More than 1,000 gather to protest about closure of Thirlmere road

The U7003 along the western shore of the reservoir has been closed since Storm Arwen caused damage in 2021.

More than 1,000 people supported the protest (Image: Tom McNally)

The closure means that walkers, cyclists and horse riders are forced to use the busy A591 on the eastern side of the lake.

Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the road to be opened in the name of safety and public right of way.

Cyclists and walkers took to the closed road (Image: Tom McNally)

Cumberland Council has been asked to consider whether to introduce a permanent road closure order and will discuss the matter on Friday.

Local historian Ian Hall said: "In the original Act of 1879, this road had to be built as 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.”

Julia Aglionby, Liberal Democrat candidate for the new Penrith and Solway constituency, attended the protest.

Protestors at Thirlmere (Image: Supplied)

"We need people power and we need to take action ourselves," she said.

"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 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.”

Last week United Utilities offered up an 'alternative solution'.

They said they have been identifying what needs to be done to make the rock face safe for the road to reopen.

The company says they are now working with Natural England and the relevant authorities to gain permission for the work to be completed within the protected landscape.

Kevin Sayers, Cumbria area manager at United Utilities, said: "We have been working with local stakeholders on developing an alternative new lake shore path if stabilisation of the crag is not permitted by the authorities.

“This would see the creation of a new scenic traffic-free trail for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders along the west side of the reservoir shore which would link up to the existing highway at a safe distance from Rough Crag."