Eskdale mill could be turned into a distillery

Cumbria County Council is to sell off Talkin Tarn, near Carlisle, which features 120 acres of woodland and a 65 acre lake.

Also up for sale is the 16th Century Eskdale Mill in Boot, which features one of the few remaining two wheel water corn mills.

Cumbria County Council bosses are acting on proposals from management consultants PriceWaterhouseCoopers, which recommended a series of cuts in September 2002.

The Council's deputy leader Mike Ash, said: "I do want to reassure people that there is no way these amenities will be lost to the public.

"It is simply what kind of organisation runs them. And it is far better to have someone who knows how to run public attractions, rather than a huge county council which is here to serve the people of Cumbria.

Car park charges will be brought in at Talkin tarn

"The actually amenity itself will remain free, but we have been looking at token charges to the car park.

"What will improve is the management of the sites."

Mr Ash said Eskdale Mill could be turned into a distillery visitor attraction.

He said: "We haven't actually given this site much attention and it's sensible to make this available to an outside party."

The site dates back to 1578, and is near the head of one of the most picturesque and dramatic valleys of the Lake District.

Mr Ash said the current tenant of the mill, which was bought by the council in 1972, could be made redundant under the sell of scheme.

Union officials and opposition councillors have criticised the sell off plans, but Mr Ash said the measures were needed to make the authority more efficient.