decisions that: recognise and respond to the true value of landscapes and their features and character, visual amenity, cultural heritage and wildlife and the true urgency of the need to tackle the climate and ecological crises genuinely prioritise the re-use of existing buildings and brownfield sites for new development; support the revitalisation of town and village centres and create communities that make active travel and public transport safe, appealing and convenient consider and support imaginative ways to make more efficient use of the existing building stock and to ensure that additional homes do not result in the loss of or harm to landscapes, green spaces, heritage and habitats, but instead create and enhance these turn the tide on the number of homes lost from the local market through high levels of second-home ownership and holiday letting and ensure that new homes closely reflect genuine local needs in relation to size, type, tenure and affordability require new development to be truly carbon neutral (right down to accounting for what is being lost by developing a site), energy and water efficient and with renewable technologies integrated into the design from the start actively prioritise an approach to development that will nurture a role for Cumbria as a leader in the green jobs revolution We ask you to make local plans that take a lead and put an end to the business-as-usual approaches to housing, transport and economic development that are failing Cumbria’s communities and our environment.
Sustainable Transport Building on the Cumbria Transport Infrastructure Plan and the Lake District National Park Management Plan, we should prioritise the decarbonisation of transport in the County. We need to provide people with alternatives to the private car by increasing access to public transport, making mobility a service (e.g. ride-sharing, business-supplied transport for workers), ensuring access to hyper-fast broadband and reducing the need to travel. Expand Getting around the county needs to be made easier for those who do not have a car or who do not want to use a car. Reducing the number of car journeys taken whilst maintaining and improving accessibility to places within the county will have enormous benefits for environmental quality, people’s health and wellbeing and for businesses in Cumbria. Improving transport choices will increase access for everyone whilst reducing air pollution and carbon emissions. Buses should be subsidised (Cumbria is currently the only local authority in England that does not subsidise routes) in order to provide services to more of our communities. Services should ensure people to get to and from work on time and to also provide car-free access for visitors to Cumbria in order to reduce congestion, carbon emissions and air pollution and increase accessibility for those who don’t have access to a private car, both residents and visitors. Active travel solutions must be sought for congestion in towns and villages in the Cumbria (including those in the Lake District National Park). New roads are not the answer here, but better in-town active transport options for those walking and using bikes and electric bikes. The new authorities should lobby for better rail services on both the main and branch lines in the county.
Energy Generation To address the energy supply crisis we should support the installation of renewable energy schemes where they can be sensitively accommodated in the landscape and where there would be no significant impact on protected landscapes or habitats. Local communities must be involved and should benefit from any installation. Expand Climate change is a serious threat to the landscape and environment of the County as well as to its population. Cumbria has already suffered greatly from climate induced severe weather events. The new authorities must address climate change and its impacts in the county through implementation of policies on mitigation and adaptation; including actively promoting domestic and business renewable installation, including large scale solar schemes on existing roofs; significantly increasing domestic and business energy efficiency and a step change increase in insulation schemes to cut fuel poverty amongst Cumbria’s residents; increasing the number of jobs and apprenticeships in green industries in order to put a qualified workforce in place to make these necessary improvements The new authorities will need to continue to work with communities to encourage them to become more resilient in the face of increased climate induced storm damage and flood risk. Following the successful climate jury process in several towns and villages across Cumbria, we would encourage the new authorities to consider running these across the county in order to involve, inform and empower communities to provide locally appropriate solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. We urge the new authorities to continue to support Zero Carbon Cumbria’s 2037 net zero goal and to support and promote the work that is being carried out through the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.
