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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

If you are lucky enough to see one of these truly magnificent masters/mistresses of flight then please call in. There are a few people who don't value them and these birds need our protection. Thank you! ... See more

The RSPB has re-opened its hen harrier hotline for members of the public to report sightings of this highly persecuted bird of prey: Tel 0845-4600121 (calls charged at local rate). [Photo by Tim Me…

Beware of a cold front!

We might have been fooling about snow this morning ? but the forecast for wintry mountains in the days ahead is perfectly true. A cold front moves eastwards on Tuesday, followed by showers of snow and hail. Stay up to date with forecasts: mwis.org.uk ... See more

Looks like a grand day!

A fantastic day, returning the stone to the summit of Blencathra John Beamson

Weather info for if you are heading to the fells.

We can't emphasise enough that this week it will be WINTER on UK mountains. Don't assume just because it's April it won't be that bad. Freezing levels 400-700m; higher summit temps of sub -5C midweek. Snow, hail & thunder, whiteout. Check latest forecasts! mwis.org.uk ... See more