PLANS for a recreational family friendly route around a popular national park lake will be the subject of an ‘open day’ at Thirlmere Recreational Hall next week.

Visitors will be able to see drawings, ask questions and tour some parts of the proposed route in what organisers hope will “set the record straight” after some parts of the project met with controversy when first unveiled last year.

The open day will take place on 19 May between 2pm and 8pm.

As well as answering questions, staff from the national park and water company United Utilities - which owns Thirlmere - will conduct tours of parts of the actual route, at 3pm and 6pm, so people can see first-hand what is being proposed.

LDNPA Access and Recreation Developer David Robinson accepts last summer and autumn news of the multi-user-trail created “great strength of feelings against certain parts of the project” - resulting in 90 letters of objection to the suggestion to close part of the west shore road to traffic. But he hopes that this month’s open day will help to allay fears and remove confusion.

“We think there is a need to set the record straight, address a few of the misconceptions about what we want to do and work together to provide something that everyone is happy with and maybe even be proud of.

“There is still general support for the trail and we should try to build on that. People can come whenever they like and stay for as long as they want. We simply want to hear their views,” he said in a letter to local communities.

Anyone attending the open sessions will be asked to focus on several key issues, including: * the importance of the trail to Thirlmere; * how Thirlmere meets the recreational needs of locals and visitors; * the benefits the local community could get from the scheme; *how to develop the cycleway without harming the area’s special qualities; and *potential benefits to the local economy.

“There won’t be a definitive answer at the end of the day. We’ll look at all suggestions and initiatives and then report back. This session is part of a longer term process of consultation and engagement which will develop as time progresses,” David added.