Radical solutions are needed to tackle traffic problems, the Friends said. Photo: FLD
Landscape charity the Friends of the Lake District said action is necessary to tackle the problem of traffic in the national park.
It described conditions during the recent bank holiday weekend and half-term holiday as chaotic, with emergency vehicles unable to reach two incidents because of badly parked cars.
Bus services also had to be cancelled because of inconsiderate parking, it said.
“Traffic queued for miles through the Lake District during the Whitsun bank holiday,” a Friends spokesperson said.
“Badly parked vehicles were strewn across the verges at Bowness, Elterwater, Wasdale and Derwent Water. Bus services couldn’t get through parked cars and the emergency services were unable to attend two accidents in Wasdale and on Wast Water because of dangerous parking on the single-track roads.
“We have reached a tipping point where we can either embrace a radical rethink on transport within the Lake District national park or risk destroying the sense of tranquillity and escape that this landscape has delivered for generations.”
The charity called on the national park authority and Cumbria County Council to look at all options for reducing the number of private vehicles in the area’s roads, including solutions introduced elsewhere in the world.
“Other tourist destinations have introduced seasonal road closures, park and ride, permit schemes, shuttle-buses, a road charge for visitors, public transport scheduling, pricing reductions as well as active travel choices such as electric bikes,” the spokesperson said. “All of these have been implemented in tourist hotspots, many motivated by having to address overwhelming vehicle numbers.”
Kate Willshaw, policy officer at Friends of the Lake District, said: “We want as many people as possible to experience the sense of ‘escape’ that the Lake District has to offer but traffic chaos is off-putting for visitors and damaging for residents and businesses within the national park.
“An informed discussion on transport for the future is long overdue.
“Traffic volume also has huge implications for carbon emissions. The Lake District National Park Partnership and Cumbria County Council have both committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2037 and this cannot be achieved unless transport is addressed now. Transport accounts for nearly half of the Lake District’s total emissions.”
The charity urged the public to contribute to an online survey as part of a national park partnership plan consultation.
More details on the Friends’ campaign are on the charity’s website.
TH
10 June 2021Should have retained the possibility of converting the bike/path from Keswick to Penrith back into a railway line.
Seems too late now. Poor forward planning.
A local lad
10 June 2021Start issuing fines to every car owner who parked somewhere they shouldn't. Wheel clamp / tow away (not sure where to). Once word gets around people will stop.
People know what they're doing is wrong and or inconsiderate but because there are no consequences to their actions they'll carry on doing it forever.
If you dare to park in the wrong place in a town centre or city you get back to find a ticket on the windscreen. Why should the countryside be any different.
those of us who live in the Lake District are absolutely sick of it. Yet 'they' keep trying to encourage more visitors.
Avisitornotatourist
10 June 2021More carparks at affordable prices? I agree that those privileged and affluent enough to live in the national park should be more heavily taxed to balance the penalties paid by being a tourist ( i note everyone is now a tourist rather than someone who has a right to wander the UK road network freely - I forget what those taxpayers are called).
Also sick of this nimby, secular attitude should by the locals. Why do they expect more/higher rights of access, are we not all equals in this democracy? Any of them have the right to come park in my street, and whilst I would also grumble if they park like a fool, I would recognise they have paid their taxes and have the same right to be there as me. One rule for all, except the privileged it appears.
Bob
10 June 2021“Any of them have the right to come park in my street” — yes, but it’s not about rights, it’s about the reality that hundreds of non-residents regularly park on their street, and (I assume) maybe one non-resident occasionally parks on yours. There’s a bit of an imbalance there, and that’s what people get upset about.
My view: Get rid of most of the parking (car parks or on-road parking) and provide much more integrated, frequent, reliable, cheap (free?) public transport. The Lakes is fortunate enough to only have a few honeypot places that the majority of people visit, and a few roads which join them up, so is well set up to run shuttle buses up and down those roads all day, and get rid of a huge proportion of visitors’ cars and all the problems they bring.
Bob
10 June 2021"Any of them have the right to come park in my street" - yes, but it's not about rights, it's about the reality that hundreds of non-residents regularly park on their street, and (I assume) maybe one non-resident occasionally parks on yours. There's a bit of an imbalance there, and that's what people get upset about.
