Charity expresses concerns over Lakes local plan review

The Friends of the Lake District believe the Lake District Park Authority's (LDNPA) Local Plan Review leans too heavily towards increasing attractions and visitor numbers and too little on how the infrastructure of the park is going to cope with the associated effects of increased numbers of visitors.

The local plan review details suggestions for sites within the national park. The purpose of the site allocations to is to help the LDNPA identify areas of land where it is confident in supporting development.

Douglas Chalmers, chief executive of the charity said it was important to get the plan 'right'.

“Setting off in the wrong direction could lead to a great deal of damage to the Lake District over this period," he said. "It may be a local plan, but it is for a National Park and so is of national importance.

“We know that visitor numbers to the park continue to increase meaning that we already have a competitive visitor ‘offer’ but is our popularity already having a negative effect?"

He argued that too much emphasis on tourism-based businesses could damage the other interests within the park.

"Friends of the Lake District want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the area, but why put this enjoyment at risk from overdevelopment and loss of peace and quiet?" he said.

“We fully understand the pressures faced by the National Park Authority, but believe that if Government was to increase the funding of National Parks then the park could be managed in a more sustainable and appropriate way.

"The outcomes of recent proposed developments such as the Thirlmere zipwires serve to reinforce our desire, and that of the public, to see the environment and landscape of the Lake District given priority over damaging development and activities. The public should make their views known, via this consultation and also their MPs."

Hanna Latty, Strategy and Planning Policy Leader for the LDNPA, said that the government’s 25 year Environment Plan had been key to its thinking in preparing the Local Plan.

“Much of the focus of the new policies is centred on the sustainable movement of visitors," she said. "We are not aiming to increase visitor numbers but instead increase overnight stays and visitor spend, linking this with sustainable visitor travel.

“People who live and work in the National Park are at the heart of the Local Plan review and we welcome and encourage people to have their say on the proposed policies and site allocations. This feedback will help shape the future of the Lake District for the next 15 years.”

Share your views through the survey and comment before June 29 at: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review