Campaigners pushing for the opening up of the U7003 road on the west side of Thirlmere to all traffic have been baffled by the approach of Cumberland Council and United Utilities towards opening up a route beneath Rough Crag for pedestrians.
It follows the erection of barriers and traffic signs by the council to the north and south of the crag which prohibit vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from using the route. But a yellow notice states that horses and horse riders are permitted to cross the barriers and an anti slip mat has been installed to assist horses to step through the barrier. The sign states that there is a “high risk of danger and injury from falling rocks and debris” from Rough Crag.
Meanwhile, United Utilities has now removed all of its fences, barriers and ‘road closed’ signs along a footpath below the Thirlmere West Road. It has also removed the locked gates and fences on the footpath between the public highway and the reservoir that has been preventing walkers using the route for more than two years.
UU has installed signs with “Use at your own risk” wording along the path in an attempt to reduce the risk of anyone injured while using the footpath claiming against the company.
It has left campaigners asking why Cumberland Council cannot adopt the same approach to the public highway. The Keswick Reminder put this to the council on Monday but the authority chose not to make any comment despite a number of requests.
Campaigners have also asked why neither United Utilities or Cumberland Council has been willing to make public any of the recent survey reports into the condition of Rough Crag or any assessment of the risk that Rough Crag presents to road users.
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “Based on the results of the assessments carried out before Christmas, we’re pleased to have been able to re-open the lakeshore footpath below Rough Crag.
“We remain fully committed to working collaboratively with Cumberland Council to allow Thirlmere west road to be reopened as soon as possible and that position has not changed. As well as providing updates on our website, we are also regularly in touch with campaigners to keep them up-to-date with progress.
“In November, United Utilities was served with a legal notice by the council for the works to be carried out within 28 days. Unfortunately, simply because it was not possible to gain the necessary permissions and complete the work within the legal timescale, we had no choice but to appeal this notice.
“While these legal proceedings are ongoing, we are unable to share further in-depth details.”
Mark Hatton, who is leading the campaign to get the road opened up to all vehicles, said: “The newly erected barriers across the road at Rough Crag are a powerful illustration of just how ridiculous, scandalous and wasteful the closure of this road has been in recent years.
“The public are still being taken for fools and anyone choosing to avoid the much more dangerous A591 and use the Thirlmere west road instead will be criminalised by Cumberland Council. Whilst we hope this disgraceful road closure will be removed in the next few months, we are still not allowed access to the road or to see any evidence that it is unsafe.”
