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We would like to thank those who are going to speak to the committee about this matter.

The retrospective planning application, made by United Utilities, in connection with the 'upgrade' to the forest track leading to Fisher Crag will be discussed by the Planning Committee tomorrow. We are aware that there will be speakers opposing this planning application and wish them well!
Whilst we agree that the planners may well have agreed to it, had the correct procedures been adhered to, the fact remains that these procedures were not followed. The rules and regulations are in place to protect the National Park. Individuals are expected to follow these rules. There can be no excuses from a multi-national organisation such as United Utilities who presumably have teams of people whose task it is to ensure compliance.
Good luck to the speakers!
[The image is a photo of part of a page from the planning documents. These can be found on the LDNPA Planning Portal - get in touch if you need more info] ... See more

I want to say something about rugs being pulled from under one's feet!

Party Time! United Utilities withdraws support for zip wire plans. More to follow very soon. Thank you all for your part in this! Please share this as a lot of people got involved and we are sure that they would like to know! ... See more

The outdoor an indoor meetings scheduled for today are off! Sorry - we went out to check conditions and decided that discretion is the better part of valour!

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

Tomorrow's outdoor meeting, unless the weather/earthquakes (or plagues of locusts/ alien invasions) force us to cancel, will include a walk up High Rigg. Park at Snaithwaite Bridge. This is the parking area, on the edge of the A591, near the turn off for the road across the dam. Map to follow soon.
Indoor meeting will be at Threlkeld Coffee shop. ... See more

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

UPDATE: United Utilities -
Retrospective planning application. Some of you have been following this closely and will be disappointed to learn that the planners are recommending that the Planning Committee, when it meets on the 7th of March, approves this retrospective application unconditionally.
The pages are here for you to read. They do make interesting reading for those who have followed this campaign from the start.
It is of interest to note the objection lodged by the Federation of Cumbria Commoners who consider that 'best practice has not been followed...'

During this campaign we heard from someone who felt that as the track had 'always' been used for forestry then United Utilities were quite within their rights to do this 'upgrade'. Within these pages we can see that United Utilities should have submitted a Notice of Intention. Why didn't they do so? Who knows? One interpretation might be that if a Notice of Intention had been completed then the 'creation of drainage ditches and over engineered nature of the track over and above twin trods', noted by the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, may have raised concerns that ultimately this 'upgraded' track was to be used by TTT for their return zip launch. As it is, the planners have noted the relevance of this upgrade to the now withdrawn application for the zip wires.

The shepherd's hut and its sorry state is mentioned. Apparently the LDNPA archaeologist has visited the site and has 'no objections to the application.' This is somewhat surprising as the ruined shepherd's hut and the sheepfold are now separated ... by this incongruous 'upgrade'. No doubt the arguments will continue. However, the shepherd's hut and its well-being are now on the radar of Mr Steve Mogford; CEO of United Utilities so it may well be that things start looking up (and no pun re. the roof is intended here)

Some people have expressed an interest in speaking with members of the Planning Committee on the 7th of March. They have our full support. Throughout this campaign beams of sunlight have been hovering over matters which do not always reach our attention.

Finally, we would like to thank those who took the time and trouble to compose letters for the planners. From very humble beginnings, as a piece of card, 2 hazel rods and the words 'Zip Off' we have come a long way!

Thank you for sharing, liking, commenting on and following Zip Off ... See more

We are keeping an eye on the weather for this event.

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

Honister.

This Facebook Community page was set up to campaign against the proposal to install zip wires across the Thirlmere valley. We are being asked now about another plan for a zip wire; this time at Honister.
Part of the success of @zipoffThirlmere is that it brings together a very wide range of people, including people who had previously supported a proposal to install a zip wire at Honister; and support the current proposal at Honister. Although we feel that Honister is a much more appropriate location, it is still situated on the open fell and thus would also set a dangerous precedent in that any future applications would be difficult to refuse if this should be passed.
We would like to make it clear that @zipoffThirlmere will remain focussed on the Thirlmere valley.
For those who are interested in the Honister proposal the application details can be found on the Lake District National Park’s Planning Portal: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/applicationsanddecisions/planning_recent_applications/planning_licence_agreement-search You will need to agree to the terms and conditions near the foot of the page. The planning reference needed to find the application is: 7/2018/2011 . The closing date for representations from the public is the 12th of March.

Thank you for supporting Zip Off. ... See more

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

Some good news...

Treetop Trek have WITHDRAWN their planning application for a zip wire attraction to be built across Thirlmere:

http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2018-02-20/controversial-zip-wire-plans-scrapped/

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.