Lake District chief executive Richard Leafe
He’s in charge of England’s biggest national park; he’s a big fan of the outdoors and adventurous activities; and he’s no stranger to conflict.
Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park, has courted controversy by backing schemes that involve attracting visitors to less traditional Lakeland pursuits, such as hurtling down valleys on zip wires.
It’s hard to imagine Alfred Wainwright approving of such activities in his beloved Lakeland.
Mr Leafe, who turns 50 this month, has had to try to maintain services for the 15 million visitors annually to the Lake District while Government funding has been cut by 30 per cent.
Unlike some national park authorities which have sold off properties and land, the Lake District’s approach has been to enter into commercial partnerships and maximise its revenue from car parking and visitor centres.
Grough travelled to a rainy, windswept Kendal, to the headquarters of the Lake District National Park Authority, to speak to the outdoors fan who just happens to run the national park with England’s highest mountain, biggest natural lake, and some of the biggest headaches as he tries to reconcile Government cuts, huge visitor numbers, choked roads and the conflicting desires for some visitors’ adventure with others’ need for quiet relaxation.
His approach has seen most services maintained during a time of huge austerity. His authority has forged numerous commercial links to support the services that outdoors fans expect and appreciate.
He’s a climber, cyclist, walker, open-water swimmer and all-round fan of high places and he’s determined to entice a younger set of visitors to appreciate the thrill of this most scenic corners of England.
Hear Richard Leafe’s view on the Lake District and how he thinks grough readers can help.
Phil of Chester
15 January 2015what a wasted interview - surely what he wanted to say - these pesky hikers,cyclists,ramblers and picnickers just come to soak in the beauty of The Lakes without spending much money. Now if we could skydive people onto the top of Helvellyn, zip wire them over Striding Edge and speedo 4X4 them back across the fells - surely people would pay hundreds for that privilege - we'd tempt them here from the rich lands of the Middle East and Far East. Loadsamoney!
CP
16 January 2015Or, if they just cough up a bit for the privilege of parking their cars before the naff off back home...
What a wasted comment...
Memory like water
18 January 2015I have no problem paying for car parking, but I loathe, with a passion, 'pay and display'. While they're fine for shopping, how are you supposed to predict how long it will take you to do your mountain walk? With the threat of a fine if you take that little bit too long.
Jeff Breen
21 January 2015I now only go to places in the Lakes where I can park for free.
I also avoid the place all together and go to Scotland instead. As for Zip wires he should not be in his position If he supports them.
Sack him as he had no interest in protecting the Lakes.
Jefers
22 January 2015Personally (and as a great fan of the Lakes and one of the visitors that gets talked about). I think allowing a scheme such as the one at Honister would have been a great asset to the lakes and would attract more visitors. Honister is a stunningly beautiful landscape and it is also an industrial landscape with the slate mining screes and old industrial gantries. The people there worked really hard to try and work with LDNPA and the various detractors (Natural England for one who were insisting something was millenia old when clearly it was part of the industrial lanscape).
Personally I say good for him. the Lakes has a wide appeal. There are things for the adventurous types, things for the walker and those who want to get away from it all and the LDNPA need to support this with appropriate schemes. Zip wiring from Helvellyn (which is pretty much untouched is of course a non starter but from other locations where there is significant industrial heritage and they helping to preserve and highlight this then schemes like this should be supported.
If you visit the Lakes then do you bit to support them by either using local businesses and/or paying for your parking (or join the National Trust, they have many car parks which are free if you are a member and they invest into their properties in the area which attract many visitors).
Jan Urey
22 January 2015June 2012. Top of Scaefell. Commercial operators parked in Wasdale - their numerous "guides" at the top noisily radioing down that they had successfully got their groups to the top. Might as well have been on top of Blackpool Tower, or shopping in Curry's. If they have to charge unsuspecting clients to walk to the top of a peak at the height of a clear summer's day without teaching them navigational skills - at least could they just not discreetly text their worried organisers/insurers that they had summited safely and leave the rest of us to enjoy a technologically free peace and quiet - for which we have toiled!
iain
31 January 2015I love the lakes (I live in the lakes) but at best it is an open air museum that masquerades as a wild, untouched landscape. However, the recent approach of the LDNP authority is making museum become theme park.
paul houlichan
01 February 2015Me and my wife visit the Lake District three or four times a year, quite a number of times we find that the parking meters are out of order or need emptying! We do not mind paying a premium for parking!
We joined the national trust which give you a sticker for free parking in national trust car parks, as well as other benefits!
As I don't agree with zip wires and such things that would bring in people who don't respect the beauty of the lakes!
I would not mind paying to visit the lakes maybe a toll system on certain roads ie the mountain passes for example!
Vanessa Eden
17 December 2017If Richard Leafe is in favour of zip wires over any of the lakes in the LDNP then he needs to step down. It is causing such controversy that he really must read into that. The LDNP is not a theme park. People come here to see it as it is, not filled with nonsense. I originally visited the Lake District some 40 years ago, a bunch of 13 year old son from London, we didn't need sodding zip wires we just loved the open air, sense of space and the beautiful natural surroundings. If we needed zip wires for entertainment our teachers would have taken us elsewhere. It is the very essence of the LDNP as it is that draws people to it, no need for themes here. Richard Leafe it's time to step down before you really miss the whole point of the LDNP and really spoil it.
Clive Hutchby
27 July 2018Richard Leafe should be replaced with a chief executive who adheres to the Sandford Principle. He is leading a national park authority which does nothing but ignore this legal obligation to protect the park in the interests of "sustainable development", whatever that politically-correct garbage means.
Sablo
28 July 2018Mr Leafe needs to take on board that it is not ‘his own’ psi all National Park to do with as he pleases and listen to what the people who live there and not have the luxury of his 89k a year salary, really want from their home towns and villages.
Ralph Frost
28 July 2018What is really important in the world of doublespeak is the ability to lie, whether knowingly or unconsciously, and to get away with it; and the ability to use lies and choose and shape facts selectively, blocking out those that don’t fit an agenda or program.
George Orwell
1984
KJ
30 July 2018I agree Mr Leafe should not remain in his job. My concern is first it was zip wires at Thirlmere, now the Lake District National Plan beings cable cars to Whinlatter, plus many other plans which do not adhere to the Sandford principle and/or the UNESCO World Heritage Status principles and yet the LDNP planners feel they can continue with their plans. The planners are led by Mr Leafe and therefore he is responsible. There is already opposition to the new proposals, if these do not happen, what and where will be the next suggestions? I get the feeling the longer Mr Leafe remains in the job, this will continue and continue until he gets his own way.
Denise Richards
26 January 2019My concern is rural tracks being used as roads for 4x4s. Like the zip wires 4x4s damaging the tracks is not acceptable.