The spirit of community was alive today (5 November) as around 1,000 walkers, cyclists and people with disabilities gathered to protest against the proposed permanent closure of the West Thirlmere Road.
The road has been temporarily closed since Storm Arwen caused minor damage to the peaceful back road in 2021. The closure means that walkers, cyclists and horse riders can no longer make a full circuit of Thirlmere, with cyclists forced to use the busy and treacherous A591 on the Eastern side of the lake.
Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition to keep the road open in the name of safety and public right of way.
A proposal is being prepared by Cumberland Council for the Highways Committee on Friday 10 November to approve a permanent closure of the West Thirlmere Road, but has so far met with significant resistance, including 2,310 letters of objection.
A Victorian pledge for future generations
In 1879, the ‘Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act’ entitled the Corporation to dam the lake at Thirlmere creating a reservoir from which water would be pumped over 90 miles to Manchester. The 1879 Act specified that a new road had to be built and maintained for public use and stated that this road – the West Thirlmere Road (U7003) – “shall be maintained by and at the cost of the Corporation for ever.”
Local historian, Ian Hall, said:
“In the original Act of 1879, this road had to be built to as a compensation for taking the lovely lakes that were here before and making Thirlmere a reservoir.
“The Act said that they had to make this road and maintain it in perpetuity for public use and, for the first 120 years, that’s what was done. Now, United Utilities (who own the dam) want to close it and keep us out forever. They have a legal obligation to keep it open. It’s not their right to close this road. It’s our right to have it open. I’m delighted to see so many people here today to make that obligation clear. Let’s get this road open as soon as we possibly can.”
Lake District people power
Julia Aglionby, Liberal Democrat MP candidate for Penrith and Solway, attended the protest after being approached by many residents who were deeply concerned by the closure of this road.
Julia said,
“We need people power and we need to take action ourselves. United Utilities will not open the road because we have come to today; this is the start of the action we need to take today and we have to use our democratic rights as individuals. They have an obligation to keep this road open for ever and maintain it.”
Organiser of the Keep Thirlmere Open campaign, Mark Hatton, said:
“We are here today to object to the woeful lack of progress to reopen this road after almost two years. We are here to show that we won’t simply accept that this road must be permanently closed to all traffic: walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorists. We are here to demonstrate a collective sense of disbelief that any of this is truly in the interests of public safety; that this isn’t about public safety, it’s all about corporate safety and convenience.
“We want this public right of way to be restored. We want walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorists to be free to enjoy the safety, beauty and peacefulness of this road.”
Ted Little, Cycling UK, attended the protest and said:
“I have a long history of enjoying this road. I was lucky enough to bring thousands of younger and older people along this road to enjoy this whole area. The thing that worries me is that the corporate decisions are not taking into account future generations. If we don’t stand up for it now, this facility will not be enjoyed in the future as it has been enjoyed for over 100 years. Cycling UK is 100% behind this endeavour.
“From a cycling perspective, this back road is so important because the A591 is so dangerous. This road is an important link for the north to south corridor in the Lake District. It’s a severance that will never be replaced unless we win this fight. We are thinking about the future and we are bearing in mind the past. We have to keep this road open for future generations.”
Plans for closure
After being served with a S151 order, United Utilities should have until 20 November to prevent their land adjacent to the public highway causing damage or danger to the public highway. This is a public highway and we have as much right to use this road as we do any other road in the Lake District or in the country.
Despite this, the decision to approve a Permanent Closure Order will be made at the Cumberland Council Highways Strategic Board meeting at Workington Town Hall at 10.30am on 10 November. The Council will be asked to approve the permanent closure of the West Thirlmere Road to all users. To shut a public road to everyone and everything permanently is an exceptionally rare order.
Mark Hatton said,
“Cumberland Council have attempted to close this road in 2010 and were then frustrated by a petition of 900 signatures that supported keeping the road open. And yet, now, they are going to ignore a petition with over 9,000 signatures on it. They’re planning to ignore 2,310 letters of public objection to the closure – with zero in favour. What it the point in having a public consultation when you’re going to ignore what the public say?
“We have a public right to speak at the meeting, but were only given 24 hours to apply for that right to speak. They are trying to suppress public voice and they see us an inconvenience and are ignoring public sentiment. We need as many people there as possible.”