ONE of the Lake District's most popular tourist hotspots - the Glebe at Bowness - is in line for 'significant enhancement'.

Angled parking bays along Glebe Road to accommodate more cars, better access for visitors in wheelchairs, new seating areas and a footpath to a viewpoint over Windermere's waters are among the proposals for busy Glebe Road and the lake foreshore, where tourists flock in their thousands each year.

Members of South Lakeland District Council's Cabinet agreed to spend £200,000 on the works, with Cllr Jonathan Brook describing it as an "opportunity to enhance this iconic setting".

The improvements at the Glebe are part of a £2m project to improve transport links for people travelling by car, boat, bus, bike and on foot at key visitor destinations, including Brockhole and Grasmere. Called Optimising Connectivity, it is being delivered by Cumbria County Council, working with SLDC and the Lake District National Park Authority.

"This council has been a long-time supporter of proposals to enhance this particular area, which is one of the key visitor areas of the Lake District," said Cllr Brook.

Cllr David Williams said geese had "completely destroyed" the Glebe over the last few years, and he was "delighted" to see the money being spent. He added: "There are some concerns by Windermere Town Council and other residents about the detail but in general everything is approved as far as we are concerned."

Council leader Cllr Peter Thornton said that, as SLDC owned the lake bed and earned income from the lake, it was "appropriate we put something back".

The work is expected to start this autumn and finish in early 2017, according to a report to Cabinet.