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| Battle for soul of the Lakes pits unspoilt nature against the lure of more jobs | Battle for soul of the Lakes pits unspoilt nature against the lure of more jobs |
| (8 days later) | |
| From the soaring crags of Scafell Pike to the black depths of Wastwater, the Lake District is one of Britain's most beguiling destinations. | From the soaring crags of Scafell Pike to the black depths of Wastwater, the Lake District is one of Britain's most beguiling destinations. |
| Yet its landscape is now at the centre of an increasingly fractious dispute between those who insist that preserving the pristine qualities of the fells is the best blueprint for economic development and a group who say that new developments in the area would create more jobs and growth. | Yet its landscape is now at the centre of an increasingly fractious dispute between those who insist that preserving the pristine qualities of the fells is the best blueprint for economic development and a group who say that new developments in the area would create more jobs and growth. |
| Britain's best-known mountaineer, Sir Chris Bonington, fired the first salvo by resigning as vice-president of the Friends of the Lake District, following the national park's rejection of plans for a "zip wire" ride down the side of Fleetwith Pike. Now Cumbria's tourist board – the county's largest earner, which oversees the park – has joined the dispute, arguing that the Lakes should move with the times. Richard Greenwood, the board's development and policy director, said that respecting the landscape's integrity did not "mean the area needs to be preserved in aspic, especially if we want people to continue to come well into the future". | Britain's best-known mountaineer, Sir Chris Bonington, fired the first salvo by resigning as vice-president of the Friends of the Lake District, following the national park's rejection of plans for a "zip wire" ride down the side of Fleetwith Pike. Now Cumbria's tourist board – the county's largest earner, which oversees the park – has joined the dispute, arguing that the Lakes should move with the times. Richard Greenwood, the board's development and policy director, said that respecting the landscape's integrity did not "mean the area needs to be preserved in aspic, especially if we want people to continue to come well into the future". |
| His comments come at a time when the Lake District is facing a growing list of threats, including the possible siting of the world's largest nuclear waste dump in its isolated western valleys; the possibility that scores of electricity pylons will be sited in the national park; and a risk of increased access to its woodlands. | His comments come at a time when the Lake District is facing a growing list of threats, including the possible siting of the world's largest nuclear waste dump in its isolated western valleys; the possibility that scores of electricity pylons will be sited in the national park; and a risk of increased access to its woodlands. |
| Bonington backed the zip wire as an innovative way to regenerate the economy by attracting new and younger tourists. "The gains from attracting visitors and providing local jobs are great. And let's not be too stuffy: a zip wire would be a lot of fun," he wrote. The conservation charity from which he resigned, however, argued that the high fells were sacrosanct, and that it was the unspoilt vistas that drew most of the 15 million annual visitors to the national park. Jack Ellerby, the policy officer of Friends of the Lake District, said that the vast majority of visitors came to "experience peace and tranquillity". | Bonington backed the zip wire as an innovative way to regenerate the economy by attracting new and younger tourists. "The gains from attracting visitors and providing local jobs are great. And let's not be too stuffy: a zip wire would be a lot of fun," he wrote. The conservation charity from which he resigned, however, argued that the high fells were sacrosanct, and that it was the unspoilt vistas that drew most of the 15 million annual visitors to the national park. Jack Ellerby, the policy officer of Friends of the Lake District, said that the vast majority of visitors came to "experience peace and tranquillity". |
| The emergence of a letter from Bonington in 2009 objecting to a proposed tourism development north of Kendal has further clouded the debate. In it, the climber describes Borrowdale, a valley that the zip wire critics claimed would be affected, as "one of the loveliest valleys in Cumbria, all the more attractive for its quietness and pristine quality". | The emergence of a letter from Bonington in 2009 objecting to a proposed tourism development north of Kendal has further clouded the debate. In it, the climber describes Borrowdale, a valley that the zip wire critics claimed would be affected, as "one of the loveliest valleys in Cumbria, all the more attractive for its quietness and pristine quality". |
| The next potential threat is a decision on the site of a huge underground cavern to store Britain's nuclear waste for the next million years. On 30 January, three Cumbrian councils will decide whether to agree a full preliminary planning proposal for an underground storage facility four times larger than the vast Sellafield complex from where the waste will be transported. | The next potential threat is a decision on the site of a huge underground cavern to store Britain's nuclear waste for the next million years. On 30 January, three Cumbrian councils will decide whether to agree a full preliminary planning proposal for an underground storage facility four times larger than the vast Sellafield complex from where the waste will be transported. |
