The company wants to put up the fence on part of the Wythburn Fells

The company wants to put up the fence on part of the Wythburn Fells

Campaigners are fighting to stop a water company putting up a fence across open land in the Lake District.

The Friends of the Lake District and the Open Spaces Society have condemned plans to fence off an area on fells near Thirlmere.

United Utilities said it wants to erect the fencing on common land at the south-western end of the reservoir, around Whelpside, Steel End, West Head, Armboth, Bleaberry and Wythburn Fells. The area enclosed would be 866ha (2,140 acres).

The company said it needs to control sheep and other stock grazing to reduce erosion which is affecting its reservoirs. Structures, including fences, on common land have to be approved by the Planning Inspectorate.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: “We strongly object to this intrusion into this wild, unspoilt landscape of the Lake District national park.

“Not only is fencing an eyesore, but it prevents people from roaming freely over the whole area as is their right. The Open Spaces Society won public access to the commons around Thirlmere in 1897 when it campaigned for such clauses in the Manchester Corporation Act which led to the construction of Thirlmere.

“Subsequently parliament gave the public rights of access to all commons in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. We are not prepared to see those rights infringed.

“Although the application is for 15 years, we strongly suspect that the fencing will remain for longer. We are dismayed that UU appears not to have developed its long-term plans for the area. Instead of using this drastic means of restricting stock, UU should gather more data and assess whether there are other solutions.”

Ian Brodie, former director of the Friends of the Lake District and representative of the Open Spaces Society, said: “The proposed fence will be one of the greatest threats the Lake District has faced to the traditional openness and freedom of the fells.

“It will impact on many walkers each year and it appears to run contrary to the principles of the bid for World Heritage inscription which United Utilities is supposedly supporting.”

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