IT has been warmly welcomed by most. It will give the area a higher profile around the world, make it more attractive to visitors and give it more weight when it comes to national decisions and funding. And by association, Cumbria will also benefit.

But not everyone is so sure about the benefits of the Lake District National Park finally winning World Heritage status from Unesco – the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

There have been fears that the award could mean extra pressure on an already creaking infrastructure.

Narrow roads will become more clogged, more strain will be placed on mountain rescuers, sites for new homes will have to be found.

Others are concerned that it will toughen already tight planning rules and could stifle the development and sustainability of local communities.

Tim Foster is head of the Field Studies Council Blencathra Centre, an environmental education charity.

Every year the centre hosts more than 8,000 education visitors from more than 300 schools and universities across the country.

They come to learn the ecology and history of the land.

He welcomed the granting of World Heritage status, saying: “Overall it is a good thing.

“If you want to look at the landscape, there is nothing out there that is a natural landscape.

“It is already managed and that is what the World Heritage award has captured.

“It is the people who have worked in the national park who are responsible for the award.

“It is the preserved landscape that the 18 million visitors a year cherish and it is maintained by farming.

“It will bring in a different type of tourist – top-end wealthy ones. It may bring more people to the west coast.”

Three key themes underpinned the bid for World Heritage Site status, recognising the Lake District as a cultural landscape of international significance.

These include world ranking examples of identity – the dramatic farmed landscape; inspiration – art, literature and love of the place.

This, in turn, sparked the birth of conservation.

Jan Wilkinson wants to see conservation and development to sustain the area.

It was 20 years ago that the late Mark Weir reopened the working slate mine and adventure attraction at the head of Honister Pass.

As his partner, Jan helped him build up the business and raise a family.

Before his tragic death, Mark wanted to site a mile-long zip wire down the side of Fleetwith Pike.

The scheme was hugely divisive and the Lake District National Park Authority has twice turned down the project.

Jan is re-applying for planning permission this summer and she hopes the new honour won’t affect her plans.

She points out that the mine’s popular Via Ferrata route raised objections but has become a success without scarring the landscape or causing visitor issues.

And she says the national park has to strike a balance between providing conservation and sustainability for the area.

She said: “I can’t see any more development. They are wanting to preserve it.

“To me, life is about balance.

“Unesco has to be thanked, but we need people to dwell here longer, not more visitors.

“The area is as it is today because of the influence of man.

“At Honister, we have to look after the mine and we are in a privileged position as caretakers.

“But we have to have that balance to survive, we have to have children, they have to go to school. We have to have communities that are vibrant and look after each other.”

Bill Jefferson is a former Lake District National Park Authority chairman and remains on the national park partnership.

The Allerdale councillor believes it can only be a good thing for the county and the region as a whole.

He sees the award providing a boost for tourism and the economy generally, but insists that affordable housing remains the key priority for the national park.

He said: “It cannot be a bad thing.

“It is an opportunity, how they manage it is the art.”

He dismisses fears that it could become more a theme park than a national park.

He said:“We need to get a consolidated tourism promotion together for Cumbria.

“It is long overdue. It needs something to coalesce around and this could be it.”