| A letter on Friday from the Friends of the Lake District to councillors set out a catalogue of safety concerns which meant the entire process had "lost the trust" of Cumbrians. Yet some in the isolated valley of Eskdale, which has emerged as a possible location for the facility, say the romanticism espoused by William Wordsworth and the 20th century guidebook master Alfred Wainwright is largely reserved for the tourists. Gordon Oldham, a handyman in the hamlet of Eskdale Green, said: "What's the fuss? We'd be dead without it." | A letter on Friday from the Friends of the Lake District to councillors set out a catalogue of safety concerns which meant the entire process had "lost the trust" of Cumbrians. Yet some in the isolated valley of Eskdale, which has emerged as a possible location for the facility, say the romanticism espoused by William Wordsworth and the 20th century guidebook master Alfred Wainwright is largely reserved for the tourists. Gordon Oldham, a handyman in the hamlet of Eskdale Green, said: "What's the fuss? We'd be dead without it." |
| "It" refers to Sellafield, which provides 9,231 jobs to an area of West Cumbria that is as naturally blessed as it is economically challenged. Further down the valley at the King George IV pub in Eskdale, a bar worker, who did not want to be named, said that he was in favour of nuclear waste being buried in the valley after the government promised community benefits for the council that allowed the enormous underground cavern. "Dig a hole," he said. "The bigger the better. We've lived with Sellafield for 50 years. What's the problem? Every penny in the pound helps." | "It" refers to Sellafield, which provides 9,231 jobs to an area of West Cumbria that is as naturally blessed as it is economically challenged. Further down the valley at the King George IV pub in Eskdale, a bar worker, who did not want to be named, said that he was in favour of nuclear waste being buried in the valley after the government promised community benefits for the council that allowed the enormous underground cavern. "Dig a hole," he said. "The bigger the better. We've lived with Sellafield for 50 years. What's the problem? Every penny in the pound helps." |
| A short distance away, Paddington Berger, who runs the Woolpack Inn with husband Harry, agreed. "The nuclear site is part of life, the attitude of the people who live here is that burying it won't make any difference to their life, they're OK with the possibility." Sellafield is considered by many residents to be vital to a region burdened by its isolation – Oldham says that he has to set aside a day to drive to the nearest Asda – and where life is economically tough. Half of all children from one electoral ward in nearby Whitehaven were found to be living in poverty in 2011. | A short distance away, Paddington Berger, who runs the Woolpack Inn with husband Harry, agreed. "The nuclear site is part of life, the attitude of the people who live here is that burying it won't make any difference to their life, they're OK with the possibility." Sellafield is considered by many residents to be vital to a region burdened by its isolation – Oldham says that he has to set aside a day to drive to the nearest Asda – and where life is economically tough. Half of all children from one electoral ward in nearby Whitehaven were found to be living in poverty in 2011. |
| Addressing such conditions might best be achieved by adopting a more relaxed approach to the landscape, according to Greenwood, one of the region's important figures. He warned that maintaining the region's position as the "UK's adventure capital" required an open mind. "If we don't invest in innovative ideas like the Honister zip wire then we will be left behind," he said. He said that the latest Cumbria visitor survey showed that more than half the county's 40 million annual visitors engaged in outdoor adventure, although 68% also said that they visited for the views. | Addressing such conditions might best be achieved by adopting a more relaxed approach to the landscape, according to Greenwood, one of the region's important figures. He warned that maintaining the region's position as the "UK's adventure capital" required an open mind. "If we don't invest in innovative ideas like the Honister zip wire then we will be left behind," he said. He said that the latest Cumbria visitor survey showed that more than half the county's 40 million annual visitors engaged in outdoor adventure, although 68% also said that they visited for the views. |
| Among the few visitors to brave the freezing Lakes last week were Richard and Emily Bolland from Tadcaster, Yorkshire, who can see four power stations from their own home. Emily said: "The landscape is amazing, so unspolit. It would put a bit of a dampener on it if the views changed." | Among the few visitors to brave the freezing Lakes last week were Richard and Emily Bolland from Tadcaster, Yorkshire, who can see four power stations from their own home. Emily said: "The landscape is amazing, so unspolit. It would put a bit of a dampener on it if the views changed." |
