Lake District: Waterfoot car park, Pooley Bridge is forced to close

A public inquiry took place in February to appeal against an enforcement notice placed on the Waterfoot car park on land to the west side of Dunmallard Hill, Pooley Bridge, near Penrith, by the Lake District National Park Authority back in September 2022.

Following the inquiry, the planning inspectorate decided that the appeal would be dismissed and the car park should be shut down within six months from the decision date, May 20 - much to the disappointment of many swimmers and paddleboarders who use the car park to access Ullswater.

Helen Thornley, is a wild swimmer from the Penrith area who has been swimming in Ullswater for a number of years. She said she represented around 200 wild swimmers and paddleboarders who regularly used the Waterfoot car park.

She said: "I have been swimming in the lake for a really long time and probably from the Waterfoot car park for the last three years or so.

"We started swimming there because the other laybys by the lake were getting blocked up with campervans.

The approximate location of the closed car park, west of Pooley Bridge. (Image: Google Maps)

"The car park is really important to us because I swim with a group of ladies who meet to swim two or three times a week and it's a really good community.

"I work from home so it's really nice to get to socialise people and it's obviously much safer when we swim in a group.

"I got involved in the campaign because I'm really struggling to know now where we are going to go. I represented about 200 swimmers and paddle boarders because there are so few good places to swim on the lake.

"Waterfoot is great because you're away from the boats, you can leave the stuff on the shore out of the way from other people, but you are also near the shore if you have any problems."

Following the 'disappointing' decision, campaigners are now calling on the national park authority to 'take into account the views of local people' should a similar situation happen in the future.

Helen said: "It's really disappointing. I was there with representatives from the local parishes, local businesses, the steamers and it was so lovely to be part of everyone here wanting it to stay... people who live in the area and people who use it.

"We have reached the end of the line. We can't do anything more about this car park but it's just it's just about saying to the national park authority that they ought to be taking into account the views of local people."

A spokesman for the Lake District National Park Authority said: "A car park was permitted temporarily at Waterfoot whilst Pooley Bridge bridge was rebuilt after Storm Desmond.

"It was proposed that the car park would be removed after works were completed. The car park would not have been allowed otherwise.

"Instead a permanent pay and display car park was unlawfully created. 

"A planning application to retain the car park was refused.  We served an enforcement notice requiring the landowner remove the unlawful car park.  The landowner lodged an appeal.  Following a public inquiry their appeal has been dismissed.

"We welcome the inspector’s decision. He agreed with us that this permanent car park is unlawful and unacceptable. He agreed with us that the car park is harmful to the character and appearance of the area, finding it entirely inconsistent with its setting, destroying the gateway into the stunning Ullswater valley. 

"He also agreed with us that this unlawful car park could create unsafe highway conditions for pedestrians and other users who may see no option but to walk along the 60mph road into Pooley Bridge in the absence of a connecting path which is suitable for everyone.

"We hope the enforcement notice will be complied with and the car park removed, as it was originally said would happen.”