Water firm says it needs permission to fix Thirlmere reservoir road

Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the road to be reopened

Plans to repair a storm-damaged road have been delayed due to fears of damaging protected plants, a water firm has said.

A section of road on the western side of Thirlmere reservoir was shut in 2021 over rock-fall fears from a crag.

Kevin Sayers of United Utilities said work cannot be carried out without permission because the area has protected status.

Campaigner Mark Hatton said the road posed no danger and should reopen.

The closure means that walkers, cyclists and horse riders have to use the busy A591 on the eastern side of the lake.

Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for the road to be reopened.

The area has protected status because of rare flora and fauna

Cumberland Council said it would be discussing the road at a Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting on Friday.

A spokesperson said fallen trees, potential rock falls, and debris on the highway still posed "significant risks" and the road would remain closed "until it could be made safe."

Kevin Sayers, Cumbria area manager at United Utilities, told Radio Cumbria that it may not be possible to make the crag safe without damaging protected flora and fauna.

He said the area where work needed to be carried was a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and had conservation status.

He said the firm was looking into building an alternative route for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders along the west side of the reservoir shore which would link up to the existing highway at a safe distance from Rough Crag.

Campaigners fear the "beautiful and scenic route" may be lost

Mr Hatton, from Ambleside, disputed the road was unsafe.

"This road is a really beautiful and an important route for local traffic, walkers and cyclists," he said.

"The chances of anybody passing under Rough Crag and being hit by anything falling off are vanishingly small - the equivalent of being hit by lightning or winning the lottery."

He added that United Utilities had tackled the problem at a "glacial pace" and made "zero progress".

'Workable solution'

However, Mr Sayers said: "We've not been doing nothing for the past two years.

"It's a highly complex situation. I completely get people's frustration.

"Rough Crag has important environmental protected status and stabilisation work would be likely to involve the removal of rare plants and sections of the rock face.

"This is why we must get permission from the relevant authorities, including Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Lake District National Park Authority for the work to be completed over the coming months."

Thirlmere Reservoir, as seen from Rough Crag