Friends of the Lake District's vice president Chris Bonington has added his name to the list of objectors to a proposed major tourism development north of Kendal. A planning application for the development of 10 ‘eco-lodges', seven holiday cottages and parking spaces at Low Borrowdale Farm in the Borrowdale valley between Kendal and Shap is scheduled to go before Eden District Council's Planning Committee on 23rd April.

Borrowdale is one of the few remaining tranquil valleys in the eastern lakes as it currently has no road access, which the proposed new development would drastically change.

Bonington joins over 200 individuals who have sent letters of objection to the proposed development. Organisations including Friends of the Lake District, Natural England, South Lakeland District Council and the Ramblers Association have also voiced major concerns. A local campaign group - Save Our Borrowdale - has formed in response to the proposals. The valley is one of a number of areas under consideration for inclusion within the Lake District National Park. The whole valley is open access to the public.

In his letter to Eden Council, Bonington said:

"Having walked the Borrowdale Valley on several occasions over the years, I believe it is one of the loveliest valleys in Cumbria, all the more attractive for its quietness and pristine quality. It is not surprising that it is being considered for inclusion in the National Park - something long over due in my opinion.

"I fully appreciate the need to diversify and strengthen the rural economy but this needs to be carried out on a long term sustainable basis. Even in economic terms, maintaining the pristine beauty of our Lakeland and Cumbrian unspoilt valleys must make sense, for this is why this area is such a focus for tourism.

"The Borrowdale Valley is unique and should remain so, hopefully, one day, becoming one of the jewels in the National Park diadem."

The conservation charity Friends of the Lake District represents the Campaign to Protect Rural England in Cumbria, and owns the adjoining land High Borrowdale. The charity bought High Borrowdale in 2002, to enhance the landscape and protect it from future inappropriate development.

Friends of the Lake District's Planning Officer Richard Pearse added:

‘We welcome Sir Chris' support in our fight to protect Borrowdale. The landscape of the Borrowdale valley is highly valued, especially by local people, as the number of objection letters would attest. This beautiful and currently tranquil valley borders the national park and its landscape is recognized as being of national park quality. We understand the need for farmers to diversify, but a development of the scale proposed for Low Borrowdale is not warranted in either economic or environmental terms.'

For more information about this development please contact Friends of the Lake District on 01539 720788 or see our Low Borrowdale planning page.

Chris Bonington is Britain's best known climber and one of the most successful expedition leaders in the World having led the teams that made the first ascents of the South Face of Annapurna and the South West Face of Everest. He has been at the cutting edge of climbing for the last forty years making first ascents of twenty peaks in the greater ranges of the World. His ascent of the Ogre with Doug Scott in 1978 was only repeated after twenty attempts in 2002.

Friends of the Lake District bought High Borrowdale in 2002, to enhance the landscape and protect it from future inappropriate development. Since then we have:
- repaired 5 km of dry stone walls
- repaired three buildings
- planted 10,000 new trees in two new sections of woodland
- created an upland hay meadow
- opened the whole site up to public access
- welcomed the public on to it for talks and schools visits
- held regular volunteer conservation days

To find out more or volunteer, please phone 01539 720788.