My view: Get rid of most of the parking (car parks or on-road parking) and provide much more integrated, frequent, reliable, cheap (free?) public transport. The Lakes is fortunate enough to only have a few honeypot places that the majority of people visit, and a few roads which join them up, so is well set up to run shuttle buses up and down those roads all day, and get rid of a huge proportion of visitors' cars and all the problems they bring.
SoSueMe
10 June 2021Not everyone who lives in Cumbria resides in The Lake District, a common mistake made by people who don't realise the LDNP is within the county. Not all Cumbrians are wealthy or privileged. Many are adversely affected by inconsiderate visitors. Bus services being cancelled, roads blocked preventing emergency vehicles getting through, travel time to work taking much longer, all as a direct result of holidaymakers on the roads, being a tax payer doesn't give visitors a pass to disregard the needs of others. Not everyone in Cumbria benefits from tourism but quite a few are disadvantaged by it. Consider urgently requiring an ambulance but some fool has blocked the road. That's not an 'if' situation, it has happened. It isn't Nimbyism to object to being treated with disrespect.
SoSueMe
10 June 2021It isn't Nimbyism to want to get to work without being stuck in traffic queues or have the bus service cancelled because of inconsiderate visitors parking. It isn't Nimbyism to urgently need an emergency service to not be able to receive help because fools have blocked the road, paying taxes doesn't give drivers a free pass to behave badly.
Not all Cumbrians live in The Lake District, not everyone who lives the county is wealthy so why should they pay for being disadvantaged by those who treat the area as if it was a big theme park or public land?
Margaret
11 June 2021As someone posted on twitter -
'For a start, maybe stop promoting/marketing the Lakes.'
John Bainbridge
11 June 2021As walkers only have foot access to 9% of the English landscape, perhaps if we adopted the Scottish land reform access people would have more places to go to. While folk will always come to the Lakes, this would spread the load. I wouldn't like to see any measures that would price the poor out of the countryside.
Jon Bragg
11 June 2021Think it's time to limit all vehicles in honeypots, then park n ride would work, except for all that camping or caravan gear in your vehicle.
Next should be more closed valleys like wasdale and to stop advertising the place as its full. !
We went to west lakes furness at whit weekend and it was lovely and quiet. Then saw jams from Ambleside to Windermere, we took back roads, but it's awfully shocking to see 5 mile jams. Only cure is limiting access.
I am not local.
SH
11 June 2021Not local but there often for the last 10 years. Have friends across Cumbria and can confirm that parking is horrendous at times, as is traffic. It certainly isn't nimbyism, it's about the sheer amount of vehicles and an increase in percentage of thoughtless and mindless actions by some. As stated, this negatively impacts those going to work across Cumbria as well as Lakeland residents. I would strongly suggest a change in tact when considering advertising the Lakes and to inform people of basics like park properly, don't block farm and field entrances and take your litter home. I read in 'Summit' magazine (BMC) that pre-lockdown the Lakes had around 16 million visitors a year. In 2020 it was 40 million and this year it's predicted to be up to 90 million. That simply isn't sustainable. Sadly some outdoors magazines don't help with their 'conquer the mountain' type language (no mountain is 'conquered' - as the Sherpas say, the mountains let you climb them!) and the revealing of previously quiet places, in their quest for readers. There are other nearby areas that are equally beautiful, suitable for families etc. For the rest of us, it looks like more trips across the border! But shhhh, don't tell anyone...
Steve
11 June 2021The problem is exacerbated by the same charity complaining about this opposing even the slightest, most minor infrastructure improvement
Red Trummy
11 June 2021Not helping turning parts into a play park neither. (Zipwire e.t.c)
Used to love the Lakes but just too much used now.
Needs draconian action to protect it.
Cumbrian Mike
12 June 2021The infrastructure is clearly at breaking point. Visitor numbers must be controlled somehow. Adding pop up campsites and car parks is not the answer.
Fenix
23 June 2021Encourage visitors to walk from their location. We often stay in the Lakes and once here the car isn't touched until we come home.
Can't agree with the poster saying everyone living in the Lake District is affluent. What makes them think this ?
It'd be great to have better public transport links too.