Thirlmere Activity Hub Expand 27th July 2017 We recently met with Cumbrian company Tree Top Treks to discuss their proposals for what has been termed a ‘Thirlmere Activity Hub’ comprising of an 18km family friendly cycleway and two zip wires across Thirlmere.The company has launched its plans for consultation prior to submitting a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority.Whilst we have not yet seen a detailed planning application for the proposal (nor has it been submitted to the LDNPA) we are concerned regarding the impacts of this proposal.In terms of the cycle way element of the development we consider that this could be a positive development provided it is designed sensitively. This could provide a safe and enjoyable means of accessing the Lake District sustainably. Furthermore the creation of this cycleway could encourage more people to cycle as a way of accessing and enjoying the outdoors and the associated positive impacts on physical and mental health and wellbeing.However, the siting of the two zip wires East-West across Thirlmere we consider to be wholly inappropriate in this location and, from what we have seen so far, we would object to this element of the proposal.Although the structure itself may have a minimal impact we consider that whilst in use the proposal would cause significant detrimental impacts to the landscape character and diminish the tranquillity the Thirlmere valley possesses away from the A591. We are also concerned regarding the management of visitor numbers, increasing traffic and the provision of adequate parking for commercial development in this area of the National Park.National Parks are for everyone to enjoy not just those who can afford to participate in adventure experiences. A commercial development of this type in this prominent location could potentially have a significant impact on the features people visit the Lake District to enjoy – the landscapes, the tranquillity, the heritage.Furthermore, we must now also consider the Lake District’s newly bestowed status as a World Heritage site. The Thirlmere Valley makes an important contribution to the Lake District’s Outstanding Universal Value – the reasons for being awarded the status. This is especially true of the Valley’s association with the early conservation movement. Thirlmere, and the resistance to the desire to create a reservoir to service Manchester in the 1870’s was a seminal moment in the history of the conservation movement and landscape protection in the UK and beyond. This battle brought in to focus the fact that landscapes matter to everyone, not just those who own land; it highlighted the incredible natural resources of the Lake District but also its vulnerability and sensitivity.This proposal once again brings these issues in to focus albeit in a thoroughly modern context. Further information can be found on the company’s website www.treetoptrek.co.uk/Thirlmere where you can also submit feedback to the developer during this consultation phase prior to submission of a planning application.The developer will also be holding a drop in session for the public on August 1st 2017 from 3pm -7pm at Thirlmere Recreational Hall. We would urge any members who are interested and who can attend to do so as this will be a good opportunity to see the plans in a greater level of detail and give your feedback to the developers.We would stress that this application has not yet been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority. We will ensure that you are kept updated on the progression of this application.
MOD proposal to deregister Warcop, Hilton, Murton and Burton commons Expand 17th May 2017 Our objection as submitted to the MoD proposals to deregister Warcop, Hilton, Murton and Burton commons. Applications to Deregister Common Land: CA14/3: Murton Common (CL76), CA14/4 Hilton Common (CL27) and Burton and Warcop Fell Common (CL122)
Energy proposals at Old Hutton Expand Update 27th June 2017 Application SL/2017/0425 comprising of the Installation of a 49.99 MW battery storage facility with associated equipment, and application SL/2017/0426 comprising of the installation of gas fired electricity generating station. You can still respond to these applications by submitting comments via the South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) website. The application reference numbers are: SL/2017/0425 and SL/2017/0426 and can be accessed via these links or by searching on the SLDC website. You can also arrange to view the applications at the SLDC offices in Kendal. Update 14th June 2017 Application SL/2017/0425 comprising of the Installation of a 49.99 MW battery storage facility with associated equipment, and application SL/2017/0426 comprising of the installation of gas fired electricity generating station. Friends of the Lake District have assessed the above proposals and objected to both on the basis of landscape and visual impacts, both individually and cumulatively, transport impacts and the removal of diverse hedgerow to enable access. We do not consider that the applications have fully assessed the impacts of these proposals and they do not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the arguments for the proposals. Our full response can be read here. 16th May 2017 We are aware that two planning applications have been submitted to South Lakeland District Council for significant energy related infrastructure on land at Greenmoor Bank, Old Hutton Kendal. Our planning officer is currently assessing these proposals and will issue our written responses to the application in due course. Initial assessment has raised concerns over the cumulative impacts of the development alongside current infrastructure as well as the two applications combined. We are particularly concerned regarding detrimental impacts on landscape character and visual amenity from key viewpoints including the Helm. The application reference numbers are: SL/2017/0425 and SL/2017/0426 and can be accessed via the SLDC website or by arranging to view the application at the SLDC offices in Kendal.
