A project to screen properties exposed by the felling of trees along the route of the newly-opened Keswick to Threlkeld trail is being consulted upon.
Residents of Latrigg Close, whose houses back on to the popular footpath, have been particularly vocal about the axing of the trees and severe pruning back of the foliage by the Lake District National Park Authority on the embankment overlooking their homes.
They have likened the lack of privacy they are now experiencing, because of the removal of the natural screening, to living in “goldfish bowls.”
But the LDNPA’s area ranger, Cath Johnson, has now sent an email to the mayor of Keswick, Paul Titley, which says the authority’s property team “are in dialogue with residents regarding a project to replant and screen properties at this location.”
Mr Titley said the town council would be looking for a promise of action with dates because “you can have a dialogue forever.”
“It would appear that the LDNPA has acknowledged that it has created a problem and are now in dialogue with residents,” said Mr Titley.
“The town council is going to put pressure on the national park to make sure that the dialogue comes up with something tangible.
“It will go a long way to restoring our confidence in the national park if they were to fix this quickly.”
The news comes after people took to Facebook at the weekend to air their views about the removal of trees and shrubs in the Latrigg Close area of the trail.
Lesley Randal described it as an “absolutely disgraceful act of vandalism” and asked why the LDNPA felt it was a positive move to fell the trees.
“The pathway looks like a sanitised, urban interpretation of its former self? I’m at a loss for words?” she said.
Lucy Armstrong said she loved the walk and wondered why the LDNPA – the authority responsible for making the route walkable for people – had left residents’ back gardens open for all to see.
“It must be a real assault on people’s property and lifestyle!! “ she said.
“Ok it’s winter now but come summer when lockdown is hopefully a thing of the past, what then?
“I really think residents should have been offered the option of having a fence erected.”
Jan Little said it was “shocking” to see how wide open the area is and added that it should have been left alone or replanted while Elizabeth Bland said she walked the line regularly and now felt uncomfortable for the residents.
“I can’t bring myself to look towards the houses or gardens,” she said.
Work was due to start yesterday to rebuild and improve the access ramp at the Cow Arch, adjacent to the Shell garage, on Penrith Road, Keswick.
The work is expected to take approximately 10 working days to complete and follows suggestions from the local community.
The trail and the underpass are to remain open while the work is carried out and people are requested to follow the on-site signage and temporary barriers.