The purpose of this section is to show various pictures from Cumbria which do not normally appear on our walks pages. They may have been taken on a day out or maybe on the way to or back from one of our walks or sent in by one of our readers. Either way I hope that you will enjoy them.
11th December 2009
Firstly let me apologise for this very much thrown together package of pictures but there is a reason and one that all lovers of the Lake District hopefully will agree with. A couple of days ago I was invited to join a group on Facebook called
STOP RATHERHEATH DEVELOPMENT! SAVE THE LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK
I have to admit that I knew nothing about these plans even though I visit the LDNP website at regular intervals. Having read the articles on the Facebook site and visited the LDNP authority planning site it left me disappointed. I think it is probably true to say that most people visiting the National Park by car come from the south with a large number exiting the M6 at J36 to travel along the A590 then A591 towards Windermere. Those doing so will eventually arrive at the Plumgarth roundabout just north of Kendal. From there the A591 rises to short dual-carriageway section before dropping down towards Staveley with views over Reston Scar and to the Kentmere Fells. This proposed development will be in the green fields to the left of the A591, a 38.3 acre development comprising up to 40 commercial units along with it's own bio-fuel power station. There will also be a large roundabout built near the BP garage to give access to the site. Now I'm not against development but does this NEED to built here virtually at one of the main gateways to the National Park? Surely in the midst of the recession there are some "brown field" sites near Kendal perhaps which would be better both for location and for a local workforce to access. Anyway enough ranting here are a few pictures that we took today after we had done our main walk. None of the areas shown in the pictures with the exception of two would be affected by the development.
Planning application 7/2009/5665 The fields that would be lost.
Whilst here we decided to visit Ratherheath Tarn just a short walk away.
This is part of a walk we used to do regularly. The paths through Ratherheath are deightful but a little muddy today
Ratherheath Tarn....not shown at it's best due to the sun
It is a little gem.
On our way back.
This lane leads to the Ashes Lane caravan park
Once again.....the fields that are in the proposal. The A591 is just to the right of me.
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