A planning application in Keswick which has caused controversy has been suddenly withdrawn.
The proposal, to permanently keep temporary access to land off Penrith Road, was pulled on Tuesday July 4.
Last week, United Utilities made it clear that despite previous reports, it had not been involved in the application, which it said was made on behalf of the landowner.
The application was registered with the national park authority on May 3, having been submitted by planning agent Mrs Tracey Jackson, of H&H Land and Estates, Carlisle, with the applicant’s name provided as John Maitland, of a residential address in north London.
A spokesperson for the Lake District National Park Authority said: “We informed the applicant that we would be recommending refusal of the application and they subsequently withdrew it.”
Keswick guest house owner Eldon Johnson, of Craglands, and Keswick Town Council had previously opposed the application.
Mr Johnson and councillors said the hard-standing area providing access to the United Utilities site off Old Windlebrowe had been abused by people parking there, and the town council wanted an original dry stone wall reinstating to how it was before the pipeline project.
Last week, United Utilities pledged to reinstate no parking signs and said if the application was “refused”, it would return to remove the concrete area and reinstate the dry stone wall and footpath.
Reacting to the withdrawal of the application, a United Utilities spokesperson said: “We will be liaising with the owner of the property to understand their future plans for the gated area. Once this has been confirmed, and subject to any future planning applications, we will then look to progress with our reinstatement plans.”
