Controversial plans to tarmac Threkeld railway path

Plans to tarmac a railway path in the Lake District has caused a dispute among two organisations.

Friends of the Lake District say they are disappointed that the Lake District National Park Authority has decided to resurface the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path with standard tarmac and would like the Park Authority to reconsider.

Repair work is well underway to improve the multi-user trail along the stretch of the former railway line that lies between Threlkeld and Keswick was ruined by Storm Desmond in December 2015.

Friends of the Lake District say that using tarmac will compromise the historic and rural character of the route and that it will be more susceptible to being slippery in icy weather compared to a more natural surface used previously.

The path being reinstated is scheduled to reopen in 2020.