Plans for a new osprey viewing platform on a Lake District fellside look set to be swooped on this week.
Feathers are flying about the creation of a new platform – high above the village of Thornthwaite – in an area near Red Crag.
Eagle-eyed parishioners saw that Forestry England had built the hard-standing area with a retaining wall at Whinlatter Forest to allow people to spy on the spectacular birds of prey down on Bassenthwaite.
And some are far from egg-static that the project can go-ahead without planning permission or consultation being required.
The issue is set to land at a meeting of Above Derwent Council tomorrow night.
A reports warns that the platform could see thousands flocking on to narrow rural roads, particularly if they access the site via the Narrows at Braithwaite.
There is also a concern that there was a major forest fire in the location last April which demonstrated the risk of carelessly discarded cigarettes. A report to councillors said the new platform followed the apparent closure of the hugely-popular Osprey viewpoint at Dodd Wood.
The report said it would conflict with Forestry England’s claim to reduce traffic through the Narrows and was also at odds with the LDNPA’s intention to disperse visitors to less busy areas.
