Background

Following the publication of the Wild Ennerdale Stewardship Plan in 2006 the Wild Ennerdale Partnership has been focusing increasingly on implementation. In doing so a theme of "Restoring natural aquatic processes" has developed and in partnership with the Environment Agency is giving birth to a number of activities around the valley. These include, the removal of sections of the lakeshore revetment , replacing the fish pass between the River Ehen and Ennerdale Water , restoring the char population and improving access for fish to spawning areas. As part of the last activity the partnership has investigated options and produced a report from which it is proposing to remove the existing concrete pipe bridge across Woundell Beck and construct a new footbridge slightly higher up the stream.

Existing Situation

The existing concrete pipe bridge is reducing access to fish spawning grounds in two ways:-

• The bridge acts as a dam stopping gravels being carried down stream thus starving downstream spawning beds of suitable gravel
• The bridge acts a significant obstacle to fish spawning upstream preventing access for fish to many hundreds of metres of spawning grounds.

Both these factors are seen as significant in the decline and current low populations of arctic char, trout and salmon in the valley and between the valley and the sea to the west.

The legal route of the public bridleway runs some 20 to 30m upstream of the pipe bridge location and will not be changed.

Summary of Proposals

The Partnership is proposing the following actions

• Remove the concrete pipe bridge and forest road leading across the open ground.
• Construct a new footbridge approximately 50 to 60m upstream of the existing pipe bridge location.
• Construct a new path linking the new footbridge into the ends of the remaining forest road.
• Dedicate the new footpath as a public footpath and allow permissive cycle use.

Planning Permission

An application for panning permission for the work was submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority during July 2008.

Consultation

In addition to the consultation which is carried out as part of the formal planning permission process the proposals reflects discussion and meetings with a number of interested organisations which took place in early 2007 . The partnership welcomes feedback and comments from visitors and in addition to this webpage has erected an information sign at Woundell Beck. If you would like to express your comments please email Gareth Browning.

Supporting Documents (adobe acrobat format)

• Woundell Beck Bridge Report (0.4mb)
• Appendix 1 Location Map (4.7mb)
• Appendix 2 Photo Survey (2.6mb)
• Appendix 3 Geomorphology Report (1mb)
• Appendix 4 Map showing work proposals (2.6mb)
• Appendix 5 Sketch showing proposed bridge (0.1mb)