10 June 2008
Members urged to raise concern over plans for Westmorland's secret valley
Friends of the Lake District's members are being asked to raise concern about plans for a tourism development in Borrowdale, Westmorland regarded by many as one of the quieter valleys in the Lake District. Friends of the Lake District own land in the valley at High Borrowdale, which is being managed for landscape enhancement and quiet enjoyment. However adjacent land at Low Borrowdale was sold in 2007 to Natural Retreats, a luxury holiday company offering eco-friendly holidays and currently operating in Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Now a planning application has been received for more than 25 luxury lodges on land at Low Borrowdale and conversion of the existing farmhouse to self-catering cottages. Despite the company's environmental credentials a development on such a scale will have a profound impact of the nature of the valley, not only in terms of the building, but also through increase traffic generation in an area whose special qualities mean it is included in land for potential inclusion in an extension to the National Park boundary.
Many members and visitors to the area will have visited the area and be aware of the impact such a development might have on the quiet enjoyment of the valley. If you are concerned about the impact which this development will have we urge you to look at the application online at Eden District Council's website and consider commenting on its scale and appropriateness in this remote location.