Car Park at Derwentwater Expand 23rd April 2017 Proposals for a permanent car park for up to 65 vehicles near Catbells have been lodged with the Lake District National Park Authority. Whilst it is acknowledged that there are significant issues with illegal parking in the area we are concerned that this proposal would exacerbate the situation. We consider that it would be more appropriate for the LDNPA to continue to work with all partners and encourage sustainable transport methods to access this popular fell. The proximity to Keswick and the availability of the launch, bus service, and opportunities for walking and cycling to the area mean that the need for private car use is not essential. By formalising car parking in this area would draw a greater number of private vehicles in to this area and would have a negative impact upon the landscape character and tranquillity of the area. Our comments to the LDNPA in full can be viewed here. Change of use of agricultural land to create a permanent car park, The Cupboard Field, Newlands, Portinscale, Keswick, CA12 5UE(pdf document - click to view / download)
Do we really want expressways barrelling across our national parks? Expand Written by Lillian Burns, life member of Friends of the Lake District. A journalist by training, she has done spatial planning and transport policy work (on a voluntary basis) for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), to which Friends of the Lake District is affiliated, for over 20 years. She is non-political. Which of us has not complained when road journeys have been taking longer than we had hoped or we are trapped in a traffic jam? Why can’t this particular road that we happen to be travelling on be ‘improved’ – or that regular bottleneck be bypassed? But when we step back and look at the problems from a wider perspective, do we seriously want to re-create a Los Angeles freeway situation everywhere rather than having a high quality landscape (yes, with quirky, winding roads) and a first class public transport system as exists in Switzerland? What matters most – conserving the things that make a place special and wonderful or getting from ‘A’ to ‘B’ 10 minutes faster than would otherwise be the case – and probably enduring poor air quality while doing it? The travelling public have actually pronounced on this time and again. In survey after survey, they opt for reliability of journeys as their top priority – not time saving. They simply want to know how long a journey will take so that they can plan their day around it. Here in Britain, our political terms of four years nearly always cause politicians to focus in on road building as the solution to transport problems because new or expanded roads can usually be delivered faster than major public transport improvements. But this simply draws us into an increasingly unsustainable spiral of building ever more road capacity to accommodate ever more road trips which we are generating because we are not offering reliable alternatives. Add to this the scenario where so many local facilities have closed down and an expanded choice of education options over wider areas and there is a perfect storm for generating as many road trips as possible. (Whatever happened to the concept of sustainable communities?) However we have got to where we are, we now have a scenario where money and political emphasis is being poured into more roads (again!) while promised rail improvements such as a number of electrification schemes were cut back in the recent Autumn statement. Meanwhile rural bus services in particular - always the poor relation - have been totally decimated in so many places. A plethora of road schemes Friends of the Lake District is dismayed by the raft of road schemes now being contemplated. The Northern TransPennine Study that the Department for Transport and Highways England have been running has proved to be little more than a rubber-stamp exercise for progressing moves towards the dualling of the entire A66 and a ‘mini study’ that sprung from it looking at roads to the west of the M6 and led by Cumbria County Council and the Cumbrian LEP has recommended the upgrading of numerous routes. Friends of the Lake District attempted, on both studies, to introduce the voice of environmental reason but alternative arguments to building more road space were not welcomed. Added to which the Northern TransPennine Study consultants consistently circulated images to study members that failed to show the National Park extensions despite prompting from Friends of the Lake District. The Chancellor gave approval on November 23rd for funding to take forward to the next stage plans to provide a dual carriageway across the whole of the A66 corridor (which won’t necessarily be the same thing as adding a lane to the existing single carriageways and will almost certainly involve some off-line sections) and also to re-build two major junctions on the A69 between Hexham and Newcastle. Transport consultants and economists are now working up economic/business cases for these proposed road improvements, which we look forward to scrutinising. How the ‘West of M6’ recommendations will be taken forward remains to be seen. A common feature of all three strategic road studies in the North of England to date has been the dearth of detailed new evidence to support the opinions of professional transport people who have so far focussed on accumulating past evidence through desktop exercises and making assertions. Serving on this and the other two Northern studies - the TransPennine Tunnel Study and the M60 North West Quadrant one - has felt very much like taking a step back to the ‘Roads for Prosperity’ White Paper of 1989. In announcing a massive road building programme, that White Paper made bold assertions about new roads leading to guaranteed economic prosperity. The starting point of the strategic road studies was very similar – we are heading in this direction because transport links need to be improved and, if we do this, it will benefit the economy. (Whatever happened to the much-heralded concept of ‘reducing the need to travel?’) In the event, after the furore created by ‘Roads for Prosperity’, thinking started to change and the government subsequently accepted two seminal reports from SACTRA - the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment. One demonstrated that new roads generate extra traffic movements and another showed that, in a developed country such as the UK, there was no automatic connection between new transport infrastructure and economic growth and also that new roads could actually suck a workforce away from an area rather than bring new businesses to it. It has felt over the last year and a bit, since this latest range of studies commenced, as though everything has come full circle and there has been a determination to forget SACTRA’s findings. This in addition to environmental NGOs being excluded altogether from the formation of a freight strategy for the north – which was simply launched recently without any consultation. Friends of the Lake District will be continuing to follow closely what is happening and will report back to members. In the meantime, anyone interested in catching up with the progress of the Northern TransPennine Route Strategic Study Stage 3 report (or the other strategic studies) can do so at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-investment-strategy-post-2020 and the West of M6 mini study report is available at: http://www.cumbrialep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/West-of-M6-Strategic-Connectivity-Study-Report-FINAL.pdf
Lamplugh Housing Expand 14th June 2017 The Planning Officer is currently assessing an application for 27 executive dwellings in Lamplugh on a side adjacent to the National Park Boundary. We are concerned regarding the density of such development in this area and the associated landscape and visual impacts. We will provide an update once the application has been fully assessed and a site visit undertaken.
West Cumbria Mining proposals Expand 14th June 2017 Friends of the Lake District has received a consultation from Cumbria County Council for the Development of an existing surface mine entrance for a new underground metallurgical coal mine and associated surface development at Pow Beck Valley and area from Marchon Site to St Bees Coast, Cumbria. We have previously provided pre-application response relating to this development and we are currently assessing the proposals at submitted. We will provide an update on this as we progress our response. The application can be accessed on the Cumbria County Council website under the reference number 4/17/9007.