Lakes Walkers 'Too Middle Class'
The Lake District National Park Authority is set to scrap its free guided walks programme because the walkers it attracts are mainly middle-aged, middle-class, white people.
Posted: 4 January 2005
by Jon
The Lake District National Park Authority has opened the first can
of outdoor worms for 2005 with a possible decision to axe its
programme of free guided walks and other activities because they
attract mainly middle-aged, middle-class, white people.
The programme, which is run by around 100 volunteer rangers,
includes around 4,500 guided walks plus a magazine, informative talks
and slide shows. According to a report on the BBC news web site, the
Park Authority managers 'want to spend the money they save on
attracting ethnic minorities, disabled people and more children'.
Some 30,000 people are reckoned to take part in the programme
annually.
The motivation behind the mooted change of policy appears to be a
set of government targets for attracting under-represented minorities
into the outdoors, failure to achieve which may lead to reduced
funding.
The decision has drawn predictable flack with one voluntary ranger
reported as saying: "What are they going to do, bus in these people,
or open an office in Manchester? Why do we at least not stick with a
programme that we have prepared and which we can run at no additional
expense."
A report on the Telegraph web site goes into more detail saying
that vounteers are hitting out at the Park Authority for being
obsessed with targets and funding. They also argue that the end of
the free walks programme may lead to thousands of novice walkers
being put in danger on the fells.The decision is due to be ratified
at a meeting today, Tuesday.
The controversy is the latest installment in the governent's
ongoing initiative to introduce more under-represented minorities
into the outdoors, see links below.
For more information see the Daily
Telegraph story and this
report from the BBC news site.
Discuss this story
It has been reported on local TV this morning that the Lake District National Park Authority is to end all its free guided walks and lectures. Apparently this decision is because the free walks and lectures are predominantly attended by "Middle Class white people", and the authority can increase the government funding it receives by boosting services aimed at ethnic minorities and the disabled. Local safety groups have expressed concern that more people are likely to be injured or die without the expertise of the free volunteers who lead the walks at present.
Posted: 04/01/2005 at 09:02
That is disgusting. Another case of persecuting the WASP in this country by the looks of it. Looks like I'll have to write a letter to them to complain. If enough people do that then maybe they will reverse their decision. Especially if it starts to impact the income of the local businesses.
Posted: 04/01/2005 at 09:40
Maybe they'll reintroduce them after a few people die. There was an article about this in the Telegraph yesterday, and one woman was so upset about the news that she said she would never be able to go walking again on her own as she feared for her safety and relied on the Rangers for support. I think theres something funny going on in the Lakes; in the latest edition of The Cumbrian [ the little mag] there were a few letters about perceived racism up there and maybe Captains Mainwaring/Sensible have been told to do something about it . No doubt they will have to replace all the sign posts, info boards, leaflets etc to include translations for all the extra people they will now attract with the new funding. BTW didnt this rear its ugly head sometime last year in the thread that was deleted?
Posted: 04/01/2005 at 09:43
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