Locals accuse Lake District authority of turning region into a ‘theme park’
Its fascinating to sit on the outside looking at this issue. It seems to me that for the Lake District we could read a number of iconic British landscapes where people have to live their lives just like you and me. This story tells us:
The authority responsible for the Lake District has become the focus of angry protest from residents and campaigners over accusations that it has turned the region into a theme park.
Keswick town council passed a historic and unanimous vote of no confidence against the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) over its decision to resurface a path to make it more accessible to vehicles. Keswick represents almost 20% of the population of the Lake District.
The unprecedented vote in Keswick comes after a series of disagreements between the park authority and local councillors, residents and campaigners, with the latter claiming that commercial interests are being put ahead of the needs of people who live and work in the community.
Five days ago senior leaders at the park authority voted against a ban on recreational off-road vehicles which devastate farm tracks, churning up soil and exposing the bedrock beneath, leaving them impassable to farm traffic.
The park’s rights of way committee voted to continue to allow 4x4s and trail motorbikes to use two lanes across farmland left to the trust by the author Beatrix Potter.
The latest dispute focuses on the reinstatement of a foot and cycle path from Keswick to Threlkeld which was destroyed by Storm Desmond in 2015.
Friends of the Lake District claim that using tarmac along the former railway line will compromise the historic and rural character of the route and make it more dangerous to use in icy weather.