A parish council has repeated its objection to the construction of a new parking scheme with amenities at Ullock Moss, Portinscale, fearing it will attract additional traffic through the village.
Members of Above Derwent Parish Council said the current application that is with the Lake District National Park Authority, which also includes a shuttle bus turning facility and a series of measures to the adjacent highway and footpath infrastructure, has not changed in any material way since November 2024 and therefore the council’s position of opposition remains the same.
They also objected because of continuing concerns over traffic safety and the possibility that the car park will increase traffic through the community. Councillors are convinced that an agile policy to disperse and not attract additional traffic into the national park seems much more appropriate.
The meeting was told that there continues to be both illegal and indiscriminate parking during busy weekends concentrated at the Swinside Triangle and to the south as walkers try to park as close to Catbells as they can.
They were of the opinion that a rise in the number of penalty charge notices being issued may reflect an increase in enforcement, rather than an increase in illegal parking.
Councillors pointed out that there seems to be an increasing number of accidents and near-misses at the A66 junction, and congestion in the village.
The Easter weekend once again saw traffic chaos in Borrowdale and Buttermere with Stagecoach forced to cancel or terminate services because of poorly parked vehicles on narrow roads.
Applicant Mike Anderton says solutions are needed and that blaming tourists for bank holiday traffic chaos is not fair.
He says the majority of holidaymakers want to visit responsibly. But he says lack of action by the Lake District National Park Authority and others, who should be helping people enjoy the area, means tourists are being forced to abandon their cars on narrow roads around Catbells, on the west side of Derwentwater.
Mr Anderton said that planners have been considering a solution for decades with no progress being made and that includes a planning application, resubmitted by himself last year, for a new car park at Ullock Moss with toilets.
“The parking issues will not go away and visitors should be able to visit their national park,” said Mr Anderton. “There is a solution here but common sense is not prevailing.
“A team of experts has submitted an application that aligns with planning policy, is evidenced backed and it will resolve the area’s long-standing parking problems. Now is the time to take action to avoid future bank holiday traffic chaos, including more buses being cancelled, like the 77A at the weekend, because of poorly parked vehicles at Gatesgarth.”
LDNPA planners anticipate the application for the car park with 150 spaces, an undercover waiting area for bus users, and toilets will be heard at their June meeting of the development control committee.
Simon Hill, commercial property manager for LDNPA, said : “We urge anyone travelling around the Lake District during busy peak periods by private vehicle to park only in clearly marked car parks, where it is safe to do so.
“If you get to your destination and there is no parking, please change your plans and don’t park on the roadside or the verges as this spoils the beautiful landscape you have come to enjoy.
“We share the frustrations at poor parking seen in the park over Easter weekend. It is vital roads are clear for emergency service vehicles to pass through, and so that bus services can run smoothly, helping reduce the number of cars on the roads.
“We recognise there are several areas of the Lake District which become very busy during peak visitor seasons and we continue working with partners, communities and landowners to look at the best options to get people out of their cars and consider alternative ways to move around the park, including shuttle bus services at Wasdale and Buttermere, and a discounted service at Ullswater.
“Stagecoach also offers a park and explore service, where you can park for the day and receive a Lakes Dayrider ticket.
“Travel within the region remains a key part of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s work and its travel vision is that by 2040 the minimum percentage of visitors arriving by car decreases from the 2015 figure of 83 per cent to 64 per cent. The partnership’s annual report highlights community projects that encourage visitors to travel sustainably and research that demonstrates a clear demand for people to travel without their car on holiday.”
