Ravenglass

Village Forum

Traffic problems

Even a small village like this has traffic problems. The main ones are:

• hazards on the road into the village;
• vehicles that cause a nuisance by turning in Main Street;
• new for 2011: parking charges and their effects on our village.

Not being a statutory body, the Forum cannot make direct requests to the Highways Authority. However, it does seek advice from the Highway Engineers so that it can make sensible recommendations to the Parish Council. The Parish Council can then make formal requests for improvements. We are very grateful to Karl Melville of Cumbria Highways and the Parish Council for their advice and co-operation.

Driving into the village

The bridge on the left carries the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and, a little further down the road, the one on the right carries the main Barrow-Carlisle line. The bridges form two pinch points and the one on the right is dangerous. There is poor visibility and pedestrians have no protection from drivers who approach carelessly, especially from the landward direction.

Drivers, please watch out for approaching vehicles and pedestrians, especially young children, when you enter or leave the village.

Main Street: Problem 1

The road narrows between the Pennington Hotel and the Post Office. In the old days the broad part of Main Street, between here and the sea gate, was used as a market. The narrow road is a bit of medieval town planning to make it easier to control beasts that might want to leave early.

The Post Office, in the row of houses on the left, opens directly onto the road. To deter speed merchants and make life safer for elderly and very young customers, we had the cobbled frontages restored and the road level raised slightly between two rumble strips of recycled granite setts. This slows traffic down without resorting to an urban clutter of signs, painted tarmac or those abominable speed bumps.

Main Street: Problem 2

Main Street does not go anywhere except to the beach. There is no street parking here for visitors. The forecourts of the houses are private property, used by residents to park their own cars and provide floral displays. Cumbria County Council has accordingly introduced a Residents Only parking restriction in this area.

Main Street ends in a ramp that leads to the beach. Some visitors, who ignore the signs to the VILLAGE CAR PARK, get this far and are intimidated by the ramp, or sometimes the flood gate is shut because of an expected high tide. They then proceed to do an impatient 13-point turn, which is a nuisance to walkers and residents and can be dangerous. Large motor caravans and even cars with trailer caravans have been seen trying these risky and embarrassing manoeuvres.  Damage has been caused to residents’ property and vehicles and we fear that young children and infirm elderly people may suffer injury from such thoughtless behaviour.

If you require access to premises in Main Street, it is safe to turn on the beach. There is hard standing that will support the weight of bin lorries and our local community minibus. If you do not require access for any proper reason, please use the VILLAGE CAR PARK. Regrettably you will now have to pay for that privilege, thanks to the LDNPA, but please read on. We would welcome your support for our campaign to reinstate free parking.

Please do not follow the example of these drivers, who got into difficulties through their own lack of consideration for others.

Photos by a nearby resident

Parking charges

Some years ago the Forum, the Parish Council and the Highways Authority agreed on a traffic management policy to direct visitors to the VILLAGE CAR PARK.  The way is clearly signposted. We wished to encourage visitors to park their cars, relax and enjoy our beautiful village on foot.

Unfortunately the Lake District National Park Authority felt obliged to impose charges for the use of the Car Park, which was formerly free to use, from 1 April 2011. The Forum and the Parish Council had notice of the Authority’s intention and argued that such a decision would be contrary to the Authority’s statutory obligation to look after the welfare of those who live and work in the National Park. Free use of the car park attracted walkers and others who wish to enjoy the beauty of our village and support our local businesses. It also reduced the risk of indiscriminate parking and consequent obstruction elsewhere in the village. 

Free parking was the vital element of our traffic management policy. Now we have parking charges. Our surveys show the results too clearly:

• There is an increase in indiscriminate parking around the village by drivers who refuse on principle to pay charges. Many more drive down Main Street. looking in vain for free parking, then give up and go elsewhere. Subject to public consultation, the County Council will soon have to impose new access and parking restrictions to protect the environment of the village.
• Those who do pay are afraid of getting penalty tickets if they overstay their time. They spend less time and less money in the village.
• Both ways our local businesses, which depend on holiday visitors, suffer loss of income.

The introduction of parking charges has harmed the interests of residents and our local businesses. It is also spoiling the enjoyment of our village for visitors.

How do the charges affect you?

We and the Parish Council are monitoring the effects of the charges and we will make further representations to the LDNPA about the adverse effects that parking charges are having on our village. 

You can help, if the change has adverse effects on you. Are you a resident? Is your business affected? Are you a regular or occasional visitor to Ravenglass? Have you not visited us yet but would you like to? Would parking charges drive you away?

Please send any comments for the attention of the Forum Committee to me: see our Contacts page.

The Forum can make a noise quite effectively but it is not a statutory body. The official contacts for this matter are:

Muncaster Parish Council ~ Clerk@Muncasterparishcouncil.org.uk

Lake District National Park Authority ~ Write to Mr W Jefferson, Chairman, LDNPA, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7RL. When you write, please mention that you were prompted by this website.

Alternative parking facilities

The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway has its own Pay & Display car park for customers.

The Pennington Hotel and Holly House Hotel also have their own car parks, free to customers.

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