Sir, Are we truly unfit to govern ourselves? Following the decision of the Lake District National Park Authority to reject public opinion in guiding its decision to reject the Records Week application for an exemption to the 10mph speed limit on Windermere, should we, the people of the Lake District, not now question whether we should be governed by an elected as opposed to an appointed body, as the rest of the country and, indeed, the civilised world are?

Granted we live in a national park and it is a very special place that must be maintained for future generations.

But do we need to be to be patronised and treated as endangered species who cannot protect ourselves? I would say that we all love and wish to protect our surroundings and environment, so why are we not allowed to do so through democratic election?

The NPA sits above us with what it believes to be an all-seeing eye and prescribes to us what it will.

It is dictatorial in its approach and unrepentant in its actions.

The members of the authority should take a vote and decide to reject themselves.

If they truly believe in their legitimacy, then they should stand for election, persuade us that they are best for the job, and allow us to elect them.

If the House of Lords, one of the country's oldest bodies, can undergo reform, then why not the Lake District National Park Authority that has only been with us sine 1951.

They are, after all, supposed to be protecting what Cumbrians managed quite happily on their own for generations.

Jason Dearden, Bowness.