A bid to stop a pay-and-display car park in the Borrowdale Valley being taken over by massive camper vans at the weekends has been supported by the parish council.
Members of Borrowdale Parish Council agreed to fully support a proposal by the National Trust to install an adjustable height restriction barrier at Kettlewell car park, on the edge of Derwentwater.
Last month The Keswick Reminder reported that increasing numbers of large camper vans had been occupying the car park for several days overnight – against the rules.
The problem started after lockdown and it has led to a rise in litter and human waste being discarded at the popular beauty spot.
It is also limiting use of the facility to camper van owners who pitch up for the weekend – at the expense of other short-stay car parkers. It usually provides parking for around 23,000 vehicles each year.
The trust has applied to the Lake District National Park Authority seeking permission to install an adjustable height barrier to restrict usage to vehicles below a certain height.
National Trust representative Joe Cornforth told the November meeting of the parish council that the solution was not ideal in terms of prohibiting people who drive large vehicles from accessing the car park, but the charity had not found any other solutions to address the significant issues of fly camping.
Councillors agreed to support the proposal because there is an ongoing issue with fly camping and it was a problem that needed to be addressed.
It was requested that the barrier verticals be in a muted colour to blend in as much as possible with the natural environment with the horizontal one being more visible.
