Lake District plan to moor holiday boats on Grasmere withdrawn | UK news

Plans to moor holiday boats on the shores of Grasmere in the Lake District national park have been withdrawn in a move described as a huge victory for community activism.

Thousands of protesters are still expected to descend on the Lake District next month to demonstrate over what they say is the increasing push to develop the national park for commercial gain.

However, the protesters are now also planning a day of celebration alongside activism on 1 February after Lowther Estates, which owns the lake in the village of Grasmere, announced that it would be shelving plans to moor 10 motor yachts measuring 40ft by 12ft on the waterway.

Earlier this month, more than 200 people gathered in the village to protest against proposals allowing holidaymakers to stay on the boats overnight. Locals argued that this commercialisation would eventually destroy the beauty and tranquility of the national park for future generations.

Following the public outcry Lowther Estates has now confirmed that the plans have been dropped.

The estate had asked the Lake District national park authority (LDNPA) to determine whether it needed planning permission to go ahead with the scheme.

David Bliss, the chief executive of Lowther Estates, had previously argued that the yachts would be a fitting addition to the area. However, before the LDNPA made its decision the estate announced it would not be proceeding with the application for “recreational craft” on Grasmere as it had caused “considerable concern”.

“The estate is a responsible landowner within the Lake District. They have therefore listened to these concerns and withdrawn the application,” said Bliss.

Andy Astle, 62, a retired Royal Mail manager who has lived in Grasmere for almost five decades, and Joe Nichols, also a local resident, said they were overjoyed with the decision. A group started by Astle – Houseboats Off Grasmere – has attracted more than 4,600 signatures on its petition and just under 300 objection letters were also sent to the LDNPA.

“It’s absolutely fantastic news, it’s all we could have hoped for, finally Lowther Estates have dropped their obscene plans to desecrate Grasmere. I have been truly humbled by the level of support both within the village but more importantly across the country and even abroad,” said Astle.

Nichols, who said campaigners would continue to protest, added: “We feel joy and relief. This is a huge victory for community activism and a step towards making lasting positive change in the way the Lake District national park is protected.”

Local residents and campaigners have been on a collision course with authorities and developers in the area, who they claim are increasingly pushing to develop the park for commercial gain.

Criticisms have been levelled at the head of the LDNPA, who has been accused of putting the area’s Unesco world heritage status at risk.

They were made following a long-running dispute to ban 4x4s and motorbikes from some fell trails in the area. The LDNPA is facing a judicial review in the high court supported by a £30,000 crowdfunding effort over its refusal to ban four-wheel drive vehicles from the trails.

Keswick town council passed a vote of no confidence in the LDNPA last year and condemned an £8m project to create an accessible multi-user trail with a tarmac surface between Keswick and Threlkeld.

Chris Newton, a solicitor who is supporting the residents, said: “It was warming to experience the positive response from thousands of people to protect a place that we all love.”

Tim Farron, the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, welcomed the decision and said it was a significant success for community campaigning but warned residents not to become too complacent following the victory.

“The decision to drop these completely inappropriate plans would not have happened if it hadn’t been for the tireless campaigning of local people.

“Despite this great news we must not take our eye off the ball. The estate may well try again at some point in the future, so we need to continue to send out a loud and clear message that people in Grasmere and across our area say no to these plans,” he added.