Health and Wellbeing We should recognise the many benefits of interacting with nature, including the mental and physical health of Cumbrian residents. Protecting and enhancing our green spaces and the rural environment should be a priority for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Expand Cumbria’s landscapes provide so many opportunities for improving the health and wellbeing of Cumbrian residents. We ask the new authority members to: Recognise the many benefits of interacting with nature, particularly on our mental and physical health Protect and enhance our green spaces and the rural environment, for the benefit of people and wildlife Support social prescribing schemes and services across Cumbria. Campaign for incorporating outdoor learning into the curriculum for all schools in Cumbria. Every young person should have access to the outdoors as an essential part of learning and personal development, no matter their circumstances. Climate Anxiety is on the rise particularly amongst young people, outdoor learning will help build connections to the natural world, help young people explore the impact of climate change on a local level and become actively involved in the improvement of their local environment. Support the creation and retention of landscape-based jobs and countryside management skills initiatives
Dark Skies We should promote planning policies to prevent light pollution to save much needed energy, protect biodiversity and give unspoiled Dark Skies back to residents and visitors. This needs to involve the continuation of the innovative and successful work by Cumbria Highways to renew street lighting. Expand Cumbria is blessed with some of finest Dark Skies in England, yet for many in the county increasing light pollution is preventing our residents and visitors seeing the stars in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. We ask for continued support of the Dark Skies Cumbria project www.darkskiescumbria.org.uk
Wildlife, Habitats and Green Infrastructure The new authorities have opportunities to enhance the wildlife value of the estates they own and manage such as parks, roadside verges, woodlands, trees and properties. Biodiversity gain focussed on native species should be incorporated into their decision making. Local authorities should ensure that all their policymaking and planning decisions create, restore and enhance as much wildlife habitat as possible. Expand We ask the new councillors to take the protection and enhancement of the natural environment into account in decision-making processes. We ask you to protect sites and habitats by: Actively supporting and contributing to the Cumbria Local Nature Partnership in order to create, restore and enhance habitats across the county in order to increase wildlife and sequester carbon. Supporting the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre Ensuring that land the new authority owns and/or manages is managed for the maximum biodiversity gain Ensuring that public realm works, local plans and planning decisions incorporate the principles of green infrastructure Using the Cumbria County Council Roadside Verge database to ensure that roadside verges are managed for their unique flora As there is more pressure on the landscape for tree planting we ask new authority members to support native, broadleaf woodlands and tree planting where it enhances landscape character. Native woodlands are more biodiverse and will be more resilient to climate change than woodlands with non-native, conifer species. We ask new authority members recognise the value of our native woodlands for helping to combat climate change and for the societal benefits they provide. We ask that new councillors advocate for the removal of non-native conifer species from the landscape to increase biodiversity, enhance landscape character and ensure landscape resilience.
Water Our County’s rivers, lakes and streams are vital for people and wildlife and must be kept clean and free of pollution. The new authorities must ensure that water quality is monitored properly. Quick and effective action must be taken to control pollution and extraction demands, to keep our waterbodies clean and healthy for both people and wildlife. Expand Cumbria has a huge number of lakes, tarns, rivers and streams, all of which add to the beauty of the landscape. The County also supplies a lot of NW England with its drinking water supply making our lakes an important national resource. Pressure on waterbodies includes pollution from sewage effluent and agricultural runoff, inappropriate recreational use, flooding erosion and over abstraction for water supply. The waterbodies of Cumbria are used recreationally by millions of people every year attracting both local people and visitors and supporting numerous businesses. The rise in these activities means it is more important than ever that rivers, lakes and streams are kept clean and free of pollution. Water saving measures should be incorporated into local authority properties and be promoted through planning decisions and local plans. Whilst Cumbria appears to have an abundance of water, water conservation reduces the energy needed to process raw water and reduces water use, helping to tackle low reservoir levels in times of drought. As Local Flood Authorities, the two new authorities will need to continue to work through Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership with upland landowners, Internal Drainage Boards, Rivers Trusts and other land managers and agencies in order to look at ways of reducing downstream flooding from high impact rainfall and storm events in towns and villages in Cumbria. This is particularly important in light of the severe flooding events that have taken place in the county over the last 15 years. Continue to engage in the Northwest Shoreline Management Plan process
Rural Communities and Agriculture Our rural communities are facing many challenges, including an ageing population, second home ownership and loss of services such as shops, schools and public transport. The new authorities should support local businesses and locally produced food and goods and work in partnership with communities to ensure they are vital and resilient. Expand The new local authorities need to work with our upland farmers to ensure there is a sustainable future for upland agriculture in the face of uncertainty following Brexit and new land management schemes.
Common Land The new authorities should work with partners to find a more sustainable future for Cumbria’s common land, protecting all stakeholders and the wide range of public benefits they deliver. Expand
CUMBERLAND SPECIFIC: Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Any GDF agreed with Cumberland communities will need improved infrastructure such as power transmission lines and road, rail and sea links. The impact of the development of a GDF on the landscapes of Cumbria and the Lake District must be accounted for in the development of any plans. Expand