It seems to me that relations between the Lake District National Park Authority and local communities have never been worse than they are now. Daily one can hear nothing but contempt from local people about arbitrary NPA decisions which adversely affect their lives.
Following the 10mph ban on Windermere, which even people who never use the lake found outrageous, we now have petty-minded officials telling local organizations how they may or may not advertise traditional non-profit events. All local country shows, sports events, flower shows, galas and theatrical productions will now have to apply for permission to use temporary banner advertising, no doubt paying a hefty fee to the planners and no doubt opposed by that narrow-minded bunch of interfering busybodies called the Friends of the Lake District who cannot bear anything which affects the way they think things should look.
As an example of how ludicrous the NPA’s latest edict is, take the huge outdoor marketing event which is to take place at Rydal in June. This is to be run by a major international publisher, Emap, which has no interest in this area other than using it as a marketing tool, its aim being to attract 30,000 plus people to a 3 day event at Rydal Park, to promote the sale of all things ‘outdoors’. This will cause major traffic problems as it is located on the A591, it will interfere with other local events and will generally be a nuisance we can do without. Yet the NPA is powerless to stop it even though it flies in the face of their policy of discouraging anything which increases traffic.
Where the NPA can flex its bullying muscles though is against small harmless traditional local organizations which have been holding their annual shows and events since before the NPA was invented, taking advantage where they can of the tourist influx. These remarkable events are a showplace for a rich variety of local talent and skill. They are run by volunteers on a shoestring and they frequently face financial crises, so they need all the publicity they can get. They do not need any more problems and expense than they already have in trying to survive.
A National Park Authority which cared about all aspects of life within its domain would be actively encouraging and promoting these local events, which seldom if ever seek public funding and which for many visitors give an interesting insight into local life, forming a welcome antidote to endless vistas of empty lakes and mountains. There is more to life and the Lake District than views and landscape.
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