Drivers May Be Banned From The Lake District
The Lake District could soon be closed to drivers, as national parks seek to tackle congestion and environmental hazards…
Lake District Closed to Drivers?
The Lake District could soon be closed to tourists who wish to drive to the popular national park. The Lake District national park (LDNP) is struggling to juggle its environmental obligations with the fact that 90% of its 19 million annual visitors choose to visit via car; causing significant congestion and producing harmful emissions, affecting both the local scenery and clean air.
Unlike national parks in the United States, parks in the UK are unable to introduce entrance charges; arguably the most obvious way of reducing vehicular traffic. Instead, they’ve been forced to trial free shuttle bus services in the most popular areas. The LDNP is also considering the possibility of closing its most sought after valleys during the peak season; with access only being granted to locals, cyclists, walkers and bus services. The possibility of introducing an Uber-like service, but for buses, is also under consideration.
‘Too Much To Handle’
Richard Leafe, chief executive of the LDNP, has spoken of the pressing need to find more sustainable forms of travel in national parks. He said, “it feels like we are at peak car. I want to see less reliance on it into the future. It cannot go on getting worse otherwise it really will become too much to handle in our national parks. We need to see a shift to more sustainable travel”.
The Hope Valley Climate Action Group has argued that making national parks more accessible to non-drivers is a social justice issue. It’s stated that “one-third of households in Sheffield do not have a car and Manchester has one of the lowest car ownership rates in the country,” they noted in a recent report. “Reimagining travel could open up the national park to more low-income households, new arrivals to the UK and people living with impairments”.
Ultimately, the nation’s national parks need to find a balance between making the country’s open spaces available and accessible – all whilst protecting local environments and ecological systems.
Drivers Collectively Lost £2.3 Million When Renewing Their Licences – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/drivers-collectively-lost-2-3-million-when-renewing-their-licences/
Nissan Secures A Profit, Despite Semiconductor Shortage – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/nissan-secures-a-profit-despite-semiconductor-shortage/
