§ 68. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will consult the Manchester Corporation with a view to making Lake Thirlmere available to the public for boating and swimming; and if he will make representations to the Corporation about the desirability of opening up the shores of this lake and surrounding country to the public to enable them to walk and picnic in this part of the Lake District National Park where access is now prohibited.
§ Mr. RipponThirlmere is a source of Manchester's drinking water, and it is 113W the Corporation's responsibility to decide whether access to the lake and its surroundings must be prohibited in order to avoid risk of pollution. It thinks it necessary at present to prohibit access because the water is not fully treated before being supplied to consumers. It intends to build purification works when it can, both for Thirlmere and for other sources, but in view of the heavy cost my right hon. Friend does not think he should press it to accelerate its programme.