A PETITION saying ‘no to imported slate’ has been created amid fears that cheap imports will mar the Lake District National Park's carefully preserved character.

Kent Stern, who launched the petition with family member Joanne Weir, has lived in the Borrowdale valley all his life and is hugely concerned about the negative impacts foreign slate will have.

“The houses are being built with cheap imported slate, we have to speak up,” he said.

"It’s so important to me (and many others) that the look and feel of the Borrowdale valley and the National Park in general, stays as it has for so many years. And of course things do change, but we can make those changes in ways that help the area retain its unique charm."

Ms Weir joined with Mr Stern in this second petition after the pair saw a house in the Longthwaite area using imported slate.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said they had received complaints about non compliance at the property in question and that “formal action is to be taken to remedy the breach of planning control.”

"Planning permission was granted on July 22, 2019 for a side and rear wrap round extension to the existing cottage,"said a LDNPA spokesperson.

“The drawings submitted with the application proposed that the roof would be local slate to match the main roof.

“A condition was imposed restating that the roof must be covered and maintained in local slates."

After a further two applications were submitted, still proposing the use of local slate, final permission was granted in April this year.

The authority revealed however that foreign slate has been used for the house’s roof.

“Brazilian “Elterdale” slates have been fitted,” said the spokesperson."This is different to the slate proposed in the applications, contrary to the conditions imposed, is in breach of planning control and is unacceptable within the context of this building group.”

"Local slates have been quarried and used in the Lake District for well over 400 years; they are a defining building material and a fundamental component of the distinctive Lake District architectural vernacular," said area sales manager for Burlington Stone, Ian Ramsay.

"The unique geology of Cumbria produces slates that are totally different in appearance from slates from anywhere else in the UK or the rest of the world."