Save The Walks: 'A lack of joined up thinking'

Sir, Without the benefit of seeing the Lake District National Park Authority's strategy I may be doing them a dis-service, but, based on the evidence to date, it would appear that its recent proposal to stop the guided walks is a great example of the lack of joined up government.'' I would have thought that Cumbria Tourist Board is primarily responsible for attracting people to the Lakes and Cumbria, with the LDNPA responsible for the welfare of the park.

Have these two bodies been in discussion about the LDNPA proposal? Does the LDNPA work with partners to provide support to its work or does it do it's own thing? How will the authority deliver these "targets"? Will the LDNPA be bussing ethnic minorities, disabled and urban young into the park from the major conurbations of the UK? Seriously, how will it do these things?

What research has it undertaken to show that the Lakes is a place where these groups have a strong preference to visit or that they feel unwelcome or badly served? Not everyone in the UK wants to visit the Lakes.

Does the LDNPA assume that people don't have minds of their own which they use to meet their needs in the way that suits them? I am sure that there are other expert bodies who have the competencies required to do this work and I'm not sure that these are areas that could be called the core competencies of the LDNPA.

The LDNPA should focus on what it does best and connect itself to other bodies with the experience, competence and credibility to engage with the groups in discussion and find ways of ensuring that those who want to visit find it easy to do so.

Depriving one group of a service doesn't necessarily mean that you serve another group better. I applaud Mr Tiplady for challenging the status quo but I question the strategy'.

Mark Jackson, High Newton...

n Sir, National Parks were designated to protect areas of outstanding natural beauty, to be the treasure of the nation forever.

The guided walks, planned, organised and run by the LDNPA Voluntary Wardens (now Voluntary Rangers), are always aimed at teaching whoever feels motivated to put a best foot forward, to love and respect the Lake District landscape, to understand its farming and its history and to experience its delights.

It has always been a special pleasure to welcome visitors from the ethnic minorities or the cities and help them feel the National Park belongs to them too.

Voluntary Rangers plan and lead walks specially for wheelchair-bound and blind guests on a regular basis, providing transport and first-rate teas out of their own pockets.

The Milton Mountaineers, a climbing club for blind members, come to the Lakes to climb the higher peaks with Voluntary Rangers.

All these activities bring huge credit and thanks to the LDNPA and at minimal cost, as many Voluntary Rangers do not even claim the meagre travel allowance.

They have been leading these activities for over 50 years. It would surely have been in order for them to be consulted before officers of the LDNPA took a unilateral decision to scrap their valuable contributions in such an arbitrary manner.

Audrey E. Leach, Hon Voluntary Warden, Windermere...

n Sir, How perspectives can change in just a few hours of rain and storms. It seems trivial to mention storm damage to footpaths at this time compared to the misery of flooded homes and businesses, lost possessions and power cuts.

However, every footpath near my home has fallen trees, drainage problems, walls down, broken fences, gates and stiles. Huge amounts of litter have been washed down by floods.

Now, more than ever, the national park authority needs the continued loyal support of its unpaid volunteers and equally demoralised pitifully few estate workers and foresters.

This damage is likely to take many months to repair and cost thousands of pounds. I'm impressed how quickly farmers have made a start on this on their own land.

For Paul Tiplady to continue a war of mis-information against volunteers, who give so many hours of their time to help look after the Lake District and share their passion with others, shows a breathtaking lack of wisdom and people management.

So far all attempts at conciliation to save the free guided walks programme have been brutally rebuffed by him. It is a gross misjudgement to assume that only those volunteers who lead walks will resign, such is the level of hurt and disillusionment.

Time to think again, Mr Tiplady.

S. Green, Voluntary Ranger, Coniston...

n Sir, The Department of Food and Rural Affairs in its Discovering Lost Ways Project is to record every defunct green highway by 2026. Costing £20 million of taxpayers' money and probably coming out of agricultural funds, researchers are to record every path, track and byway listed in public archives. If no record of the route being legally closed is found, it will be reinstated!

Old maps and church tithe records going back to 1500 will be researched. It is estimated that up to 20,000 unrecorded Rights of Way will be discovered. Government ministers argue that more paths will be opened up for walking and other recreational activities, but ignore the increase in the use of 4x4s on these routes that this will create.

On top of the Right to Roam', this wasteful and harmful project will lead to more disturbance of livestock and wildlife as well as damaging land and vegetation. This is apart from the serious problems and costs it will cause landowners and land managers.

In another ill-thought out initiative the Government is encouraging national parks to "appeal to urban young people, ethnic people and the disabled". So the Lake District National Park might axe free guided walks led by 100 volunteer rangers because they only attract "middle-aged, middle-class white people"!

Also to be abolished is the programme of 900 events that the rangers organise, such as informative talks, slide shows and children's farm visits. There are to be reduced services at the 10 Park Information Centres too. This is to meet yet another Government target and to make more regional and EU funding available.

