Stickle Tarn, one of areas put on the market by the Lakes authority
A Lake District MP is calling on the national park authority to halt the sale of a mountain tarn and its surrounding area.
Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, is backing plans to have Stickle Tarn registered as a community asset.
This would effectively put any sale on ice and give locals six months to raise cash to buy the tarn, which the Kendal-based authority is selling as part of a £½m disposal of land as coalition Government cuts to its budget hit hard.
Stickle Tarn, in the shadow of Pavey Ark and Jack’s Rake, is currently for sale by tender with a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000, and a deadline of 12 March.
Mr Farron has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons urging support for the Langdale Valley Association in trying to have the tarn registered as an asset of community value under the Localism Act. An EDM is a parliamentary process akin to a petition open to MPs to register their support for causes.
A group hoping to buy the Lakeland mountain Blencathra successfully persuaded Eden District Council to have the fell listed as a community asset in July last year.
Tim Farron: 'area is much loved'
Mr Farron said the Langdale Valley Association has completed and handed in the required forms to begin the process of registering Stickle Tarn as a community asset.
He said: “This campaign is really gathering momentum and I want to pay tribute to Langdale Valley Association for their perseverance. I stand ready to help and support them in any way I can. The area is much loved I am keen to do what I can to help local organisations buy it and keep it for all to enjoy.”
He said Stickle Tarn is widely regarded as one of the Lake District’s best known beauty spots is one of seven areas being sold off by national park bosses.
His campaign is supported by Liberal Democrat Heidi Halliday, an Ambleside councillor on South Lakeland District Council.
She said: “I fully support a community bid. Local community groups should have the opportunity to be custodians of this very special place.”
The Lake District National Park Authority had not responded to Grough’s request for a comment at the time of posting.
Diane Smithson
03 March 2015My Mum and I spent many years walking in the Lakes our home. Even though I moved away my mum continued to walk the peaks until her 99th year and I would think she has walked every part of the Lakes. The national park is for every one to enjoy and no part of it should ever be sold off. My family and I strongly oppose the sale of Stickle Tarn.
Linda999
04 March 2015What a lot of people don't realise is that, apart from a very small percentage, the land within the Lake District National Park is already owned by others.
The owners include the National Trust who own 25%; United Utilities who own a massive chunk, the Forestry Commission; the Lowther Estate; the Dalemain Estate; and the rest is owned by small landowners.
The Lake District National Park Authority own about 4% of the land, most of which was acquired years ago in order to protect them. However, since new laws have been introduced, such as the CROW Act, which offer protection in their own right.
As for the sites which are up for sale now, nothing will change. The access to them will remain as it is now.