Lake District: Protest planned against Elterwater Quarry Experience

Friends of the Lake District are staging the protest on Wednesday, March 27 against the proposed attraction in a historic quarry in the Langdale Valley.

The proposed Elterwater Quarry Experience would allow visitors to explore parts of the cavern that had been previously inaccessible for a ‘heritage-based adventure experience’.

READ MORE: Lake District: UNESCO advisors call for halt to Elterwater Quarry plan

Plans include platforms that will be installed in the caves at points of interest, and visitors will travel from one platform to another via zipline.

The initial scheme was refused permission on the grounds of the travel plan, which describes how visitors are intended to get to the attraction.

New plans were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority in which Quarry owners Burlington Slate Ltd and Zip World amended the travel plan.

Developers said they had taken on feedback and concerns with the new submission encouraging walking, cycling, public or shared transport to reach the site along with low emission vehicles.

Amended plans also included a ticketing strategy to ensure visitor numbers do not exceed the on-site parking allocation and financial incentives for those who use non-car travel.

Developers added that these updates will allow them to easily manage and accurately predict visitor numbers.

Friends of the Lake District believe this will still cause significant additional traffic in Elterwater, however.

"This is still the wrong attraction in the wrong place," the charity’s CEO Michael Hill said, "despite the tweaks to the travel plan."

"We’re calling on everyone who agrees, to join us on Elterwater Common on the 27th March, and make your voice heard."

Friends of the Lake District is urging people to attend by walking, cycling, bus, or car-sharing.

The charity has made arrangements for people to attend without driving through the village or parking where they should not.

Mr Hill added: "Elterwater is a small remote village, and we’re conscious of the need to avoid it being overwhelmed with cars – which is something the developers of this proposed attraction have overlooked.

"Please join us on the 27th to help us push back against theme-park style attractions in this remote part of a protected landscape".    

People can register their interest in joining the rally at the charity's website and attendees are encouraged to check the web page for travel tips and parking details.