14 million tourists annually visits the Lake District and the volunteer rangers are paid travelling and training expenses that last year only cost the park authority a total of £32,000. The events programme was used by 30,000 visitors and 4,500 went on the guided walks.

So far there does not appear to have been any research into the likely numbers of ethnic minorities, inner-city children and the disabled who might be attracted by this "re-focusing". But the majority of visitors are now going to be denied many of the enjoyable events and important information that created a much wider interest in the whole area, which often lead to their returning to try other activities.

This policy goes in the opposite direction to the Government's mantra of "more access to open spaces for all" and discriminates against the majority. It might be said to be a cost-cutting exercise; one feels however that it is nothing more than a game of "political correctness" designed to achieve little more than government "brownie points".

Perhaps in the future, in our national parks, the majority of visitors will be only ID card carriers showing their ethnic origins, age and disability, transported on green highways in 4x4s.

Richard Mawdsley, Bassenthwaite...

n Sir, I am probably simplistic, but what possible conflict is there between the walks led by volunteers whose clientele are mainly middle aged, middle class, and white' and encouraging ethnic minorities, the disabled, and urban youngsters' to come here?

Surely the two things can complement each other; the latter lured (possibly unwillingly) to the area and benefiting from the services of the former.

As for the financial aspect, is the money saved going to be used on advertising and/or propaganda to persuade these disadvantaged' people to come here? It sounds cockeyed to me.

Mrs J. Morris, Ambleside...

n Sir, I am shocked and angry to hear that the National Park officers want to drop the Guided Walks and Events Programme.

As a retired Voluntary Warden I have taken an active part in guided walks and events, such as navigation and map-reading. The free walks led by Voluntary Wardens have been enjoyed by a great variety of people, all age groups, families, single people, who appreciated the company and many foreign visitors.

On one occasion we had a group of French teenagers on an exchange visit to Kendal. On a very wet walk another enthusiastic walker said she loved the Lake District rain as she came from the Arizona Desert!

The walks programme introduced people to fairly easy walks not involving strenuous mountain climbing. Many asked for advice on similar walks and commented that they would return with friends and family.

Do the officers appreciate that for many years the Voluntary Wardens have arranged outings for disabled and blind people, pioneering suitable routes? On some work parties, particularly litter sweeps, the wardens have welcomed school and youth groups from within and outside the National Park.

The Voluntary Warden service has just celebrated 50 years of its existence. It is sad that officers did not consult them about abandoning a major part of their programme.

If the Park wishes to attract disabled people, ethnic minorities and urban youth, the Voluntary Wardens could provide a great range of experience and expertise to help to achieve this.

To the general public, the National Park is represented by the people they meet out and about, the rangers, the Voluntary Wardens and the staff at the Information Centres, not the officers sitting at their desks in Murley Moss.

I sincerely hope that this proposal will be reversed.

Maureen Watson, Ambleside...

n Sir, Well, it is obvious to anyone that the LDNPA has made a complete dog's dinner of its latest proposal to scrap the events programme for the foreseeable future.

Argue for or against as you wish. What remains is that they have opened themselves up to the fact that they are incompetent at dealing with controversial issues and out of touch with the real world.

Before you make a decision in such positions of authority it is good practice to do some research or risk analysis of the situation. It is obvious that that was never done, otherwise they would have been prepared for this slating.

It doesn't work anymore gathering financial data and manipulating statistics to suit your argument, we all can do that. The government does it every day and they are your bosses it isn't rocket science. And you can't with one breath say that it isn't about money and then quote the accounts.

Let's be frank LDNPA, you are short of cash. You thought that some of the volunteers were too much trouble to bother with after you messed them about last year. The events programme you under-valued, because you couldn't be bothered to find alternatives to closing it down, or didn't have the vision or inspiration. And you took advantage of some key staff leaving to free up cash to plough into your deteriorating planning service.

Your credibility has been trashed. And you have serious egg on your faces. But I bet you still can't see it, can you? Wake up admit you did not take account of all the options open to you. Get your act together and look again at the whole picture.

Do you not realise that in running the events programme slightly differently you could actually make the money you are desperate to save?

Jack Richards, Glasgow...

n Sir, Did we ever think that people volunteering their free time to benefit others would be considered politically incorrect?

Anyone, regardless of class, colour or creed, has been welcomed on these walks. What bureaucratic lunacy has decided they are aimed at the white and middle class'?

Does it not occur to these office-bound mandarins that many white and middle class people balk at being faced with fells, lakes and dry stone walls? It's all a matter of personal choice.

The Lake District attracts thousands of foreign visitors each year; the Japanese in particular come in their droves and not just to visit the home of Peter Rabbit. Our Tourist Information Centres have Japanese phrase sheets with which to make these visitors feel more welcome.

