Over 1,000 people have gathered to protest against plans to close a Lake District road.
Following Storm Arwen in November 2021, the U7003 along the western shore of Thirlmere was closed under emergency powers due to fallen trees, rockfall and debris on the carriageways.
Land next to the road, known as Rough Crag, was also damaged during the storm, and its owner, United Utilities, said it posed a danger to road users.
However, the closure has prompted a massive backlash, with almost 10,000 people signing a petition to keep the road open.
Campaigners gathered yesterday, Sunday November 5, ahead of a meeting on Friday by Cumberland Council’s highways and transport strategic board.
Councillors have been asked to consider whether to introduce a permanent road closure order, but the authority has been clear that it does aim to reopen the road when it is safe to do so.
However, protestors fear that the road will never reopen if the order is introduced.
had a road restriction that was implemented on an emergency basis under a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, due to fallen trees, significant rockfall and debris on the highway. This made the road hazardous to all users. Damage was caused to adjacent land, known as Rough Crag, which is the responsibility of United Utilities, as the landowners.
Organiser of the Keep Thirlmere Open campaign, Mark Hatton, said: “We are here today to object to the woeful lack of progress to reopen this road after almost two years.
“We are here to show that we won’t simply accept that this road must be permanently closed to all traffic: walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorists. We are here to demonstrate a collective sense of disbelief that any of this is truly in the interests of public safety; that this isn’t about public safety, it’s all about corporate safety and convenience.
“We want this public right of way to be restored. We want walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorists to be free to enjoy the safety, beauty and peacefulness of this road.”
Ted Little, of Cycling UK, attended the protest and said: “I have a long history of enjoying this road. I was lucky enough to bring thousands of younger and older people along this road to enjoy this whole area. The thing that worries me is that the corporate decisions are not taking into account future generations. If we don’t stand up for it now, this facility will not be enjoyed in the future as it has been enjoyed for over 100 years. Cycling UK is 100 per cent behind this endeavour.
“From a cycling perspective, this back road is so important because the A591 is so dangerous. This road is an important link for the north to south corridor in the Lake District. It’s a severance that will never be replaced unless we win this fight. We are thinking about the future and we are bearing in mind the past. We have to keep this road open for future generations.”
Julia Aglionby, the Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Penrith and Solway, attended the protest after being approached by many residents who were deeply concerned by the closure of this road.
She said: “We need people power and we need to take action ourselves. This is the start of the action we need to take today and we have to use our democratic rights as individuals. They have an obligation to keep this road open for ever and maintain it.”
Cumberland Council said in September that it was carrying out its own independent review of the latest survey report provided by United Utilities.
It added: “Once this has been concluded it will inform the content of the Statutory Notice (under Section 151 Highways Act 1980) which the Council will then serve upon United Utilities to carry out works to make safe and secure the remaining length of the U7003 (the Rough Crag area) so that the road can be reopened to all users.”
Councillor Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, added: “Cumberland Council wishes to reassure our residents and business we are fully committed to the U7003 being reopened as soon as is practicable. This is what officers are working towards with no other agenda.”
United Utilities supports road reopening
Following the publication of this story, United Utilities issued this statement:
“United Utilities has confirmed that it fully supports the calls for the West Road at Thirlmere to be reopened.
“Since 2001, independent engineering specialists have identified an ongoing and unacceptably high risk of rock and tree falls onto the highway at the section directly below the crag that could cause significant injury.
“United Utilities has been working with specialist engineering teams to assess the rock face and identify what needs to be done to make it safe.
“Recognising the landscape is protected, the company is now working with Natural England and the relevant authorities to gain the permission for the work to be completed. This would include scaling of the rock face from above and installation of protective netting and barriers to prevent further erosion and debris from falling. This work can only be done with permission due to the protected nature of the landscape and carried out over the winter to minimise any impact to nesting birds.
“Due to the complexity and the sensitive nature of the proposed work, United Utilities has also been working with the relevant authorities on an alternative solution. This would be a for a new lakeshore path which would provide a safe traffic-free route along the reservoir edge for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders. This proposed path would extend away from the crag and onto the reservoir edge before joining back up with the highway.”
Kevin Sayers, Cumbria area manager at United Utilities, said: “We completely understand the frustration caused by the ongoing road closure and recognise there are calls for us to open the road immediately to all users.
“We cannot, however, compromise safety of the public and we need to ensure that all relevant permissions are in place before work can begin.
“We fully support the calls for public access to the west side of the reservoir and, as public safety is of paramount importance to us, we have been working hard to find a safe solution.
“Rough Crag has important environmental protected status and stabilisation work would be likely to involve the removal of rare plants and sections of the rock face.
“This is why we must get permission from the relevant authorities, including Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Lake District National Park Authority for the work to be completed over the coming months.
“This corner of the Lake District is a beautiful area and we want to find the best solution that balances the need for public access with the protection of its unique features. For this reason we have been working with local stakeholders on developing an alternative new lakeshore path if stabilisation of the crag is not permitted by the authorities.
“This would see the creation of a new scenic traffic-free trail for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders along the west side of the reservoir shore which would link up to the existing highway at a safe distance from Rough Crag.
“We will, of course, continue our positive engagement with the council and other statutory authorities before any further work takes place and we are committed to find and implement a solution so that everyone can enjoy the west side of the lake.”
