Westmoreland Gazette: Beauty spots in the heart of the Lake District are to be sold-off by the national park authority, including the 'iconic' Stickle Tarn at Langdale. Significant budget cuts have forced the authority to re-evaluate its assets, prompting the controversial sales. Chief executive Richard Leafe is adamant access and maintenance will not be affected and the authority's strict planning regulations will still apply to the new owners. However, he refused to rule out further land sales across the national park, including the Lake District's third highest mountain, Helvellyn.
Some councillors and local residents fear that selling-off more than 100 acres will have negative connotations such as:
- Public access may be restricted
- Maintenance of the land may not be handled properly
- Privatisation may prevent the Lake District becoming a World Heritage Site
- Wealthy buyers may try to build on the land.
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