Plan to secure tarn's future

Talkin Tarn is currently losing £30,000 a year

The future of a Cumbrian beauty spot could be secured by Carlisle city council.

Talkin Tarn Country Park, near Brampton, is owned and managed by Cumbria County Council who say they are currently losing £30,000 and want to sell it off.

But people who regularly use the 185-acre park and those living nearby have been so outraged they are campaigning against the sell off.

They say the tarn was left to the people of Brampton and want more than just guarantees about public access.

Mike Mitchelson, the leader of the Carlisle city council, said it could take on the tarn if the county council would agree a nominal price for it.

The park includes the 65-acre tarn, woodland and wetland, tea room, boating facilities, education room, grazing land, campsite and a hotel.

Mr Mitchelson said: "The county council obviously see Talkin Tarn as a financial millstone so what we would like to do it take it over or discuss a nominal fee to take it over in its entirety.

"Officers have had meetings and shared information and we feel that if we were allowed to take it over we could run it and develop it as a beauty spot in the north."