Plans for work at Crummock Water prompt outcry

Councillors, swimmers and locals are opposed to the way in which United Utilities intends to carry out some of its work at Crummock Water.

People with mobility issues will be unable to access the lake, said Allerdale borough councillor Nicky Cockburn who swims there every day.

Closing the National Trust Lanthwaite Wood car park will impact on already problematic local roads and there is no need to close the popular beach, say others.

At the end of the month, UU will stop abstraction for public water supply from Crummock Water, Chapelhouse reservoir and Overwater. Customers in West Cumbria will be supplied by the new pipeline from Thirlmere.

At Crummock Water, there are plans to remove the weir structure, some of the equipment used for collecting water supplies and the supporting infrastructure.

According to UU, this could lower the water level in Crummock Water in the region of 1.35 metres. It will also widen the lake margin.

Plans were on show recently.

"During the construction phase access to several areas around Crummock Water will be restricted, along with closures of some access routes, as safety is of utmost importance," state the plans.

"We are looking at the provision of alternative parking during the proposed work."

Cllr Nicky Cockburn will be unable to enjoy a therapeutic daily dip at Crummock Water when the car park closes (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Nicky Cockburn swims every day, from the beach which will be closed while work is carried out. It is easily accessible from Lanthwaite Wood car park.

"I swim all year for therapeutic purposes and there’s plenty of others who also swim and walk here for both physical and/or mental well being.

"The access is great for those with mobility issues. I am very concerned that the 'temporary' Lanthwaite Wood car park closure will profoundly affect me and the many local users of this wonderful area."

She is calling for UU to rethink their plans.

"United Utilities has only considered the least expensive options for them," she said.

"The massive concrete removal wagons proposed do provide a significant safety risk to the National Park road users and the footpath to the lake.

"A compromise would be to ban wagon movements from daytime use."

Jennie Chatterley is a regular swimmer at Crummock (Image: Jennie Chatterley)

Regular swimmer Jennie Chatterley, of Lamplugh, said: "I was told the Lanthwaite Wood car park will be closed off from May until September for one whole summer, possibly another year."

This, together with the closure of the main beach, will severely impact the many users, she said.

"The lake access for swimmers is ideal as a safe and sheltered entry point. It is very busy with swimmers from spring to autumn from early in the morning until evening," said Jennie.

"To lose access here for a lot of people for a whole summer is difficult to accept."

The parish councils of Buttermere, Lorton and Loweswater have raised concerns.

In response to the Crummock Water Discontinuance application made by UU to the Lake District National Park, they said plans to close the car park "shows a gross lack of understanding of the challenges faced in the valley already in relation to lack of availability of parking on busy summer days resulting in inconsiderate and dangerous parking which can at times cause access difficulties to emergency vehicles".

They also pointed out that the increase in shoreline on the eastern shore at the southern end of the lake could seriously impact roads.

"This area already suffers from severe traffic congestion in fine weather as visitors park on double yellow lines to access the lake. We can only see this problem worsening with the increase in easy access shore."

In response to objections, a UU spokesman said: "Even if the works were completed overnight, due to the equipment required in Lanthwaite Wood Car Park it would not be possible to reopen this during daytime hours.

"We are looking at providing an alternative car park with at least the same number of spaces for the duration of the closure."

Regarding the main beach being closed, he said: "There is an existing concrete wave wall which extends across this beach which needs to be removed and we will need to restrict access to the area from a health and safety perspective.

"Any closure would be kept to a minimum."