2 days ago
Lake District tourist congestion charge 'could ease parking problems'
A congestion charge for visitors to the Lake District could help ease parking problems in the national park, a think tank leader has parking in some areas can stop buses, lorries and emergency vehicles getting past at busy Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the revenue could be used to fund better public transport and it "might be one of the answers we need to consider".Local businessman Mike Anderton said he disagreed as it would "put tourists off".
Mr Murison, whose group looks at ways to boost economic growth in the north of England, said it was important that people could travel to the Lakes "much more easily by public transport", offering an alternative to devolution advocate said a future Cumbria mayor could request the power to impose a congestion charge."Asking those visitors who may continue to drive their cars to pay a congestion charge, I think that might be one of the answers we need to consider," he said.
'Car park needed'
The idea has been criticised by Mr Anderton, who owns the Swinside Inn in the Newlands Valley"I don't think it's a good idea, I think it's going to put tourists off," he said."A lot of people in the local area make their living off tourists."
He said too many people parking on the road near Cat Bells fell was a serious problem and had caused the local bus service to be cancelled multiple solution, he said, was to build a car Anderton has submitted a planning application to create one at Ullock Moss, after a previous proposal at the same site was Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has also previously turned down plans for a permanent facility at Cupboard Field, where Mr Anderton operates a temporary car park for 28 days a year.
Alan Ashby, an opponent of the Ullock Moss scheme from nearby Portinscale, said a car park would not solve the said it would lead to "more car visitors coming through the village" on their way to reach would lead to "more safety issues", he said, with vehicles squeezing through tight spaces to get past each other and parked Anderton said a car park would not attract more about the wider issue of parking in the Lake District, Emma Moody, a sustainable transport adviser for the LDNPA, said it was "really important we give people alternatives to driving."She said the authority had helped fund a shuttle bus in Wasdale and was encouraging visitors "to consider travelling by bus if it's convenient for them."
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