WINDERMERE seemed an idyllic place to be brought up in during the 1960s. People went about their business, water skiers skimmed over Windermere, Donald Campbell shone a spotlight on Coniston, Wainwright published his guides and visitors actually arrived on steam trains which ran an efficient schedule.

Somehow in that era, we all co existed and got on together but now we need a Non Governmental Organisation run by environmentalists to tell us that unless we shape up, the World Heritage Status will be whipped away (Gazette, August 16, 'Call for 4x4s ban in Lakes').

Off road driving using 4x4s is probably going the same way as child chimney sweeps and bear baiting. It's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens.

However, we must be mindful that the people who have lived in the Lake District never voted for a national park authority or decided to apply for World Heritage Site status but they endure the regulations and responsibilities that these organisations impose upon them.

Stephan Dompke may castigate off-roaders from Berlin as head of an environmental pressure group and the national park authority appears less than enthusiastic about Bluebird as we are reminded that the national park stands for quiet serenity, harmony, tranquillity, nature conservation and traditional rural ways (whatever they are).

The environmentalists are skilfully using World Heritage as a blunt instrument to threaten anything that they disagree with, including misrepresenting the LDNPA as overly commercial if they don’t happen to agree with them.

In the meantime the local people who created many parts of the landscape, live here, earn their living and pay their taxes, endure these diktats with remarkable stoicism.

Perhaps World Heritage Watch, The Friends of the Lake District and the LDNPA could take a leaf from the disenfranchised residents and learn how to quietly work round problems and not threaten or be outraged if things are not going their way? After all, what was here before the national park was created?

Julian Rayner

Staveley