The fate of a popular car park at Ullswater will be decided at a public inquiry.
A Government-appointed planning inspector will rule whether the car park, at the junction where the A592 meets the B5230 near Waterfoot, should stay or go.
Landowner Ronald Richardson, of Soulby, was served with an enforcement notice by the Lake District National Park Authority in September. It gave him six months to get rid of the “temporary” 50-space facility and turn it back into a field. LDNPA planners took action because the car park was still being used — long after it was subject to a planning condition that it should be removed following the completion of the new crossing at Pooley Bridge, which officially opened on October 23 2020.
But planning and legal representatives for Mr Richardson have now challenged that argument on several fronts, with his barrister citing inconsistencies.
Mr Richardson’s planning representative, Peter Winter, said he expected the inquiry to be held well into 2023.
“We have sought extensive legal advice on the question of whether or not there has been a breach of the original planning permission, and that advice will form a crucial part of the inquiry once it opens,” he said.
Landscape charity the Friends of the Lake District and Natural England, which advises the Government on the natural environment, had both opposed a planning application in November last year to allow the car park to stay for another two years.
They objected on the grounds it contradicted policies on sustainable travel use and flew in the face of efforts to reduce car dependency and carbon emissions in a world heritage site. But many supporters of the car park call it an “essential facility” which has significantly reduced fly-parking and traffic congestion along the A592.
Supporters include five councils, the Ullswater Association, major business owner and steamers’ operator Lake District Estates, and many members of the public.
Anyone wanting to make representations is advised to write to the case officer, Faiza Kanwal, at The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN. Submissions must be made before 22nd December, citing the case reference number APP/Q9495/C/22/3309401.
