Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council Jointly Committed to Protecting Public Access to Talkin Tarn

Today, representatives from Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council met to discuss the future of Talkin Tarn. The meeting was very positive and both Councils have now agreed to work together to preserve the public use of the Tarn and its associated activities. 

Carlisle City Council brought a number of new options to the meeting and these will now be investigated in full. The outcome of these investigations will be reported back to both Councils in the near future. 

In the meantime, Cumbria County Council has issued the following statement to reassure members of the public that its over-riding aim is to protect this outstanding local beauty attraction and its scenic walks for all of its users, both today and in generations to come. 

COUNTY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING TALKIN TARN   

Cumbria County Council's key priority is to protect Public Access to Talkin Tarn. 

To develop the Tarn as a top local visitor attraction and provide the facilities that users want requires major and significant investment both in terms of money and experience, both of which the County Council simply does not have. This is why we have been looking at a number of options to attract the investment needed and secure the long-term future of the Tarn. 

The Council is very aware of public concern and is keen to take everyone's opinions into consideration. We are committed to public consultation and that is why we are in the process of attending and setting up meetings with all interested parties and user groups where the future of the Tarn can be debated in an honest and open way. 

The fact is the Tarn is operating at a considerable loss, a cost which is currently being carried by the Tax Payer, this is unacceptable to the Councils Administration and therefore Cabinet agreed to a number of options which are currently being looked at, these include 

• Entering into an agreement with an organisation to take on the management of the Tarn but, with no long-term ongoing financial commitment from the County Council and therefore ultimately none from the Council Tax Payer.
• Car Parking charges - recently there has been some discussion about the possibility of introducing car park charges. This has been considered as one option to help make the site a viable business but it is likely to prove uneconomic - under no circumstance would the County Council allow this issue to become a major bar to access.
• The grazing land around the Tarn, where there is currently no public access, does have some financial value. It is our intention to ensure that any future owner would preserve this visual amenity.    

But whatever happens if disposal of the Tarn on these terms turns out to be impossible then we will need to look at continuing public ownership again. 

Whatever happens our guarantee of 'Public Access' to the Tarn remains!