I've just been up on Askham fell in the Eastern Lakes and a number of new finger post waymarkers for Cycle Routes have been put upon the open fell / common. This seems to be part of a plan from nearby Lowther Castle to market various local routes with names to promote their new cycle hire business. All the routes follow well established bridleways and minor roads (or tracks / paths in the Estate).
Askham fell is by no means an unspoilt wilderness but it's a lovely open area in the National Park popular with walkers, cyclists, riders (and me). On our route today I saw 3 brand new fingerposts signing particular cycle routes, right in the middle of the common and with a fairly obvious visual impact.
Does anyone know whether these require planning permission? Can a landowner just put signs up like that? It feels like another step towards the theme park-isation of the Lake District and is a bit depressing. I'm all in favour of people being encouraged out of their cars and onto their bikes but what's wrong with a normal map / some kind of phone App for the navigationally challenged.