I share the concerns about the over exploitation of the area expressed by Mr Gaukroger (Letters, November 23, 'Saturation Point is Close').

The continued drive to attract more and more visitors to the Lake District is destroying the very peace, tranquility and natural beauty that was the original aim of the National Parks idea.

The infrastructure is not in place to support the growing numbers of tourists. The growth of organised mass events involving hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people, is turning footpaths into quagmires, spoiling the lakes and meres, damaging the ecology and jamming up the road system.

Increasing visitor numbers requires careful consideration. Generating the local economy may be an aim but 'killing the goose that lays a golden egg' may be the result.

M.G. Marvin

Burneside