Home

This may impact some of you so here's the info!

The biggest release by the Lake District National Park Authority of possible planning locations and schemes for a decade, is called the Local Plan Review; http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review The last review, c.90%+ of proposals ‘converted’ to accepted plans. This is in effect a mass planning announcement. You have until 29 June 2018 to e-mail localplan@lakedistrict.gov.uk with your thoughts on any policy. That’s just 35 days away, to have your say in the biggest changes in the LDNPA in ten years. The amount of data in the LDNPA Local Plan is vast. It’s taking days of work to sift through. Our release of separate information via social media, will allow social media ‘conversations’ and engagement about each topic. Waiting for planning applications is too late.
How can you view all the sites listed in the LDNPA Local Plan? It defines proposal developments in 2 separate categories; 1) Business ‘showcase’ corridors; http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-review/local-plan-showcase-areas-map … 2) Allocations of land highlighted for development.
Want to check if you are affected? Here's the links to detailed full planning documents for each area (& summary); North: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1179115/North-DA-Suggested-Allocations.pdf
East: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1179104/East-DA-Suggested-Allocations.pdf
South: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1179118/South-DA-Suggested-Allocations.pdf
West: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1179120/West-DA-Suggested-Allocations.pdf
Sincere thanks to the team at the Twitter page of Zip Off Honister for these links. ... See more

Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested...

Here's some updated info on the proposal to turn Whinlatter into a 'major tourist hub' complete with a cable car. [Thanks to the The Keswick Reminder for reporting on this.]
The consultation is ongoing and we really would urge you to look at what's being proposed across the Lake District. One of these photos gives the dates for the consultations.Some of the proposals are addressing the National Park's new car parking policy so may impact on you and your locality.
It is a massive document. We have attached the information relating to Whinlatter as pictures but this is just part of a 28 page summary of 'Showcase areas'.
We would like to make it clear that we welcome the opportunity to consult on these matters. ... See more

Thanks to an The Keswick Reminder reader and member of the THS for drawing this to our attention! Please discuss...

From https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews/2639038-rowrah/30
16:20 18 May
Lakes planners suggest cable car to Whinlatter

"One of the ideas in new Lake District national park planning guidelines is a sort of cable car that would carry tourists from the A66 to the visitor centre at the Whinlatter Forest.
The gondola system, possibly like this one that crosses the Thames in London, would reduce the amount of traffic squeezing through the village of Braithwaite and up Whinlatter pass. That would allow, according to the documents, "Significant opportunities for intensification of the Whinlatter Visitor Centre as a recreational and leisure hub."

The park authority would not build the cable car itself, but if the guidelines, currently out for public consultation, were approved, a commercial developer would know planning permission was possible.

The former national park headquarters in Kendal had a large photograph in the reception area showing the Vale of Keswick with the sort of developments the National Park Authority would not allow, including a cable car up Skiddaw. " ... See more

A few snaps of a wander westwards from Steel end car park. It may be a venue for a future meeting of the History Society. There is a cave in the rocks high up on the fell - and we need to head back at sometime to take a more detailed look. We came across a few deceased sheep ...and some fleeces...just bundled and on the ground. Lovely stone walls in the area and well worth a bit more exploring. ... See more

I know that some of you are following this proposal with interest. Full details are on the LDNPA Planning Portal if you want to take a look:http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=7/2018/2011&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=740415%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%27wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=1570251%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=rgndat:desc%26DispResultsAs=WPHAPPSEARCHRES%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display?paSearchKey=740415%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%27%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3E ... See more

The Wainwright Society objects to the Honister zip wire proposal:
"The previous planning application was refused, one reason given being that ‘National Park designation confers the highest status of protection as far as landscape and natural beauty is concerned. Because of the high sensitivity of the receptors (people) in this open and rugged high fell landscape the impacts of noise, speed, altitude and appearance that would be caused by users of the proposed zip wire would harm the qualities of
remoteness, tranquillity and wildness currently enjoyed. The harm would be greatest along public rights of way and
across Countryside and Rights of Way Act open access land. Along significant parts of the bridleway, footpaths and Countryside and Rights of Way Act open access land from Honister Hause there would be full uninterrupted views of the users of the zip wire and impacts of noise, speed, altitude and appearance would be at their height. The lack of any visual cover, the stark and distinctive backdrop of the fells and the fixed nature of the wire would exacerbate this impact.’
The Society can find no evidence that these concerns about harming the qualities of remoteness, tranquillity and
wildness have been addressed in the current proposal. There is no strategy for mitigating the impact on the tranquillity and remoteness of the area of people descending at speed down the zip wire." ... See more

We recently picked up this book at a bookshop in Carlisle (price £2). The date on the inside of the front cover is handwritten: June 1965.
Note: Currently the Launchy Ghyll loop walk CANNOT be done as a bridge was removed by Storm Desmond. Please don't try to do this walk until you are advised that it is safe to do so! ... See more

Looks like somewhere else needs a history society?

To Alfred Wainwright, the greatest connoisseur of walking in the Lake District, a small patch of land just north of Coniston Water was perhaps “the loveliest in Lakeland”. Today that same square... ... See more

... and here is the link. Nothing new on it but at least the info is getting shared a bit more

Here's a link to United Utilities website with details of what they are doing at Thirlmere following the destruction caused by recent storms. We'll post up the jpegs of their leaflet later. The leaflets will be available from the TIC in Keswick and the UU visitor centre on Lake Road. We are going to suggest that they are distributed more widely.
If you are part of a special interest group - e.g. biking/wild swimming etc could you please share this info to your group's page so that people are aware.

https://www.unitedutilities.com/cumbria/our-plans/west-cumbria/thirlmere-reservoir---safety-information/ ... See more

Further information about the incredible rescue at Wasdale. Absolutely awesome team ??. Some kit was damaged/had to be left behind. If you are thinking of donating some money then I am sure that they will appreciate it. ... See more

Video 30 fps at high upload

"MREW’s vice-chair and operations lead Mike Margeson said: “The idea for a leaflet was initially developed in Cumbria by the regional organisation there, the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association.

“When that proved really useful, MREW created a national version and this has gone through a number of versions, each one building on latest experience and changes in the outdoor world.”" ... See more

Rescue organisations in England and Wales have released their latest version of a leaflet aimed at increasing safety for outdoor enthusiasts. The new leaflet emphasises the need to plan and prepare for trips into the mountains, in line with the #BeAdventureSmart campaign ... See more

Sunny, hot day out. Not my kind of day but it was made all the better by Mark Richards and David Felton of ‘Countrystride’. I was filming them talking about the Ullswater Way for my Helvellyn film amongst other things ⛰? A fab day out in conditions I normally avoid but with fab company ? If you’re not aware of their fabulous podcasts ALL things Cumbrian, check out: https://www.countrystride.co.uk/ ... See more

We thought that this would be of interest... it's a 'look into the future' for Cumbria. https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/what-does-climate-change-really-mean-for-cumbria

Sir Martin Holdgate CB, Emeritus President of Friends of the Lake District and renowned environmental scientist and international conservationist, presents a future vision for the Cumbrian landscape.