Any initiative regarding this area would be better aimed at keeping our public toilets open and ensuring the disabled do not feel disadvantaged.

There was a time when we thought George Orwell's 1984' was too far fetched and his fertile imagination too vivid. Reconsider this misguided proposal and think again!

Anne Fraser, Ambleside...

n Sir, I assume that I will not be the only person who has been offended by the proposal of Mr Tiplady regarding the abolition of the guided walks in the Lake District. I am slightly older than middle-aged, and white.

I have only just moved to the area following my retirement from Manchester. However, at any opportunity that I had, I came to the Lakes, whether it be for the week or just a Sunday afternoon. Occasionally I stopped in a hotel if I wanted a bit of indulgence, but more often than not, stopped in one of the many excellent B&Bs in either Windermere/Bowness or sometimes Ambleside. I was always treated with courtesy and respect; even I did bring dirty boots back with me!!

However, the idea of stopping these walks because it doesn't attract the "right" sort of person is nonsense. Being a Mancunian, I enjoyed my Lake escapes, (that is why I have retired to this area). However, many of my neighbours thought I was mad to want to go up a hill or mountain, in sometimes inclement weather. And many of my neighbours and former colleagues would not even entertain putting on a pair of Brashers, so what makes you think that you will get them to the Lakes in the first place?

It is thanks to these walks that I have learned to respect the Lakes footpaths and tracks. If these walks are abolished, there will only be more work for the Mountain Rescue Teams, who will have to go out to rescue the thousands of "walkers" who have been ill-prepared or advised on routes.

It has given me the confidence to go out on my own for a walk (a brave thing for a single person believe me). I wouldn't dare walk in some parts of Manchester on my own.

Sarah-Jane Wrigley, Heversham...

n Sir, I was amazed to read that the national park authority is considering abolishing the guided walks programme and even more amazed to read the reasons why.

It seems to me that the decision makers leading this proposal must consider that those who do not fit into the reported category of urban young, ethnic communities and disabled people' are no longer deserving of attention.

People outside these broad definitions do still need informed introduction to the marvellous recreational, natural history and landscape heritage within the national park and one of the best ways of achieving this is through the proven success of the guided walks programme. Many visitors - all categories included - are given confidence to explore places on their own as a result of being on guided walks. They also benefit from guidance on how to treat and use safely those wonderful fells.

Perhaps the national park officers and members need to be reminded that they are required through an act of parliament to, among other duties, promote understanding and enjoyment for those visiting the national park and it is time the rest of us started to press for equal treatment.

The people drawn in by those to be targeted are all very deserving of this attention and this is to be very much encouraged, but why at the expense of others? We are all the same after all. Surely all that is needed is to specifically target those identified to make full use of the programme, rather than disband.

Jim McQueen Arnside n Sir, I wish to express my gratitude to all the volunteers in the guided walks service. I have already written and protested to Paul Tiplady, National Park Officer at the Lake District National Park Authority.

As a frequent returning visitor to the Lake District, my family and I cannot fault the service in the past.

I hope that lots of members of the public will protest about this. If enough people protest we might get listened to.

Please again thank all the volunteers for their time, knowledge and expertise, so freely given.

Mrs J. Mannach Sittingbourne, Kent n Sir, My wife and I have been visiting the Lakes as often as we could since the 1930s. We know that many people enjoy the guided walks and, try as we may, we cannot understand the logic of ditching them in favour of encouraging visitors who are not white, or not "middle class".

We live in a free country, in that all adults are free to travel wherever they wish provided they can afford the time and money, and stay within the law.

Those who do not come to the Lakes presumably have good reasons of their own for not doing so, whatever their colour or class, just as my wife and I have our own good reasons for never going anywhere else.

But in fact, people who are not white or who are not "middle class" do come to the Lakes. This is a matter of simple observation. I do not know whether they come in the same proportion as in they are in British population and I can't see that it is of concern, except where someone who might like to come is prevented by poverty. But in this case I don't know how dropping the guided walks would help.

Norman Lund, Garstang...

n Sir, The thought processes at the park authority which provided the input for the proposal to scrap the free guided walks are, presumably the same as those which come up with the idea of a speed limit on Windermere lake.

The outcry at the latest proposal has forced a rethink, but if they back down on this one then they can back down on the other. Don't hold your breath!

The simple fact is that the National Park Authority does not want people to visit the Lake District. "Preservation" rules, while what is properly needed is "protection" so that this unique and superb landscape can be visited and enjoyed by the greatest number.

Richard Boddy, Burton...

n Sir, We must all accept that all people of all origins have the right to walk and see our beautiful Lakeland National Park.

The principal of doing away with the guided walks is wrong. They who operate the LDNP must remember who provide the monies for our National Parks.

I have, and my family, over the last 50 years, enjoyed this outstanding place of beauty.

Harri Pickles, Committee Member, Nelson and District CHA, Nelson