CALLS have been made for a major and detailed action plan to buck the environmental deterioration of more than half of the Lake District's major lakes, reports Luke Dicicco.

The plea was made at the second annual meeting of the Lake District Still Waters Partnership, where scientists, conservationists, busi-nesses, Government representatives and lake users gathered to share information on the pressing issue.

The meeting, held at the Lake District Visitors Centre at Brockhole, near Windermere, was told how nine of the Lake District's 17 major lakes were deteriorating.

Problems include an invasion' of alien plants, pollution and erosion.

Although agencies such as the Department for Enviroment and Rural Affairs and major water supplier and land-owner United Utilities outlined what they were doing to improve the situation, calls were made for a detailed action plan which sets targets to be achieved within a certain time.

Martin Varley, of the Friends of the Lake District, backed the call, made during a heated discussion at the meeting.

"It is promising to see so many bodies, which have their own interests and agendas working together," he told The Westmorland Gazette.

"But I agree with the calls for an action plan so we can see that progress is being made."

Manager of the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership, Kirstie Royce echoed the sentiment.

The Ambleside-based partnership has just established the only website dedicated to footpath restoration, www.fixthefells.com, which has already raised more than £10,000.

"We engage visitors and invite them to put something back into the Lake District and we also work alongside businesses and we fully support the Still Waters Partnership," she said.

"We can help deliver projects but we need to know what their objectives are and how they propose to achieve them."

Still Waters Manager John Pinder agreed with the calls for an action plan but stressed the problems faced in setting tough targets for a group, which includes dozens of organisations and is still looking to engage more.

"I agree we have to have a plan but no one party is responsible for the Lake District and we can not dictate to people," he said.

"We have to strike a balance between improving the conditions of the lakes and the needs of a community and economy which depends on them.

"And we need to continue raising the awareness of our work, because this is the key to success."

Roger Sweeting, chief executive of the Freshwater Biological Association, said the partnership was vital to bring improvements to lakes, such as Windermere and Grasmere.

"At the moment we cannot put our finger on one thing and say this is to blame', but if we continue to work together and gather more information then we will be able to reach a solution."

Projects being undertaken include the Defra-led Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which encourages farmers to balance their businesses needs with protecting and sustaining the environment.

United Utilities, which owns and controls great swathes of the area, is also looking to remove livestock and plant more woodland on its land and to reduce erosion and sediment run off.