Response and Proposition: Future Sustainable Transportation System
SITES:
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Ravenglass
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Dalegarth
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The idea is a Sustainable transport solution for the Eksdale valley by proposing a car park building with other amenities as well, near the Ravenglass rail station to encourage people to use the ratty for gaining access into the eksdale valley. This can be achieved by developing the ratty rail line as well as the stations along the ratty. There are already a number of car parks at ravenglass but are too small , and if the way of accessing the valley was through the ratty then more space is required.
A previous idea were cycle hiring centres as an idea on how the stations could have been developed, so that the eksdale valleys roads would be transformed to footpaths . In this way it would have been a solution for the national park debate going on the last 10 years about complaints for the effects of tourism such as landscape erosion, pollution etc. There is already a cycle hire center/shop at dalegarth station but people still take their cars in the valley because the distance from Dalegarth to ravenglass is 8.2 miles and to load a bike into the ratty, you can only do so either from ravenglass or Dalegarth. It is not allowed at any other station along the route.Furthermore the Eksdale valley is on the west distinctive area of the lake district which is the less developed and less popular (even though there are millions of visitors every year ). By transforming the roads within the valley to footpaths and safe cycling routes, it would have brought something new to the area as well as making the Eksdale valley known in the lake district because of that. There are many historical points along the valley,and especially along the ratty route, so I felt that people would love the opportunity of experience this by cycling free around with drop off – drop on points wherever they wanted to with the use of the ratty.
Taking into account the background research, lecture series as well as the second trip to Cumbria, I found that definitely it is more sensible to introduce a railway station at Dalegarth to connect the area with other distinctive areas either in the Lake district or in the UK in general to bring more tourists in the area and to improve the transport system. But then, by doing that so then i feel that it is not about sustainable transport system anymore. In turn their exist a controversy : By having a rail station in Dalegarth, and with that rail station being the connection with other areas then this would mean even more tourists in the valley, even more cars. People would enter the valley to use the station. From one point of view is introducing a new network for a developed transport that the area lacks so much and it will improve the quality of life of the locals as well as tourism because of easier access. But on the other hand is more pollution.
Thoughts……
Bringing all the opportunities together. Perhaps there is an opportunity for both aspects:
1: Ratty from Ravenglass as the only acesss to Dalegarth >>> a green valley, sustainable transport system. Introducing something new at Ravenglass. (Note that in Ravenglass station where the ratty departs there are already some works taking place. A new cafe is being built. So there is more room for improvement).
2: Ratty line to be developed for more capacity
3: Dalegarth as the connecting point to other distinctive areas of the lake district.
4: Train station at dalegarth
This also meets the initial concept in semester 1. The idea of having more than 1 site and that all the sites would be connecting ,informing and completing each other to keep up with the conceptual stories of the work done is semester one. (volumes breaking up to smaller volumes, rail journeys along nodes and grids)In this way there will be an urban/landscape development for improvement of the area. Both environmental improvement and transport development.
Future Prospect : The Functioning in 50 years time
As a result on the plot is to be 2 buildings that will become a significant part of the area and between them will correspond to both locals and public. At this stage of the thesis design, the projects responds to a Future Sustainable Transportation System. A project that is for future Development for offering a green/sustainable system for the Eksdale Valley. The strategic opportunity is the extension and expansion of the ratty Line further into the other distinctive areas of the Lake District.
2 Sites :
A. Ravenglass – Car Park – visitors encouraged to leave their cars and then they could either walk, cycle or take the ratty.
B. Dalegarth. Train Station for access to the rest of the Lake District. Dalegarth, at the heart of the Eksdale Valley as the Connecting Point.