| From Eskdale, above the Old Man of Coniston, lies Grizedale Forest, the scene of one of the most concerted opposition movements to the government's abandoned plans to transfer forests out of public hands. The plans were dropped following a report by the Independent Panel on Forestry and in 10 days Owen Paterson, the environment secretary, is expected to deliver his detailed response to the panel and call for greater public access to privately owned woodland. | From Eskdale, above the Old Man of Coniston, lies Grizedale Forest, the scene of one of the most concerted opposition movements to the government's abandoned plans to transfer forests out of public hands. The plans were dropped following a report by the Independent Panel on Forestry and in 10 days Owen Paterson, the environment secretary, is expected to deliver his detailed response to the panel and call for greater public access to privately owned woodland. |
| Briefings from the Forest Campaigns Network, which was established early in the fight to stop public forests being sold, argue that he must also address "very deep and real concerns" over funding cuts that have forced the closure of visitor centres; loss of path maintenance; and made woodlands vulnerable to illegal felling. | Briefings from the Forest Campaigns Network, which was established early in the fight to stop public forests being sold, argue that he must also address "very deep and real concerns" over funding cuts that have forced the closure of visitor centres; loss of path maintenance; and made woodlands vulnerable to illegal felling. |
| Grizedale, though, is held by some as an example that "adventure capital" can co-exist with the environment. | Grizedale, though, is held by some as an example that "adventure capital" can co-exist with the environment. |
| Jen Ball, who has worked at Grizedale since 2008, said that although she is still adjusting to the forests's remoteness – only 10 people battled the icy roads to reach the site last Thursday – those who did were activity seekers. "The high fells are more about Wordsworth. Over here it's about getting seriously muddy. It's not really a place for twitchers and the like." Others say that keeping the Lakes untouched by development is "critical" to their business plan. Marc Oakley of the Outward Bound Trust said: "Any endangerment to the landscape would be problematic and prevent people coming to the area." | Jen Ball, who has worked at Grizedale since 2008, said that although she is still adjusting to the forests's remoteness – only 10 people battled the icy roads to reach the site last Thursday – those who did were activity seekers. "The high fells are more about Wordsworth. Over here it's about getting seriously muddy. It's not really a place for twitchers and the like." Others say that keeping the Lakes untouched by development is "critical" to their business plan. Marc Oakley of the Outward Bound Trust said: "Any endangerment to the landscape would be problematic and prevent people coming to the area." |
| But keeping the views unspoilt requires vigilance. One threat is the possible construction of scores of electricity pylons to connect the new Moorside nuclear power station, to be built near Sellafield, and wind turbines in the Irish Sea, to the national grid. Possible routes include scything across the Lake District National Park south towards Morecambe Bay, with conservationists urging that the cables are instead buried. A National Grid spokesman said that the preferred corridors would not be identified until the spring. | But keeping the views unspoilt requires vigilance. One threat is the possible construction of scores of electricity pylons to connect the new Moorside nuclear power station, to be built near Sellafield, and wind turbines in the Irish Sea, to the national grid. Possible routes include scything across the Lake District National Park south towards Morecambe Bay, with conservationists urging that the cables are instead buried. A National Grid spokesman said that the preferred corridors would not be identified until the spring. |
| HOT SPOTS | HOT SPOTS |
| Nuclear dumping | Nuclear dumping |
| Burial of nuclear waste within the borders of the Lake District national park could be considered . On 30 January three Cumbrian councils will decide on whether to agree to further investigation of the possibilities of an underground storage dump. | Burial of nuclear waste within the borders of the Lake District national park could be considered . On 30 January three Cumbrian councils will decide on whether to agree to further investigation of the possibilities of an underground storage dump. |
| Electricity pylons | Electricity pylons |
| Giant electricity pylon lines could link a new plant at Sellafield and turbines in the Irish Sea to the national grid. Possible routes will skirt through the park with a preferred route announced later this year. Conservationists want the cables to be buried or put offshore. | Giant electricity pylon lines could link a new plant at Sellafield and turbines in the Irish Sea to the national grid. Possible routes will skirt through the park with a preferred route announced later this year. Conservationists want the cables to be buried or put offshore. |
| Windfarms | Windfarms |
| Controversial windfarms, including one at Killington, south Lakeland, are "inappropriate", campaigners say. | Controversial windfarms, including one at Killington, south Lakeland, are "inappropriate", campaigners say. |
| Woodlands | Woodlands |
| The response to the Independent Panel on Forestry is likely to campaign for extra public access to woodlands, placing strain on ancient habitats. | The response to the Independent Panel on Forestry is likely to campaign for extra public access to woodlands, placing strain on ancient habitats. |
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