More objections have been raised over plans for an 150-space car park in the Lake District.
Proposals for the car park, at Ullock Moss, have been put forward by the Lingholm Private Trust.
It would also include a shuttle bus turning facility. The applicant said parking in the local area was a long-recognised issue and appears to be getting worse.
It said: “During holidays and weekends the area is seeing severe congestion running back through the local village of Portinscale.
“Out of holidays, during the week and more recently, as a result of the recent Covid restrictions, the area still experiences a high number of visitors and residents parking.”
The site is currently used as a clearing for forestry operations in nearby woodlands. The applicant added: “It has more recently been used as a temporary car park for a maximum period of 56 days, as allowable under current development rights. This contributed to a reduction in roadside parking.”
But objectors say the car park would create more problems for the village and surrounding area.
The proposal has previously been recommended for refusal by the Lake District National Park Authority in 2021 and 2023.
Members of the Derwent Safe and Sustainable Transport Group are objecting to the proposal and one resident of the village said there were more than 200 responses opposing the scheme.
He said: “When you look at responses from people confirming themselves as Portinscale residents, there are 75 responses opposing it and nine supporting it.
“Therefore, 88 percent of Portinscale villagers who’ve responded oppose it. On what grounds can any democratic system start making assumptions about what a silent majority thinks and believes?”
Rob and Sara Stichbury said: “We have been visiting the Lakes for over 50 years, and in recent years have a cottage in Troutbeck which we enjoy with our children and grandchildren.
“Catbells is an iconic mountain, and especially popular among young children and families. We think alternative schemes are needed to reduce car visits like the boat from Keswick, and for walkers the route down the western shore to Catbells.”
They said that they felt that a new car park and shuttle bus would not conserve or enhance the special qualities of the national park and World Heritage Site.
P Leeson also objected, because they felt the application failed at many levels and added: “Whilst the site at Ullock Moss is not actually ancient woodland it is surrounded by this now rare and super important habitat of high value.
“Ancient woodland is threatened and reduced for biodiversity value by noise, pollution from transport lighting and disturbance.”
V Kennedy also objected and said: “This isn’t a suitable place for a car park. It will spoil the area and the village doesn’t need any more traffic passing through it. It’s not a safe area to have parking as the road is narrow and some parts of the village have no path.”
P Hughes, said: “This is the third application in almost identical terms, the first of which was refused and the second withdrawn following a recommendation that it should be refused.”
Friends of the Lake District has also objected.
The application also has supporters and Abby Blakeman said: “Emergency service vehicles would be completely unable to pass down these roads due to the quantity of cars parked on these roads.
“Ultimately this is likely to have a serious consequence that could have been easily avoided by offering alternative parking space in the form of a car park.
“The proposed car park offers an obvious solution to this and the other issues caused by unacceptable road parking down the valley.”
Philippe P also supported the application and said: “It is virtually impossible to park in this area even throughout the year. This situation is untenable. I am therefore expressing my support for this application and the new car park.
“It is just common sense to have such a space dedicated to cars. People will therefore come to the area, make the region benefit economically from their visits and not park anywhere.
“Otherwise, people will go to other places that are more welcoming and user-friendly. It is not incompatible with developing other forms of transport at the same time but thinking that people will stop using their car even if there are more buses is not realistic.”
The application is being considered by planners at the Lake District National Park Authority.
