A car parking proposal which could ease congestion on existing facilities in Keswick and help provide revenue to manage the town’s parks looks likely to be turned down at a meeting of Lake District National Park planners on Wednesday.

Keswick Town Council’s application for land at Lower Fitz Park, Crosthwaite Road, for a change of use to a permanent car park, is recommended for refusal by the Development Control Committee.

A report to that meeting says the car park would be contrary to policy in the Local Plan and would neither resolve an unacceptable road safety hazard, lead to significant environmental improvement or form an integral part of a traffic management plan.

The report also says it would be harmful to the character and appearance of this undeveloped part of Fitz Park and insufficient information has been provided by the applicants to the planning authority to satisfy them that the development would not be harmful to local traffic conditions or public safety.

The car park scheme, on land adjacent to the Mary Hewetson hospital, has been developed in partnership by the Town Council, surrounding parish councils and Keswick Business Improvement District. The land is owned by the Fitz Park Trust and has currently been used for 28 days a year, under permitted rights, for parking.

There is a capacity of around 90 car parking spaces next to the Keswick Football Club car park which acts as an overspill for the town centre.

The application refers to existing parking in Keswick being at or over capacity and says Cumbria County Council recently published plans to “dramatically reduce” on-street parking  close to the town centre which will result in the loss of approximately 100 spaces.

Fitz Park is home to several sporting activities and special events and the site is adjacent to the hospital where parking is at a premium.

The Charitable Trustees need to raise £100,000 a year to run and maintain the parks in difficult economic times. However a petition has been receiving expressing concerns by local residents about the increase in car parking on Hospital Field and the impact on flood protection

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