The 25 partners are incredibly close to the challenges facing the Lake District. Our teams are out and about working on them day in, day out. The challenges were highlighted through the most comprehensive review of the current State of the Park Report delivered by Partners in 2018. (published May 2019).
They were confirmed by the 2019 Glover Review of Designated Landscapes Review which also highlighted the need for ‘landscapes for everyone’. We refer to this as a ‘Lake District for everyone’.
The 25 partners have been working together with a range of wider organisations to develop this plan since the summer of 2019. A variety of partnership sub-groups have been involved, as well as special sessions with Parish Councils, the CLEP Futures Forum, the Local Access Forum and Catchment Partnerships.
Partners have worked together to engage with farmers, and a focused Commission has been led by Place Innovation to engage to develop recommendations for a Lake District for everyone.
The pandemic has impacted our communities and the Lake District economy. The disruption and response to the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed the development and adoption of the Plan by approximately one year when compared with the original timescales. However, while some planned engagement has not been possible, this has allowed space for extra engagement and co-development with stakeholders to consider many of the challenges that the emergency has brought into even greater focus.
It is even clearer now that focussing on the needs of our younger generations is vital, as they are our future. The Lake District must also be a National Park for everyone. We have the opportunity now to create new networks and change current perceptions, and ensure everyone feels welcome in future.
