A BORN and bred Kendal resident believes that the Lake District National Park Authority's (LDNPA) local plan focuses on 'commercialisation' rather than 'conservation'.

Dr Charles Kent Brooks, 78, is particularly concerned about 'overdimensioned' suggestions made in the plan for Kendal Fell.

Included in the proposals is canoeing, a zip wire, a climbing wall, a hotel apartments, retail units, offices, a visitor centre and cafe.

"It's in effect building a new town outside Kendal," he said. "I think the Lake District National Park has turned into a travesty really, and it's all to do with commercialisation."

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.

In a letter to The Westmorland Gazette, Dr Kent Brooks said that he believed that there was 'little appreciation' of the needs of local people in the plan and instead a focus on 'increased visitor numbers'.

"It's self defeating bringing gin floods of tourists,"he said. "It destroys what the Lake District has to offer. I never go to the Lake district anymore, it's too depressing. everywhere is clogged up with cars."

Team Leader of Strategy and Planning Policy for LDNPA Hanna Latty said that a 'fundamental part' of its ability to manage the Lake District is that it had a clear vision for how it wanted the place to be.

It was agreed by the 25 organisations that make up the Lake District National Park Partnership and is delivered through the current management plan. "The Local Plan is one way to deliver this collective vision," she said.

She explained that the starting point for all planning applications was the national and international significance of the Lake District which aims to conserve and enhance the extraordinary harmony and beauty of the Lake District landscape and its special qualities.

"There are a range of other policies against which future planning applications would also be tested – from biodiversity to design," she said. "We are also consulting on polices that enable investment in transport infrastructure, employment opportunities and housing for local people. We are using evidence bases such as the Landscape Capacity Study to inform decisions on where land may be suitable for development without adversely affecting landscape character and visual amenity."

She said that Kendal Fell Quarry had been put forward by the landowners in response to its Call for Sites process to be considered as an allocation for potential future development.

"The impact on the landscape character of the proposed development of this site is relatively well contained particularly within the quarry floor," Ms Latty said. "A full planning application of this site would be tested against all the policies, including ‘Protecting the spectacular landscape’. "

The public consultation is open until tomorrow (June 29). More information can be found at lakedistrict.gov.uk/localplan