Cumbria Tourism says it is closely monitoring the wrangle over controversial proposals for holiday boats on Grasmere.

Revealing that plans by The Lowther Estate Trust to moor up to 10 holiday cruisers on the idyllic lake has raised concerns among its 2,500-strong membership, the organisation said it would be watching to see how the increasingly bitter situation develops.

Battle lines were quickly drawn after it emerged the Trust has asked the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) whether it would be lawful to put recreational leisure craft on Grasmere, which it owns along with parts of the lake’s shoreline.

Protest group “Houseboats Off Grasmere” launched a Facebook campaign, petition and crowdfunding push to fight the “profit driven” plans which it says will damage the character of the lake.

It has also instructed big-hitting London barrister Robert McCracken to prepare a document opposing the move.

Over the past month protests have taken place while the National Trust, Wordsworth Trust, Friends of the Lake District, local parish councils and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron have all voiced their opposition.

Cumbria Tourism’s managing director Gill Haigh said: “This application has raised concerns amongst some of our membership who believe it is the wrong place for such activity.

“We have contributed significantly to the development of the LDNPA Local Plan and whilst we wish to see opportunities for the evolution of the visitor experience, each case must be judged on its own merits and balanced against the need to protect our natural environment. 

“The National Park is ultimately the body charged with ensuring that balance is fully considered. We will therefore be monitoring the situation closely to see how this develops.”

The Lowther Estate Trust has hit back, stressing that it has not submitted a planning application but made a query about the legality of leisure boats – not houseboats – being moored on the lake.

It has argued that leisure boats have been seen on other lakes, such as Coniston Water and Ullswater for “many years”.