PLANS for the partial removal of former weir to facilitate free flow of the river in Ulverston have been approved by the Lake District National Park Authority.

The application, submitted by Tim Scoble, relates to a weir within the ownership of Nibthwaite Mills, Nibthwaite.

Nibthwaite Mill is Grade II* listed building, with the description mainly referencing the mill building but also referring to the mill race.

Listed building consent is sought to remove some stones that lie within the line of the original weir, although it no longer appears as a formal weir. But evidentially it did exist and it was likely connected to the mil in that the weir would divert water to the mill race, even in times of low flow to keep the industry working.

No objections or representations have been made in relation to this application, and the Environment Agency said that the owner of this site has been working closely with officers to facilitate improved passage for fish and ensure abstraction licence requirements are met.

The plans have been approved on the conditions that it is done within three years of this decision and that works are carried out in the way the submitted plans have stated.