Anti-social parking has once again brought buses serving Buttermere to a standstill.
Wall to wall sunshine and school holidays brought large numbers of people to the valley – but those trying to park as close as possible to the shores of Buttermere and Crummock caused major problems.
Cumberland ticketing officers were in the Buttermere valley nearly every day over half term, and twice a day on several occasions. Dozens of cars were given tickets but bad parking continued and buses were unable to pass or were severely delayed on several occasions.
Pop-up car-parks took a large number of cars which would otherwise have been driving around looking for somewhere to park as all the main car parks were often full by 10am.
The 77 bus, captured at Woodhouse in this picture by volunteer visitor manager Derek Tunstall, serving Buttermere and Honister, took 45 minutes to get through.
Mr Tunstall said he had never seen the parking situation as bad and it was completely gridlocked at Woodhouse.
He said a badly parked van and around 10 cars parked illegally on double yellow lines jutting out into the middle of the road were causing major hold-ups.
“I rang 999 because it was an obstruction and an emergency vehicle would not have got through,” said Mr Tunstall, who was subjected to verbal abuse from bad tempered motorists as he attempted to sort the problem out.
“I have never seen it as bad. I also got in touch with Cumberland Council and they told me that on Bank Holiday Monday they had had 95 cars parked illegally in Buttermere and Borrowdale.”
Mr Tunstall said there is room for nine legally parked cars at Woodhouse.
“People see them and they just pile in. They are parked out into the middle of the road really. They were not right into hedges where they could be. A lot of people don’t know how to drive on narrow roads. They are frightened to get too near the dyke.
“If they just stopped picnicking in the field that would help sort the problem but the farmer has given up telling people because he just does not want the abuse.”
Mr Tunstall said that the problems were exacerbated in the valley at the weekend because of the large number of vehicles including motorhomes visiting the Buttermere Bash.
On May 29 Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire posted on social media: “Due to very inconsiderate car drivers we will be unable to serve Honister and Gatesgarth as buses cannot get past. Buses will operate Keswick via Lorton and a return service will hopefully return to normal at 15.30.”
On June 4 the company posted: “We are experiencing some delays to our 77 and 77a services. This is due to badly parked vehicles in various places along the route. Services are still running but please expect some delays.’’
